Health dept’s reply to rising food costs: ‘let them eat curry & rice’

The Health Department’s “Let them eat curry and rice” response to Thailand’s cost of living crisis is not quite Marie Antoinette’s ‘Let them eat cake’ quip to the starving peasants of France in the 17^th century, but it’s not far off.

The Thai Health Department urged people to buckle their belts and accept the fact that consumer products are more expensive now.

A nutritionist and advisor at the Health Department, Sanga Damapong, acknowledged yesterday that the increasing price of consumer products affects those on low incomes but added that people need to change their attitudes to survive, think carefully before eating, and avoid buying expensive meals.

“If the food price increases, people should think carefully about their expense on food and adapt their lifestyle to survive.

“If you get paid 500 baht per day, the expense on food should be 120 baht per day which is 30% of the income. To eat three meals a day, a meal should cost 40 baht each. You can buy rice and curry in that budget.”

The health department advisor appears to be out of touch with the people and forgotten the average daily wage for a Thai person is between 313 to 336 baht, not 500 baht.

Sanga accepts the price of instant noodles is expected to increase soon but Thai people can economise. He said Thai people eat on average about three packs of instant noodles per week. He said if the price is increased by two baht per pack from six baht to eight baht , it would be 24 baht more per month.

“People should add toppings like meat, eggs, or vegetables to their instant noodles. Even if the toppings cost people 15-20 baht more it is still cheaper than one plate of rice and curry.

“People have to change their attitudes. The consumer price is uncontrollable. If it has to be increased, it will increase. What people can do is adapt themselves to survive. Don’t eat expensive meals. A family with members of more than five people should cook and bring lunch to the workplace.

“If you feel thirsty, you should drink water, not coffee. Coffee costs you 30 baht while drinking water costs only seven baht. When we are in a crisis, we have to get a grip and adapt ourselves to survive. We can survive even if consumer products are more expensive.”

Many Thai netizens don’t agree with his suggestion and vented their spleen on social media saying the health department advisor is out of touch with reality.

SOURCE: Khaosod