10/04/2025

THURSDAY | APR 10, 2025

5

‘You are what you eat’

Healthcare worker duped of RM1.2m KEPALA BATAS: A healthcare worker suffered losses of more than RM1.2 million after falling victim to a non-existent online investment scam recently. North Seberang Perai police chief ACP Anuar Abdul Rahman said the Commercial Crime Investigation Division received a report from the 58-year-old victim on Friday. “The victim saw an ad for the investment on Facebook on Dec 20. Interested in the package that promised returns of 500% to 800% on the capital, the victim transferred money into seven bank accounts,” he said in a statement. However, the victim did not received any returns and subsequently lodged a police report. The case is being investigated under Section 420 of the Penal Code. – Bernama Man held for trespassing on army grounds IPOH: A 50-year-old man has been arrested for trespassing on the grounds of Company C, Second Battalion, 503rd Regiment of the Territorial Army in Gerik. Gerik police chief Supt Zulkifli Mahmood confirmed the arrest at 2.35pm after a military volunteer reported spotting the suspect, known as “Mat”, inside the fenced area at around 8.45am on Tuesday. In a statement, he said investigations revealed the suspect spray-painted a message reading “No entry without business”’ on a building wall and threatened the complainant, claiming he was the owner of the land.

heart disease by 42%. He said continued reliance on unhealthy foods stems from “convenience, affordability and aggressive marketing”. With over 78% of Malaysians living in urban areas, fast-paced lifestyles make ready-to-eat and instant options the default, especially for time-starved B40 and M40 families. According to Mohamad Khairi, marketing plays a significant role, particularly among children. “Colourful packaging, mascots and jingles condition kids to crave these foods.” While the Health Ministry regulates food additives under the Food Act 1983 and Food Regulations 1985, Khairi stressed that enforcement alone would not change public behaviour. “What we need is awareness. Reading food labels, understanding what goes into our meals and choosing whole, fresh ingredients whenever possible can protect us from a future burdened by disease. “Eat real food, not food-like products. Your future self will thank you,” he added, urging Malaysians to be more mindful of their food choices.

Health Organisation as probable carcinogens. Artificial sweeteners such as aspartame and sucralose, commonly found in “sugar-free” products, have been linked to gut disruption and heart disease risks. Synthetic food colouring, such as Tartrazine and Allura Red, have raised concerns for their potential link to hyperactivity in children. Preservatives that include sodium benzoate and BHA/BHT, although legal, are flagged for potential cancer and hormone related issues. “These additives are allowed under Malaysian food regulations, but the concern lies in cumulative exposure. Just because it is permitted does not mean it is safe in the amounts people consume daily,” Mohamad Khairi added. “There is strong scientific evidence linking frequent consumption of processed meats, sugary drinks and refined carbs to NCD. Yet, these are everyday staples in many homes.” He cited global studies showing that just one or two sugary drinks a day could increase the risk of diabetes by 26%, while eating 50g of

shift is dangerous.” He said while not all processed foods are harmful, as canned vegetables, yogurt and packaged bread can retain much of their original nutritional value, ultra-processed foods (UPF) are a different matter. This category includes instant noodles, sugary drinks, processed meats and colourful snacks, which are industrially formulated with additives, emulsifiers and artificial flavouring to enhance taste and prolong shelf life. “These foods are calorie-dense but nutritionally poor. They are high in sugar, salt and unhealthy fats, yet low in fibre, protein and essential vitamins.” Excessive consumption of UPF has been linked to obesity, diabetes, heart disease, certain cancers and even depression. “Even when people think they’re making harmless food choices, they may be unknowingly consuming a cocktail of chemicals that carry long term health risks,” Mohamad Khairi said. He highlighted several concerns, including MSG, which is said to trigger headaches or palpitations and has been linked to hypertension and metabolic disorders. Nitrates and nitrites in processed meats can convert into nitrosamines, which are classified by the World

PETALING JAYA: That steaming cup of instant noodles, colourful fizzy drink or the snack you grabbed at the petrol station are all fast, cheap and tasty foods. But they may also be fuelling a slow, silent epidemic in Malaysia. Information on the Health Ministry Institute for Public Health website indicates that millions of adults are living with chronic conditions. The data indicates that 15.6% of the adult population (one in every six individuals) have diabetes, with two in five unaware of their condition. Nearly one in three adults (29.2%) live with hypertension and over 33% have high cholesterol, half of whom remain undiagnosed. More than 2.3 million adults suffer from a combination of three major non-communicable diseases (NCD), Ű BY DEEPALAKSHMI MANICKAM newsdesk@thesundaily.com o Dangerous to consume unhealthy foods daily as core component of diet, says expert

processed meat daily can raise the risk of

while over half a million are managing all four – diabetes, hypertension, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu Food Technology Programme lecturer Assoc Prof Dr cholesterol and obesity.

high

Mohamad Khairi Mohd Zainol said t h e

Police recovered several items believed to have been used for the break-in from the intruder, including a hammer and a spade. The case is being investigated under Section 448 of the Penal Code and the suspect will appear in court for a remand order. Anyone with information on the case is urged to contact Sgt Muhamad Suwadi Mohd at 016-880 4375. – Bernama RTD clarifies report on Lamborghini seizure KUALA LUMPUR: The Road Transport Department (RTD) has clarified that a Lamborghini and Enforcement Department, Immigration Department and the National Anti-Drug Agency were involved in the operation.

convenience of modern food is contributing to a growing health crisis, one that is deeply connected to our everyday diet.

“Processed foods are no longer just occasional additions to our meals. They have become the core diet for many Malaysians and this

Duo arrested over fraud case KUALA LUMPUR: The Kuala Lumpur Police Traffic Investigation and Enforcement Department has

motorcyclist then handed RM1,400 in cash and an iPhone 12 Pro Max to the man, purportedly for the purpose of paying a compound fine and renewing insurance coverage for the motocycle, after which the man fled. However, the suspect and another man were arrested by the police the next day and several items, including the victim’s mobile phone, police seizure form, drugs and a vehicle believed to have been used in the activity were seized from them. He advised the public not to entertain unknown individuals offering services related to the release of confiscated vehicles or settlement of summonses as all such transactions should be done officially at a legitimate counter and not through middlemen. – Bernama

old content creator was among 27 vehicles seized during the operation. It is learnt the man was driving the car to his home in Damansara Heights with his girlfriend after attending the launching of a fast food restaurant in Kepong. “We checked 1,627 vehicles and 211 vehicles were subjected to enforcement action. We also seized 24 motorcycles, two commercial vehicles and a car. “We issued 463 compound notices for various offences such as driving without a licence, road tax or insurance, and for illegal vehicle modifications.” Hamidi said 115 officers and personnel from various agencies, including the Traffic Investigation

arrested two men for suspected involvement in a fraud case by impersonating agents to release motorcycles seized by police. Its chief ACP Mohd Zamzuri Mohd Isa said in a statement the arrests were made following a report by a 25-year old local man who claimed to be a victim of such activity. He said the man was arrested in a traffic operation on April 5 at Jalan Tun Razak and his motorcycle was seized for illegal vehicle modifications. “While outside the police station, he was approached by an unknown man who offered to help release the seized motorcycle for a fee.” Mohd Zamzuri said the

Aventador driven by a Chinese national without a licence was not seized as previously reported. The department said the driver was only issued a summons during an integrated special operation in conjunction with Aidilfitri in Jalan Bangsar on Tuesday. “RTD only issued a summons to the driver and allowed the passenger with a licence to take the vehicle home. We apologise for any confusion caused,” it said in a statement yesterday. Earlier, media reports quoted RTD director Hamidi Adam as saying that the luxury car driven by the 28-year

“Two men and a woman were also detained after testing positive for cannabis abuse,” he said, adding that 4,559 notices for various road offences were issued during the 14 day special operation, that began on March 24 and ended on Tuesday. “A total of 15,490 vehicles were inspected at major locations around the capital, including Terminal Bersepadu Selatan, Terminal Bersepadu Gombak, highways and main roads. “Enforcement action was taken against 1,729 vehicles, and 24 vehicles were seized.” – Bernama