Fomca calls for national push to reduce sugar consumption
Alarming diabetes rates prompt call for national sugar reduction strategy
SHAH ALAM - The Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (Fomca) is urging the government to elevate the "Less Sugar, Lower Prices" campaign to a national priority.
This, they believe, is crucial for achieving its goals of reducing sugar intake and promoting public health.
Fomca President Datuk Dr N. Marimuthu said that despite 60 years of efforts to reduce sugar consumption among Malaysians, success has yet to be realised.
“We’ve been trying to reduce sugar for 60 years but haven’t succeeded. So, let's not deceive ourselves. If we’re going to run a campaign, it must be comprehensive and integrated across all ministries.
“The Domestic Trade and Cost of Living Ministry (KPDN) should involve the Education Ministry and the Health Ministry. It needs to become a national agenda, not just a KPDN initiative,” he told Sinar.
Marimuthu emphasised that a comprehensive campaign could help address the issue of excessive sugar consumption, which is linked to an increase in diabetes cases.
“Our main goal is to ensure the public’s health and to promote a culture of reducing sweetness in daily diets,” he added.
However, Marimuthu declined to comment further on the impact of price reductions on the use of sugar in food and beverages.
“Typically, prices don’t decrease globally. It may be difficult to achieve price reductions because, for example, making cakes involves more than just sugar, it also requires other ingredients like cooking oil, flour, and onions,” he added.
For the record, the Health Ministry has previously conducted several initiatives to educate the public about reducing sugar intake, including the Healthy Lifestyle Campaign, which started in 1991.
In 1998, the Less Sugar Campaign was conducted intensively and has continued.
Last year, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim directed all ministries and government agencies to implement the sugar reduction campaign, as Malaysia currently records the highest number of diabetes cases in Asia.
He said that reports indicated Malaysia has the highest number of diabetes cases in Asia, and health-related issues are no longer the sole responsibility of the Health Ministry.
In response, Anwar wants all ministries, including the Rural Development Ministry, Deputy Ministers, and Chief Secretaries, to implement the sugar reduction campaign.
