In Taiwan, people offer a snack called 'guaiguai' so equipment doesn't malfunction, and apparently TSMC does this too

What happened

On October 22, 2026, a Japanese researcher named Koji Harano posted on X (formerly Twitter). He said that labs in Taiwan put a snack called "Guai Guai" on top of equipment. The goal is to keep the machine from acting up. The post spread widely. Many replies said they had seen the same custom in Taiwanese factories, offices, and even at the airport. Some said TSMC does it too.

What is Guai Guai?

Guai Guai is a corn snack sold in Taiwan. The word means "well-behaved" or "obedient" in Chinese. People believe that giving the snack to a machine will make it run smoothly. Some replies said the snack should be green, because green means "all is well." Others said the custom is a kind of good-luck wish, like a charm.

Key facts from the posts

• The original post was published on October 22, 2026.
• The story was published on October 25, 2026, and had about 7,700 views.
• One user said a Taiwanese snack maker's product sold at a 7-Eleven in Taiwan, but this was a claim from a user, not a verified fact.
• A former importer said he found a snack bag inside a control panel of equipment he bought from Taiwan.

Why it matters

This story shows how local customs and beliefs can affect work in high-tech fields. Chipmaking and machine work need very careful planning. Still, many of the claims here come from social media posts, not from official company statements. Readers should treat the TSMC claims as unconfirmed.