Mstar hari ini 18 Feb 07 melaporkan bahawa RTM sedia untuk mengharamkan iklan makanan segera. Kesediaan itu sebagai mengulas kenyataan Menteri Kesihatan yang mencadangkan iklan seperti itu diharamkan. Bukan TRM sahaja patut mengharamkan iklan-iklan berkenaan tetapi semua stesyen TV yang lain patut juga mengambil langkah demikian. Makanan segera kini semakin mendapat tempat di kalangan rakyat negara ini khususnya golongan kanak-kanak dan remaja yang menjadi makanan segera ini sebagai satu in-trend.
Mengamalkan makanan segera adalah tidak sihat khususnya kepada mereka yang sedang membesar. Saya sendiri sudah lama tidak mengalakkan anak-anak saya mengambil makanan segera khususnya daripada rangkaian restoran makanan segera yang begitu banyak di negara kita. Hanya sekali-sekala sahaja saya memenuhi permintaan mereka supaya tidak terkilan. Langkah yang saya ambil iaitu mengaitkan Amerika (boikot) dengan rangkaian restoran makanan segera dan minuman Cola (satu lagi minuman yang tidak sihat) itu berjaya mengawal nafsu makan anak-anak saya terhadap jenama yang ada kaitan dengan negara itu.
Satu lagi taktik rangkaian restoran makanan segera untuk menarik perhatian kanak-kanak ialah dengan menyediakan alat permainan (toys) mengikut tema dari semasa ke semasa. Sememangnya ia berjaya memikat hati kanak-kanak yang lebih berminat untuk mendapatkan permainan tersebut dan bukannya makanan yang dijual.
Mengamalkan makanan segera adalah tidak sihat khususnya kepada mereka yang sedang membesar. Saya sendiri sudah lama tidak mengalakkan anak-anak saya mengambil makanan segera khususnya daripada rangkaian restoran makanan segera yang begitu banyak di negara kita. Hanya sekali-sekala sahaja saya memenuhi permintaan mereka supaya tidak terkilan. Langkah yang saya ambil iaitu mengaitkan Amerika (boikot) dengan rangkaian restoran makanan segera dan minuman Cola (satu lagi minuman yang tidak sihat) itu berjaya mengawal nafsu makan anak-anak saya terhadap jenama yang ada kaitan dengan negara itu.
Satu lagi taktik rangkaian restoran makanan segera untuk menarik perhatian kanak-kanak ialah dengan menyediakan alat permainan (toys) mengikut tema dari semasa ke semasa. Sememangnya ia berjaya memikat hati kanak-kanak yang lebih berminat untuk mendapatkan permainan tersebut dan bukannya makanan yang dijual.
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Thursday, February 22, 2007
The Malaysian Ministry of Health Got It All Wrong on Fast Food Adverts Ban on TV/Media
I am appalled by the decision of Health Minister of Malaysia, Datuk Seri Dr Chua Soi Lek to ban fast food ad on TV in order to curb the "rise of lifestyle diseases like obesity, diabetes and hypertension" among kids and the Malaysian public in general. The Malaysian Medical Association is also recommending 'sinful' tax on food of this kind. Read more:
1. Kementerian Kesihatan Malaysia Mahu Haramkan Iklan Makanan Segera Di Media
2. RTM sedia haramkan iklan makanan segera
The decision shows how we always got it wrong on not tackling the root of the problems when it comes to promote better lifestyle. These are probable root causes in this matter (not comprehensive):
1. The unhealthy trans fat or other forms of fat intake, sugar, salt in food
2. Frequent food intakes
3. Late food intake
4. Higher sugar level in food and beverages
5. Lack of exercise
There are few drawbacks from the move on banning fast food advertisements:
1. Local media industry will be impacted by this move. They are lots of ads money lost from the banned of tobbacco products ads and sports sponsorship
* "Cigarettes were the most advertised product in 1981 when $9 million was spent."
2. Does the ban of tobacco products on TV actually reduce the numbers of smokers?
* "The number of cigarette smokers increased from 5 to 7% over the last decade. Recent studies of secondary school children showed a smoking incidence of about 20%; about half were habitual smokers and about 1% had smoked for over 3 years."
3. Does instant food such as Maggi Mee, Nescafe 3-in-1, Coffee-mate, Ali Cafe 3-in-1, etc. fall under the same category? If the government thinks otherwise, I think they are making bigger mistake!
4. Hypothetically, if fast food ban will improve our lifestyle; let's consider these:
* Motorcycles ads should be banned as many motorists are killed on the road every year.
o "In Malaysia, about 60% of traffic fatalities involve motorized 2-wheelers" - Asian Development Bank
o However, hats off to the Transportation Ministry on the right campaigns on the importance of helmets and stop at red lights
* Credit cards ads should be banned as the nation relies more on plastic money and becoming a "debt nation"
o "The outstanding debt of credit card holders was 5.72 billion ringgit ($1.50 billion) at the end of March, an increase of 1.3 billion ringgit from 4.41 billion ringgit on March 31, 1998, the central bank said."
* Only thin models or personalities are allowed to appear on TV as they are good role model for our children healthy lifestyle (and thus limiting TV appearances of horizontally challenged people)
* Food outlets such as Mamak's 24-hr joint should be closed by 10 pm
o Read The American Society for Nutritional Sciences paper on The Time of Day of Food Intake Influences Overall Intake in Humans
* Government should no longer serve food during festive season's open houses as they promote excessive food intake
* Ban of buffet in hotels or restaurants during Ramadhan for the unhealthy amount of food served
In some way, this shows that our government wants to improve our lifestyle but totally got it wrong in its policy.
Here are my recommendations:
1. Ban of trans fat ingredients or food in restaurants (not just fast food). New York and Canada got it right on this one! Read New York Times article "New York Bans Most Trans Fats in Restaurants"
2. Educate public on trans fat intake and its risks
3. Enforce food and drink operators to explicitly publish certified nutritional information of food served
4. All ministry office or government offices to have gymnasium of recreational centers or give tax breaks for private sector's offices to open such facility at workplace
5. In a land where our people already thinking about what to eat during lunch at breakfast and greet each other (same is true among Malays, Chinese, and Indian) "Dah Makan?" "Jom Makan", there should be paradigm shift in our culture on food
In conclusion, our health ministry focuses on the wrong preventive campaign and playing the "blame is it all" to a particular industry when there are more proactive ways of promoting healthy lifestyle.
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