Taiwan's chip talisman snack faces production halt after 94% strike vote

What happened

These bags of snacks are found with surprising regularity around Taiwan, placed on machinery used to make semiconductors and other computing products, as the prevailing superstition is that the snacks bring good luck. Taiwan’s semiconductor industry is driven by the ruthless application of science, economics, and the dedication of its employees.

But superstitious engineers think there’s another key ingredient – strategically placed bags of creamy coconut flavored Guai Guai snacks in their traditional green livery. The Guai Guai Company factory in Zhongli, Taiwan, has operated since 1968, and more than a third of its workforce have been with the company for 30 years or more.

On September 1 this year, the company revealed that it would relocate to Hsinchu , about 45 minutes south by car. Workers can retain their positions if they relocate or commute to the new factory.

Key facts

• These bags of snacks are — found: with surprising regularity around Taiwan, placed on machinery used to make semiconductors and other computing products, as the prevailing superstition is that the snacks bring good luck