2702) MALAYSIAN INSIDER - 23/06/15 - RM 9 Billion Food Wasted During Ramadan, Says Consumer Group

Muslim Consumers' Association activist Datuk Nadzim Johan says Muslims must drop the bad habit of wasting food during Ramadan. – The Malaysian Insider pic by Seth Akmal, June 23, 2015.Almost RM9 billion worth of food is wasted during the fasting month, said the head of a consumers' association, adding that this habit was pushing prices up in the market.Datuk Nadzim Johan of the Muslim Consumers' Association (PPIM) said food that was wasted during the breaking of fast, creating artificial demand.“Today, chicken prices, vegetable prices are going up because people waste. I am told that this waste costs RM9 billion during the fasting month. This is an unbelievable amount.“Many Muslims are trapped in a fasting culture where they fast, then eat what they want then throw away the rest. This is a culture that I fear is will ruin the community.“Malaysians have to condemn this culture,” he told reporters at the group’s headquarters in Kuala Lumpur today.Nadzim said that Ramadan buffets which are sponsored by some hotels added to the wastage, as the variety on the menus led to a wastage that went against the spirit of the fasting month.“In the fasting month, some hotels prepare 100 foods. Who can eat that much? I do not know," he said."We have created a culture that is not acceptable. The authorities should enforce something against this."He said that eating too much while breaking fast sent the wrong signal because there were still many who went hungry in this country.He said a food collection centre must be established to prevent wastage."There must be a food exchange centre. Food that is not finished must be sent there voluntarily. If we want it done, nothing is impossible. This is not about going to the moon, it's just about saving food." – June 23, 2015.
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