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SINGAPORE: Singapore is importing more frozen meat like chicken and pork today compared to eight years ago.
According to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority of Singapore (AVA), import numbers have risen by between seven and 20 percentage points, with the import of frozen pork seeing the highest increase.
Frozen pork import was 38 percent in 2000, and last year it stood at 58 percent. Frozen chicken import was 55 percent in 2000, but rose to 62 percent last year, while frozen beef import went up to 91 percent last year from 84 percent in 2000.
The AVA has launched a new campaign to encourage more Singaporeans to switch from chilled meat to frozen meat. The campaign will educate consumers on areas like how to handle, store and cook frozen meat.
Frozen chicken and pork are about 15 to 20 percent cheaper than chilled ones. In fact, some cuts like chicken drumsticks and wings could be cheaper by about 50 percent.
Tng Ah Yiam, director, Integrated Purchasing, NTUC Fairprice, said: "In the last six months, we've seen an increase of 15 percent for sale of frozen meat and an increase of nearly 25 percent for frozen chicken parts."
At the launch of the AVA campaign, Minister of State for National Development, Ms Grace Fu, pointed out that contrary to popular belief, frozen meat is as tasty and nutritious as chilled ones.
"If there are alternatives that give us the same value for less, I think in this time of rising inflation, it's good that we have choices for consumers," she said.
Currently, food stalls and restaurants are still the main users of frozen meat. Experts said if consumers are not cooking the meat immediately after they buy it, it is best to get the frozen ones because they can be kept for as long as six months in the freezer.
- CNA/so
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