Govt should abolish 24-hour eateries: Penang consumers group

 

The government should abolish the 24-hour operating licence given to eateries to reduce the negative effects of late-night meals, says the Consumers’ Association of Penang (CAP).

CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader today said that limiting late-night meals will be healthier for Malaysians, who now rank as the most obese adults in Southeast Asia.

“Even though shortening the operating hours for eateries would not completely solve the obesity issue in Malaysia, it would help reduce late-night eating among Malaysians.

“This, in turn, has the potential to foster healthier eating habits and promote better sleeping habits,” he said in a statement.

Obesity is a risk factor for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as type two diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer, he said.

He said that research shows that those who eat late at night exceed 40 percent of their daily energy requirements, which creates risks of obesity. 

According to the 2019 National Health and Morbidity Survey, 30.4 percent of Malaysians are overweight while another 19.7 percent are obese.

“The trends of overweight, obesity, and abdominal obesity continue to rise compared to the findings of 2011 and 2015,” the report of the survey said.

CAP president Mohideen Abdul Kader

Meanwhile, Mohideen said that the 24-hour availability of food products also has negative effects on oral health.

“The easy access to sugary snacks and drinks delivered at any time poses an ongoing threat to dental enamel, which greatly increases the risk of cavities and infections,” he said.

Besides that, health consequences are worsened by nutritional imbalances caused by consumption of processed and fast foods, he added.

“The government should be more serious in controlling the environment that encourages obesity by mandating that all food outlets be closed by midnight rather than be allowed to operate 24 hours a day.

“Meanwhile, Malaysians need to practice healthy lifestyles voluntarily and increase awareness to create a healthy nation,” he said. - Mkini