KUALA LUMPUR: A strategic plan for reducing sugar intake among Malaysians is being rolled out, and it will involve multi-sectoral actions, says Health Minister Dr Zaliha Mustafa.
Dr Zaliha said she had announced the matter at the 16th National Food and Nutrition Safety Council (MKMPK) meeting, which she chaired, at the ministry’s headquarters in Putrajaya on Tuesday.
She said the meeting on the plan, Strategic Plan for Reducing Sugar Among Malaysians (2023-2025), was also attended by Deputy Health Minister Lukanisman Awang Sauni, 18 representatives from various ministries and agencies, and four representatives from non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The NGOs are the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM), Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association (Fomca), Nutrition Society of Malaysia (NSM) and Malaysian Association for the Study of Obesity (Maso), Bernama reported.
“In the meeting, a motion was tabled on the implementation of the ministry’s Safe Food Certification as a condition for the supply of food at official meetings and events at all ministry facilities in Putrajaya,” she said in a statement yesterday.
Dr Zaliha said the matter needed to be refined before further action could be implemented.
She said the meeting was also informed about the National Food Safety Policy, the online monitoring system for the Malaysian National Nutrition Action Plan (MS-NPANM), the implementation of the Asean-level agreement concerning inspection and certification of food products, the gazette of new nutrient declarations for trans fatty acids and the declaration of new functions of antioxidants from palm oil, as well as the industry’s commitment to the production of food products with healthier options.
“This meeting will be used as a platform for discussion and coordination of activities to deal with the latest issues of food safety and nutrition to improve service delivery for the well-being of the people of Malaysia Madani,” she said.
