Channel NewsAsia - Sunday, February
24
SINGAPORE: Singapore is importing more frozen meat like chicken
and pork today compared to eight years ago.
According to the Agri—Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore
(AVA), import numbers have risen by between seven and 20 percentage
points, with the import of frozen pork seeing the highest
increase.
Frozen pork import was 38 percent in 2000 and last year, it
stood at 58 percent. Frozen chicken import was 55 percent in 2000,
but rose to 62 percent last year, while frozen beef import went up
to 91 percent last year from 84 percent in 2000.
AVA has launched a new campaign to encourage more Singaporeans
to switch from chilled meat to frozen meat.
The campaign will educate consumers on areas like how to handle,
store and cook frozen meat.
Frozen chicken and pork are about 15 to 20 percent cheaper than
chilled ones. In fact, some cuts like chicken drumsticks and wings
could be cheaper by about 50 percent.
Tng Ah Yiam, director, Integrated Purchasing, NTUC Fairprice,
said: "In the last six months, we’ve seen an increase of 15 percent
for sale of frozen meat and an increase of nearly 25 percent for
frozen chicken parts."
At the launch of the AVA campaign, Minister of State for
National Development, Ms Grace Fu, pointed out that contrary to
popular belief, frozen meat is as tasty and nutritious as chilled
ones.
"If there are alternatives that give us the same value for less,
I think in this time of rising inflation, it’s good that we have
choices for consumers," she said.
Currently, food stalls and restaurants are still the main users
of frozen meat. Experts said if you are not cooking the meat
immediately after you buy it, it is best to get the frozen ones
because they can be kept for as long as six months in the freezer.
— CNA/so
