Wednesday, March 21, 2012

Marmite and New Zealanders


How many of us have taken marmite? The marmite shortage in New Zealand brings to mind how attached we are to certain types of food. Some might find marmite disgusting as can be seen from its advertising slogan, “Love it or hate it”. I love it and can empathise with the New Zealanders sense of a marmageddon coming. Can you imagine a similar crisis in Malaysia?

I do wonder whether Malaysians have any particular food that would elicit similar emotions. We have so much variety that we are spoilt for choice. That might explain why I doubt we will ever have a shortage of any particular favourite food item in future. Our favourites run the gamut of variety in the food palate, from the ubiquitous nasi lemak to the plain roti canai.

There will be a crisis of sorts if rice or flour is in short supply bur thankfully we have not had the occasion to go through such horror. The only exception was during the war and whenever a natural disaster disrupts the supply of the raw material from reaching consumers. There were occasions when limited supply meant higher prices for these products but with control over essential goods, we are in safe hands.

My sympathies to the New Zealanders in their moment of loss and hope they will be able to enjoy their version of marmite as soon as the factory is up and running.

Image from telegraph

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