“Our taste buds have been carpet-bombed for so long with sugar and salt that we have lost our innate ability to appreciate and savour the vast varieties of flavours found in fresh fruits, vegetables and meat,” the MDA said in a statement today.
The MDA statement is a prelude to their CSR event to raise awareness on the dangers of consuming excessive sugar and salt.
“The moment we feel the food is too bland, we reach for the sauce bottle that is inevitably packed with added sugar and salt.”
The event, called “MDA Think Tank Operasi Sifar Gula”, will see a lecture on economic transformation and the true cost of sugar, by Pemandu chief Idris Jala. It will also feature appearances by comedian Harith Iskandar and chef Redzuawan Ismail, popularly known as Chef Wan. It will be held at the Putra World Trade Centre on January 15.
“Malaysians are now labelled as the fattest people in Asia with one of the fastest growth in diabetes rates in the world,” MDA said.
“One in five Malaysians are diabetic and by 2020, one in 4 Malaysians will be diabetic and with the ‘sweet disease’ comes the complications of eye disease, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure and dialysis, limb necrosis and amputations.”
MDA added that the health ministry had recently announced that it costs the government RM4 billion a year to treat conditions related to diabetes.
MDA also pointed out that Malaysians tend to fry food with generous amounts of oil.
“Food manufacturers found out that when they added a little more sugar and a little more salt to their product, their sales go up. And if they fry them in oil, sales go through the roof,” MDA said.
“We need to move away from our love for sugar, salt and fried stuff and rediscover the wonderful variety of taste of fresh fruits, vegetables and meat.”