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KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 — The Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) has claimed that healthy diets are unaffordable only to less than 2 per cent of Malaysians.
According to KPKM’s Draft National Food Security Blueprint (NFSB) 2030: Policy document, which was uploaded onto the government’s unified public consultation portal for public feedback from last August 26 to today, the cost of a healthy diet in Malaysia rose 17.1 per cent from 3.22 purchasing power parity (PPP) dollars per person per day in 2017 to 3.77 PPP in 2022.
“Despite these rising costs, the proportion of Malaysians unable to afford a healthy diet remained relatively stable over the period,” stated the Draft NFSB 2030.
“In 2017, 4.0 per cent of the population was unable to meet the cost of a healthy diet, with the proportion consistently trending downward and decreasing marginally to 1.8 per cent in 2022.”
These figures were cited from a global 2024 report by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and other UN agencies titled, “The State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World 2024”, released in July 2024.
KPKM’s Draft NFSB 2030 used the UN definition of “healthy diet”: at least 400g of fruits and vegetables per day, less than 30 per cent of total energy intake from fats, less than 10 per cent of total energy intake from free sugars, and consuming less than 5g of salt per day.
A recent informal survey by the Galen Centre for Health and Social Policy and Universiti Teknologi MARA’s (UiTM) Dental Public Health postgraduate programme found that Malaysia’s healthy plate model, or “Suku-Suku Separuh”, is unaffordable for most Malaysian families.
The Galen Centre-UiTM poll, conducted last July and is believed to be the first data of its kind in Malaysia, estimated that eating two daily Suku-Suku Separuh meals costs about 46 per cent of household income nationwide.
By state, the costs range from 66 per cent of household income in Sarawak to 32 per cent of household income in Labuan.
Nationwide, the average price of a Suku-Suku Separuh plate was estimated at about RM12.60, with prices ranging from about RM16.30 in Kuala Lumpur to about RM8.50 in Kedah.
Ministry of Health (MOH) guidelines define a Suku-Suku Separuh plate as a quarter protein, a quarter carbohydrates, and half fruits and vegetables.
According to KPKM’s Draft NFSB 2030, Malaysian households spent an average of RM5,150 per month in 2022, with food and beverages ranking as the second-highest household expense at 16.3 per cent (RM841).
“A substantial portion of household expenditure was allocated to food away from home, accounting for 15.3 per cent of total spending. This category experienced a significant increase, with average monthly expenditure increasing from RM516 in 2016 to RM790 in 2022,” said the report.
“The urban population in Malaysia generally allocates a larger portion of their expenditure to food and beverages consumed away from home, at 15.8 per cent, compared to 15 per cent for home-prepared meals.
“This trend is particularly pronounced in Pulau Pinang, where 20.1 per cent of total expenditure is dedicated to food and beverages consumed away from home, in stark contrast to 13.2 per cent set aside for home-cooked meals.
“Similarly, in Selangor, 18.4 per cent of spending is directed toward food and beverages consumed away from home, compared to only 11.6 per cent allocated for home-prepared meals.”
Aside from general Malaysia data on the cost and alleged widespread affordability of a healthy diet, which was taken from a UN report, the Draft NFSB 2030 did not provide a state breakdown of the cost of a healthy diet, nor link affordability to Malaysia’s food consumption patterns.
Poultry And Beef Consumption Increased, Mackerel Consumption Fell, Coconuts And Round Cabbage Most Popular
Citing a Herbalife Nutrition Survey, the Draft NFSB 2030 said 61 per cent of Malaysian adults have increased their intake of fruits and vegetables, 47 per cent reduced meat consumption, and 41 per cent incorporated more plant-based foods.
However, the KPKM report acknowledged that per capita consumption (PCC) in Malaysia continued to show a strong preference for staple food items.
Malaysia’s poultry PCC has experienced significant growth, nearly tripling from 18.8 kg in 1990 to 50.7 kg in 2023. Beef PCC in Malaysia has also demonstrated steady growth, doubling from 2.6 kg in 1990 to 6.7 kg in 2023. The PCC for pork decreased slightly from 17.4 kg in 2021 to 17.0 kg in 2023.
On seafood PCC, mackerel consumption fell significantly, decreasing from 7.8 kg per year in 2007 to 4.8 kg per year in 2023. “Nonetheless, it remains the most widely consumed fish in Malaysia.”
The Draft NFSB 2030 found a strong preference for coconuts, with PCC rising from 14.9 kg in 2007 to 24.9 kg in 2023, which the report attributed to the consumption of coconut in the form of santan (coconut milk).
Conversely, the consumption of other selected fruits has remained relatively stable over the past 15 years, with durian recording a per capita consumption of 16.6 kg, mango at 1.4 kg, pineapple at 9.8 kg and banana at 10.0 kg in 2023.
The vegetable most consumed by Malaysians is round cabbage, with a consumption rate of 7.5 kg in 2023, marking a substantial increase from 1 kg in 2007. Another significant increase in PCC is observed in tomatoes, which increased significantly from 0.5 kg in 2007 to 4.2 kg in 2023, and mustard greens, which increased from 2.8 kg to 4.7 kg over the same period.
In 2023, other vegetables with high PCC include cucumbers at 3.1 kg and chilies at 2.3 kg.
Malnutrition And Rising NCDs Identified, Targeted Interventions Proposed
KPKM’s Draft NFSB 2030 highlighted problems of stunting (21.2 per cent), wasting (11.0 per cent), and overweight (5.6 per cent) among Malaysian children aged under five years in 2022.
Overweight and obesity rates have increased in the Malaysian adult population aged 18 years and above. In 2023, about 32.6 per cent of adults were overweight (up from 30.4 per cent in 2019), while 21.8 per cent were obese (up from 19.7 per cent in 2019). More than half of Malaysian adults are overweight or obese.
“Malnutrition in Malaysia is driven by a combination of economic barriers, poor dietary behaviours, and limited awareness of nutritional health. Elevated food prices, particularly for nutrient-dense items such as fruits, vegetables, and protein-rich foods, render these essential components of a balanced diet inaccessible to low-income households,” said the Draft NFSB 2030, without providing data.
At the same time, KPKM’s report blamed “cultural preferences” for calorie-dense and fried foods, as well as limited awareness of balanced diets, for malnutrition in the country.
“Without adequate education on healthy eating and the importance of nutrient diversity, many individuals continue to make food choices that do not meet their nutritional requirements.”
The Draft NFSB 2030 also linked increased consumption of processed and energy-dense foods that are high in fats, sugars, and salt to Malaysia following the “global trend of globalisation, urbanisation, and economic development.”
KPKM’s report acknowledged that this “nutritional transition” has contributed to the rising prevalence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), “reflecting global patterns.”
The Draft NFSB 2030 pointed out that total health care expenditure in Malaysia has more than doubled over the past decade, surging from RM35.95 billion in 2011 to RM78.95 billion in 2022, highlighting the growing burden of chronic disease on the health care system.
“A substantial portion of this increase is attributable to unhealthy diets and sedentary lifestyles, both of which are major risk factors for NCDs,” said KPKM’s report.
“Risk factor data indicate that unhealthy dietary habits contributed to approximately 68.9 per cent of productivity losses associated with premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases, equating to an estimated RM1.75 billion in lost productivity.
“Malaysia’s nutrition landscape is increasingly marked by a growing intake of processed foods, sugary beverages, and convenience meals, driven by hectic urban lifestyles and the rising trend of dining out.”
Despite acknowledging Malaysia’s rise in NCDs, mainly due to unhealthy diets, and a heavier burden on the health care system, the Draft NFSB 2030 mainly proposed “targeted interventions to address regional disparities in food affordability and promote equitable access to nutritious diets across the country.”
KPKM’s proposed targeted interventions focused on low-income families, women of reproductive age, and children aged under five.
The Draft NFSB 2030 also aimed to stimulate consumer-driven demand for safe and healthy foods.
“This strategy recognises that shifting consumer preferences toward healthier, locally sourced food options plays a vital role in addressing the rising prevalence of NCDs and promoting sustainable consumption practices.”
The Draft NFSB 2030 stated that the end goal of sustainable food systems in Malaysia was “cost and affordability of healthy diet.”
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