KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia needs urgent and decisive action to address the growing food waste crisis, including the introduction of a Food Waste Reduction Act, says Alliance for a Safe Community chairman Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye.
He said that the alarming scale of food waste in Malaysia placed the country as one of the largest contributors to food waste in the region and according to recent studies, Malaysians wasted approximately 16,688 tonnes of food daily, which was enough to feed millions of people.
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“This waste includes edible food discarded by households, restaurants, supermarkets, and food manufacturers
"Shockingly, nearly 60 per cent of this waste is avoidable, meaning it consists of food that could have been consumed if managed properly,” he said in a statement today.
Lee said food waste should not be seen merely as a moral concern, but as a serious environmental and economic crisis, as wasted food also meant wasted resources such as water, energy, land and labour.
To address the issue, Lee called for the introduction of the Food Waste Reduction Act that would set clear reduction targets, mandate reporting for businesses and provide guidelines for food donation and recycling, alongside penalties for excessive waste and incentives for sustainable practices.
He said the introduction of necessary legislation could address the environmental impact of food waste by enforcing sustainable practices across the food supply chain, from production to consumption.
“Legislation can incentivise businesses to adopt measures that minimise waste, such as better inventory management and donation of surplus food to those in need,” he said.
On the social aspect, Lee said legislation could encourage the redistribution of surplus food to charities and food banks to ensure access to nutritious meals, thus addressing the struggle faced by many Malaysians with food insecurity despite large quantities of edible food being discarded.
Lee said Malaysia’s commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including the target to halve food waste by 2030, further underscored the need for a legal framework to provide structure and accountability.
He said legislation could also help change consumer behaviour through measures such as mandatory food waste reporting for businesses, public education campaigns and incentives to reduce waste, fostering a culture of sustainability.
“Food waste is a problem that we can no longer ignore. It is a threat to our environment, our economy and our society,” he said, adding that legislative action would be a significant step towards building a more sustainable and equitable Malaysia.
