KUALA LUMPUR: It is high time for Malaysia to formulate a specific law on food waste to show the country’s commitment in addressing this critical global problem, says Miss Earth Malaysia 2022 Dr Kajel Kaur Gill.
She urged the government to draw up a law that could promote sustainable practices throughout the food supply chain to deal with excess food.
“We live in a country that has delicious food and most of the time, without even realising, we discard edible food which contributes to food waste.
“As such, the only way to stop the habit of wasting food is by having an effective law that can promote sustainable practices.
“Formulating a law on food waste in Malaysia would provide a comprehensive legal framework to tackle the environmental, social and economic challenges posed by food waste,” she added.
She said the move is also in line with the country’s commitment to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, which focuses on responsible consumption and production, among others.
Dr Kajel, who is waiting to start her housemanship, said this to Bernama during a press conference held recently to announce updates of the Miss Earth Malaysia 2023 beauty pageant.
Also present was the pageant’s national director Joshua Benedict.
For a start, she said, restaurants in Malaysia could put up signage like “Eat what you can” as a measure to raise awareness and educate public on food waste.
She said that France adopted a law in 2016 to address food waste and it has been effective.
On the beauty pageant competition, Dr Kajel said the event to pick her successor would be held in August with the title winner to represent Malaysia at Miss Earth international beauty pageant in Vietnam at the end of the year.
