Tuanku Zara (in khaki shirt and black pants) with The Lost Food Project founder Suzanne Mooney (in burgundy suit) during the launch in Kuala Lumpur.
THE Lost Food Project (TLFP) is a Malaysian non-profit dedicated to rescuing and distributing viable “lost food” to those in need.
It recently opened the Lost Food Project Central, a food rescue charity warehouse in Jalan Tiga off Jalan Chan Sow Lin, Kuala Lumpur.
Spanning over 10,000sq ft, the warehouse will be able to accept more food from donors and ramp up distribution to those in need.
Chief executive officer Ab Wahab Long said, “What this means now is that we have the opportunity to help more people and will not have to turn away donors.”
Donors can send food to the warehouse, or have TLFP volunteers collect it from places like supermarkets and wet markets in the city.
According to Ab Wahab, 60% of the food that reaches the warehouse comes directly from the Selayang Wholesale Market.
“These are fast-moving items like fruits and vegetables and we need to get them out quick.
“We have a team stationed at the market to rescue food seven days a week to ensure that it gets to those in need.
“These are good-quality food, all perfectly edible and nutritious, that would otherwise end up in landfills.”
Ab Wahab said “surplus” food was channelled to those who needed it most like the B40 community living in low-cost housing schemes in the Klang Valley.
“For instance in Lembah Pantai, we reach out to the residents association’s representatives of the People’s Housing Projects (PPR) in the area.
“They are the best people to identify the ones in need and will distribute the food accordingly.”
He said it was crucial that the food went to the people who really needed it, according to the amount they required.
“For example, for senior citizens who don’t cook, we won’t give them fresh vegetables. We give them bread and fruits instead.
“Otherwise, the fresh vegetables will end up in the rubbish bin anyway and eventually in the landfill, which is not what we want,” he said, adding that it was crucial that the distribution system worked efficiently.
“We also have volunteers who collect breads and pastries from various bakeries to channel to charities nearby,” said Ab Wahab.
The organisation has worked with over 82 NGOs which serve the elderly, disabled, homeless, orphans, refugees and other underserved communities.
Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim, who is the royal patron of The Lost Food Project, graced the launch of the new warehouse, according to a Bernama report.
The internal warehouse area with a capacity for 126 pallets of ambient and dried goods will also be used as a cold storage in future.
Tuanku Zara said in her speech, “I am amazed to learn that The Lost Food Project has delivered close to a staggering 15 million meals to those in need, equivalent to 4.6 million kilogramme of rescued food.
“According to the team, 17,000 tonnes of good food are wasted daily by Malaysians.
“The team redirects the food to where it is needed, to help Malaysians who have fallen on hard times.”
