Neo Chai Chin, Today Online 26 Oct 09;
SINGAPORE - Encouraged by its success in getting more consumers to eat frozen meat instead of chilled meat, the authorities are now setting their sights on another food staple: Eggs.
By March, the Agri-food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) will launch a new campaign to get more people to buy liquid and powder eggs, instead of fresh eggs.
"Our heavy dependence on Malaysia as a single source of imported shell eggs, besides our local farms, makes us vulnerable to supply disruptions," Senior Minister of State (National Development) Grace Fu said yesterday.
Liquid and powder eggs can be stored longer and can hence be imported from farther-flung sources such as the United States, Europe and China.
To win over the public, AVA will hold events such as cooking demonstrations and classes in community centres - like what it has done for frozen meat in the last 18 months.
Since February last year, frozen meat sales at supermarkets have gone up 40 to 60 per cent, said Ms Fu.
A recent AVA survey of 720 respondents revealed that consumers buy frozen meat because of convenience, affordability and its longer shelf life.
But it appears AVA will have its work cut out to achieve the same results in its egg campaign. Consumers told MediaCorp they would choose fresh eggs even if they were pricier.
Said clerk Jane Wong, 38, who buys about 15 eggs weekly: "I will buy fresh eggs out of habit, even if it costs more than liquid or powder eggs. But if our fresh eggs supply is disrupted, of course I would switch."
Nutritional content was a factor for teacher Carol Lee, 33. "There is so much processed food in the market already. I don't think it's very healthy," said the mother of two, referring to processed egg forms.
Fancy some powdered or liquid eggs?
Straits Times 26 Oct 09;
POWDERED and liquid eggs will be introduced to consumers as alternatives to regular eggs from next year.
Speaking at an Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority event to promote frozen meat, Senior Minister of State for National Development Grace Fu said: 'While we have diversified our sources of meat, we have not been able to do so for shell eggs. Our heavy dependence on Malaysia as the single source of imported shells makes us vulnerable to supply disruptions.'
Singapore has been hit by food supply crunches in the past and this is the latest in a number of moves to diversify food resources.
Currently, liquid and powdered eggs are used commercially, such as in the making of confectionery, ice cream and noodles.
Regular eggs cost about 12 to 15 cents each. Powdered eggs cost more than double that, while liquid eggs are about the same price as normal ones.
The director of liquid egg company Green-Tech Egg Industries, Mr Ng Kong Guan, said it had tried testing the retail market in 2006 for about six months through supermarket outlets, but found that the response was 'very poor'.
'Consumers are more used to shell eggs, and they find it hard to change. It's a matter of mindset,' he said.
Madam Chng Hioh Eng, 66, a clerk, buys a carton of eggs about once a week.She said she would consider trying liquid or powdered eggs if they were cheaper than regular ones.
