By Zareef Muzammil
SHAH ALAM, June 14 — Members of the public are urged to be smart consumers by making price comparisons between goods to address the global food security issue.
University Malaya Faculty of Science lecturer Associate Professor Che Wan Jasimah Wan Mohamed said that the people must be prepared to face the crisis, which will affect all homes of various economic levels.
“Food security issues are often raised today on social media. Everyone is affected by it and not only the low-income (B40) earners. Therefore, the people as consumers have to act accordingly and use their purchasing power.
“For instance, they (the government) have fixed the ceiling price of chicken at RM8.90 per kilogramme, with an additional service charge that is justified because the material price is controlled,” she said on a live show on Astro Awani.
Che Wan Jasimah said that people should also make adjustments to their lifestyle by becoming less reliant on a single type of food on their daily menu.
“This goes back to how we manage our meals at home by changing the menu on a regular basis.
“If previously they used to cook chicken, maybe can vary by adding in eggs, beef and vegetables. I would also like to note that home-cooked meals are far healthier and safer, but there's nothing wrong with dining out on occasion,” she said
Meanwhile, Che Wan Jasimah advised consumers to avoid storing raw food items in order to reduce wastage due to their limited shelf life.
“There is no need to purchase huge quantities of fresh items because this would result in increased market demand but the stock is running low,” she added.
