Feeding the underprivileged with The Lost Food Project

A grateful resident receives his allocated food package.

KUALA LUMPUR: Due to Malaysia’s reputation as a food haven, it is easy to forget that not everyone in society has equal access to good healthy food.

According to The Global Nutrition Report 2018 by the Independent Expert Group (IEG), Malaysia is a country that suffers all three burdens of malnutrition; namely obesity, stunting and anaemia.

Malaysians of the lower-income B40 group in particular are exposed to the dangers of malnutrition, as their lesser household income means that they cannot always provide their families with adequate nutrition.

The Lost Food Project redistributes wasted but edible food to the needy.

The increasing cost of living has also compounded matters, as has the lack of understanding of nutritional knowledge.

Hence, to mark World Food Day on Oct 16, Cargill and The Lost Food Project (TLFP) provided some 400 families, living at the Lembah Pantai PPR (public low cost housing), donated packages of nutrient-dense rice.

TLFP is the leading food bank of Malaysia, saving perfectly edible and still nutritious food from being wasted in landfills.

Bags of food ready to be distributed to the Lembah Pantai PPR community.

The food is then redistributed to the needy regardless of race, religion, age or gender.

These B40 families appreciate that the rice mix will provide a substantial boost to their diets as it is combined with dhal lentils and dehydrated vegetables.

In addition, each bag of the rice mix comes with a small vitamin pack to provide the families with the right nutrients necessary.

Bags of rice mixed with dhal lentils and dehydrated vegetables were given to the PPR residents.

The families also received supplies of cooking oil, Milo, coffee and soy melon drinks.

The food aid presentation, held at the Pantai Eco Park Community Centre, was attended by Muez Abdul Aziz and Fahmi Fadzil, Lembah Pantai Member of Parliament. The VIPs arrived to much fanfare and loud applause after a slight delay.

The residents awaiting the arrival of the VIPs.

Cargill’s Corporate Affairs Director said that their purpose is, “to nourish the world in a safe, responsible and sustainable way.”

TLFP founder, Suzanne Mooney shared that “World Food Day is an important global event. We need to remind ourselves that food security is critical for our mere survival.”

As the food packages were distributed to the families gathered there, the many volunteers who provided their services for the event were rewarded with looks of gratitude and words of thanks. - FMT