Long-term solutions needed to address food wastage, say NGOs

KUALA LUMPUR: Non-governmental organisations believe that excess food at hotel Ramadan buffets would be put to good use in the Food Bank Malaysia programme.

However, they urged hotels to adhere to procedures to ensure that the food was distributed effectively.

Dapur Jalanan Kuala Lumpur coordinator Quratulain Atiqah Norzahirul Anuar said food banks were a great initiative and could carry more impact when backed and promoted by the authorities.

“Dapur Jalanan occasionally receives ingredients from supermarkets or food suppliers. These ingredients are usually close to the expiry date and we use them immediately in large quantities to cook for more than 100 people every week,” she said.

Quratulain however, noted that longterm solutions were needed to address food wastage such as those seen during Ramadan.

“A proper system and keeping records are important so that the list of recipients is updated. This can prevent redundant distribution, because if we ‘over-distribute’ to the same recipients, it could lead to wastage as well.

“Also, with regulations, hotels can operate on their own without redundancy.”

Another NGO, Feeding the Needy, said having hotels involved would mean less wastage when it came to Ramadan buffets.

Its co-founder, Mimi Liana Nasharuddin, however, said hotels must learn which types of food could be given away.

“That is why it’s important for hotels to follow the rules and not just go to any NGO and give us food. What’s needed is a system of endorsement by the NGOs or its partners to ensure that all regulations are complied with.”

Mimi said most hotels work with three of the ministry’s strategic partners — Mutiara Food Bank, Food Aid Foundation and Kechara Soup Kitchen — to assist in distributing food aid to target groups.