Eco-friendly kitchenware: Fazlina with her students Zarith (centre) and Nur Farisha Dania showing off the edible food containers.
KOTA TINGGI: Fancy polishing off your plate along with your next meal?
A primary school here has developed a line of edible food containers made from oil palm stems in an effort to cut down on plastic use and waste.
SK Felda Air Tawar 1 teacher Fazlina Hasbullah said she and her colleague, science teacher Zuraini Mas Agus Darwis, began studying ways to make edible tableware about a month ago.
“Since our school is surrounded by oil palm plantations, we decided to incorporate the stems of the trees for the product as they are readily available.
“After cleaning and grinding the stem, we blend it with wheat flour, corn flour, water, and sugar, and wait for the concoction to sink to the bottom of the blender.
“Once the liquid has separated from the blend and been discarded, we roll the thick paste on a flat surface and mould it.
“We also add a splash of food flavouring and colour to make the product look, smell and taste more appealing when used for serving food and drinks,” said Fazlina, who teaches remedial classes.
She also said that the natural anti-cancer properties and nutrients of the tree stem make the edible containers stand out.
The invention also won first place at a competition in Kota Tinggi that was held recently as part of the Keluarga Malaysia National Science Week.
Fazlina added it took them a few tries to get the right balance of ingredients needed to form a strong paste for the food containers, which has a biscuit-like texture when dried. She said they then taught some Year Four pupils how to make the edible food containers, which also teaches them science and technology applications as well as soft skills.
“The school and the parent-teacher association are quite supportive as we have served food using the edible plates and cups on a few occasions and in various school programmes.
“The product keeps well in an air-tight container, but it is fragile and tends to chip off if not handled with care,” she said, adding that they hope to develop the product further and commercialise as an additional income for the school.
One of Fazlina’s students, Zarith Sophia Ismadi, 10, said her interest in cooking made it easy for her to follow the instructions.
“It was my first time getting involved in such a hands-on project, and it was fun as I always watch my mother cook at home.
“At first, the plates I made kept crumbling and breaking, so I had to learn from my mistakes and follow the steps closely,” said the pupil.
