According to a Friday statement by the Malaysian Deputy Health Minister Datuk Rosnah Abdul Rashid Shirlin, the country is initiating a crusade to push a reduction in sugar content in food and beverages.

The proposed campaign for reducing sugar consumption in the country probably comes in the wake of recent media reports revealing that due to the global scarcity of sugar, resulting from a plunge in production of leading sugar exporters like India and Brazil, the Malaysian government was facing difficulties in sugar procurement.

In a January 12 meeting, to be chaired by Shirlin, the Health Ministry will interact with 60 representatives from the food and beverage industry; and persuade them try and bring about a reduction in their products' sugar content. Representative of the Domestic Trade, Cooperatives and Consumerism Ministry will also be attending the meeting.

Noting that a number of companies had already started reducing the sugar content in their food and beverages, thereby marking their support of the campaign to reduce sugar consumption, Shirlin said that her Ministry expects that consumers too would voluntarily reduce their sugar consumption.

Drawing attention to the statistics from Consumers Association of Penang (CAP), Shirlin said that Malaysians consumed 26 teaspoons of sugar per day, as compared to the recommended seven tea spoons, and added: "We have to enlighten the people that excessive sugar intake is harmful to health."