KARACHI: Consulate-General of Malaysia in Karachi and Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) collaborated with Department of Food Science and Technology, University of Karachi for a “Technical Seminar on Diet and Health” at University of Karachi’s auditorium at Department of Food Science and Technology on 17th December 2019.
Technical seminar consisted of lectures from following well renowned and knowledgeable experts/speakers on varying subjects relating to oils used in food sector. Lectures included by Dr. S. M Ghufran Saeed Department of Food and Technology, University of Karachi on ‘Biological Function of Individual Fatty Acids of Oils and Fats’, then by Dr. Sivaruby Kanagaratnam from MPOB on ‘Eliminating Trans-Fat from Food System: Technical and Commercial Feasibility of Trans-Free Vanaspati’, Mr. Nadeem Jameel Head of QA, Development & Technical Applications IFFCO on ‘Selection of Oils and Fats for Food Industry: Nutritional and Technical Considerations’, by Dr. Shahina Naz on ‘health and Safety Aspects of Frying Oils’, by Dr. Norman Norawi PERDIM, Malaysia on ‘Dietary Fats and health: A Review and Recommendations Based on Scientific Evidence’ and finally by Mr. Johari Minal, Consul Science, Consulate General of Malaysia Karachi on ‘Diet and Obesity’.
After all these informative and useful lectures by experts, Consul General of Malaysia in Karachi Mr. Khair-ul-Nazran Abdul Rahman was invited for closing remarks and he thanked all the speakers and participants of this technical seminar and hoped that the presence of technical personnel here has successfully served as an important dialogue and knowledge sharing mechanism on this interesting topic.
The Malaysian Consul General started his speech by going non-technical and said; “allow me to also share my view from the non-technical perspective. Around 2500 years ago, Hipocrates said ‘Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food’. His quote transcends beyond time as healthy diet can optimise both short and long term health. Poor-quality dietary pattern or physical inactivity nutrition is a primary contributor to morbidity globally. The relationship between people and food is indeed a complex one. I understand that at the individual decision making level, taste, price and convenience are the top three factors considered in food choices”.
He said; “food manufacturers have created a food supply that is denominated by less healthy product that are tasty, cheap and convenient. Food science is used to create products that are difficult to resist and keep consumers coming back for more”.
He further stressed on the point and said; “policies aimed at addressing the complex determinant of food intake and the wide variety of environmental disincentives towards healthy eating are critical for improving the relationship between food and health, for instance the mandatory labelling of trans-fat. The labelling policy may urge food manufacturer and restaurant chain to change their products. Influencing the food supply through disclosure requirement could perhaps modify consumers’ behaviour. To maximise effectiveness, policies seeking to improve diet should be comprehensive and address the multilevel factors that drive consumption. It must include comprehensive action by the public and private sectors. I believe more research is needed to increase understanding of the impact of policy alternative on eating behaviour and diet related disease”.
On Pakistan’s market for oil and Fats, the Malaysian envoy said; “I note that Pakistan’s oil and fats market have grown significantly from 2.7 million metric tonnes in the year 2000 to reach 5.1 million metric tonnes last year. The market has grown almost double but yet the local production has yet to grow with the same pace and accounted for only 30% of total consumption. Hence, Malaysia has been for years playing her role to fix the demand supply gap. With an intake of 1.42 million tonnes of palm products in 2018 worth USD0.82 billion (RM3.27 billion), Pakistan was Malaysia’s fourth largest importer behind India, EU and China, accounted for about 49% of Malaysia’s total exports to Pakistan. Malaysia, at all times, ensures her palm oil production conforms to certain standards. Pakistan is among the first export destinations which Malaysia has major investments in bulking installation, refineries and liquid cargo jetty”.
On other countries using Malaysian Palm Oil, the Malaysian Consul General said; “Malaysia notes of the increasing need of many countries including China, India, EU, Turkey and the US to import palm oil to meet their oils and fats demand. Palm oil has now become a significant force in the global oils and fats market. Palm oil is the leading vegetable oil in the international exports trade, accounted for 56% of total world oil and fats exports in 2018.”
