NILAI: Government has allocated RM464,000 to provide functioning ‘autoclave machines’ (via commercial sterilization and vacuum sealing) to prevent food waste, Deputy Minister of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) said ) Datuk Rosol Wahid.
He said the government has urged the hospitality industry, catering operators and food traders to work together to deliver food to places where there are autoclave machine installations to achieve zero waste.
He said that so far autoclaves have been installed at Seri Malaysia Perlis Hotel, Primula Terengganu Hotel, Le Meridien Putrajaya Hotel and Al Huda Enterprise and Food Aid Foundation in Kuala Lumpur.
“The government plans to install this machine at Sultan Idris Shah Sg Air Tawar Polytechnic in Selangor, Grand Darul Makmur Hotel Kuantan in Pahang and Seri Malaysia Alor Setar Hotel in Kedah.
“I have been informed that at least four tons of food will be wasted during Ramadan this year. The ministry is planning to make this machine available in Sabah and Sarawak,” he said during the Aidilfitri program “Jualan Malaysia Rancak at the AEON mall here on Wednesday (April 27).
He said that through this initiative, more than 2,000 packets of autoclaved food have been distributed to flood-affected university students this year.
He added that foods packaged using the autoclave machine are guaranteed to be clean, have a longer shelf life and are safe to eat.
He said the machine was an initiative of the ministry through Food Bank Malaysia to achieve the goal of zero waste in food and beverages – which are still good and intact – to help target groups get secure food supplies, especially during natural disasters. – Bernama
