GEORGE TOWN – Putrajaya has been urged to continue limiting the operation hours of all food and beverage outlets, even after the pandemic is over, as late-night eating is a contributing factor to many diseases.
Consumer Association of Penang (CAP) president Mohideen Abdul Kader told The Vibes that the movement control order (MCO) is a good opportunity to look into health issues and permanently implement earlier closing hours for restaurants and cafes.
“We don’t want it just to be during the duration of MCO because we are concerned about people’s health.
“Some people may oppose our suggestion because they are used to this kind of culture, although it may be bad. It is so common to have food late at night and available at all times.
“With food stores open until the wee hours in the morning, people will continue to eat. They will watch football at the mamak stalls and continue eating until it is over, and that might already be 2am. It is overeating.”
He, however, did not discount that there are people who work night shifts and may need to have their meals late. However, he suggested takeout options be made available for them. As for the rest of the community, most would have had dinner by 9pm.
“The MCO, in some ways, has helped people cut down on their snacking. That, of course, is my impression.
“Nowadays, people are also more careful about spending money as income has gone down. We don’t have any statistics, but there is certainly a drop in consumption pattern.
“Cooking at home is the healthier option as ingredients are known and are generally of higher nutrition value.”
He added that there are food outlets that use recycled oil to prepare food, knowing that it is harmful to health.
“We have lost the culture of eating and cooking together, even as a family,” he said, adding that the percentage of people with diabetes is increasing compared with 30 years ago.
He believes that one of the causes is due to the types of food eaten and how often they are consumed.
Up until the end of last September, a total of 134 people with underlying heart diseases have died from Covid-19.
International research has shown that people with heart disease face more complications than those who do not.
In 2018, a total of 18,267 people died of heart diseases, at an average of 50 a day, Mohideen added.
Heart disease has been labelled as “deadliest” health condition in Malaysia for the past 14 years. – The Vibes, January 24, 2021
