Malaysia’s devotion to rich food and sweet drinks has become a talking point of the fasting month of Ramadan, as celebrity food content creators share sugar-laden recipes while doctors warn of the health risks in a nation where one fifth of adults are diabetic.
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Ramadan, observed from sunrise to sunset throughout the holy month, is not just a time of fasting but also a nationwide food celebration. Ramadan bazaars brim with delectable dishes and online celebrity chefs regularly share recipes to break the fast.
However, food content creators including Khairul Amin Kamarulzaman – better known as Khairulaming – and Abdul Qayyum Halid, who goes by Che Sayang, have drawn criticism in the first week of Ramadan from kidney specialist Dr Rafidah Abdullah for their sugar-laden drink recipes.
Last week, Rafidah responded to a post on X by Khairulaming featuring drinks such as chrysanthemum tea with sparkling apple juice and Vietnamese coffee with sweet coconut milk, saying she only drank plain water.
“Alhamdulillah, it equally quenched the thirst without the risk of diabetes,” she wrote.
She also criticised Che Sayang’s recipe for lychee juice mixed with cordial and Thai green tea, cautioning against its high sugar content and its links to diabetes and obesity.