|
Several
years back a Thai noodle maker launched what is now
known as the Mama Noodles Index, which essentially
reflected the sales of Mama Noodles, reportedly the
biggest instant-noodle manufacturer in Thailand. While
one can only speculate as to why the index was actually
established, it did show some interesting results. In
2005, for instance, it reportedly showed 15-percent
year-on-year increase in noodle sales in the
January-July period, and this was regarded as a sign of
“recession.”
While
seemingly contradictory, such indication actually had a
plausible explanation. The index was reportedly
relatively steady since Thailand’s recovery from the
East Asian financial crisis that began in 1997. However,
it was in 2005 that a significant increase in Mama
Noodle sales was reported. That sales increase, while
seemingly indicative of greater purchasing power, was
actually viewed as a shift in preference for cheaper
food alternatives. Instant noodles were reportedly
regarded as a more inferior good, and since people could
no longer afford more expensive food, ramen purchases
increased.
And
perhaps this should not be surprising. After all, as of
2005, perhaps one of the early signs of the impending
global food crisis, approximately 85 billion servings of
instant noodles were reportedly eaten worldwide every
year, with China reportedly accounting for slightly more
than half of that, Indonesia about a tenth and Japan
about a fifth. And per capita consumption is reportedly
highest in
South Korea.
The
popularity of instant noodles, reportedly invented in
Japan in 1958, is a worldwide phenomenon. Almost
anywhere in the world, regardless of Asian presence,
instant ramen has become a popular fare particularly in
low-income countries. Even the BBC reported previously
that, according to a Japanese poll in 2000, instant
noodles were considered the most important Japanese
invention of the century. Karaoke came in second and the
compact disc came only in fifth. Undoubtedly, one can no
longer take for granted the value of such inexpensive
nourishment in global food consumption.
Perhaps
an index similar to the Mama Noodles Index of Thailand
may serve a noble purpose locally. The
Philippines
is, likewise, regarded as a large consumer of instant
noodles. In fact, even the US meat-canning company
Hormel regards the Philippines as a large market for its
globally popular Spam canned spiced-ham product, to the
point that the company even ventured into establishing
“Spam cafés” in the Philippines, although that didn’t
seem to have enjoyed large commercial success.
With its
88-million population, majority of which are in rural
areas and live below the poverty threshold, the
Philippines invariably remains a significant consumer of
cheap food. Obviously, people must eat, no matter what.
And poverty should not be an excuse for hunger. To a
large extent, the Philippines has been relatively
successful in feeding its people. While hunger incidence
may have gone up, famine and widespread starvation have
been kept at bay for the longest time. Not since the
Negros famine decades back has starvation become an
imminent threat to national security and political
stability. But with the global food situation now, it
has become uncertain how long the local food status quo
will remain.
The
Philippines has had its share of food-price barometers,
not unlike the Big Mac Index and the Mama Noodles Index.
At one point, pan de sal was the practical food-price
barometer. But rising wheat and flour prices eventually
made the pan de sal less accessible even to the poor, if
not too small for each piece to actually provide a
satisfying meal. In fact, many food items have literally
shrunk over the years in response to the rising cost of
food production. Even the Philippine staple of San
Miguel Beer used to be sold in bigger Pale Pilsen
bottles about three decades ago, but has since then
dwindled in volume to the now popular 320 ml. Even
drinking water has become more expensive, more so if one
is the type to insist on drinking only bottled.
Then
there was chicken, which was considered the cheaper
alternative to beef and pork, and thus served as the
price barometer. And this also sprouted the industry of
the lechon manok. This was followed by galunggong—a
popular local fish usually sold the cheapest in public
markets and was regarded as typical fare for the poor.
And those who could not afford fish were usually
relegated to seasoning their rice with just salt or soy
sauce, and perhaps a slice of tomato for color, flavor
and texture. Eventually, galunggong and even tilapia
also became too expensive for the common folk. But
thanks to instant noodles, hunger was still kept at bay.
The poor had actually resorted to cooking ramen as
viand, and not just as a side dish or even as a staple.
All this
time, regardless of where food prices went, and as long
as rice was in abundant supply even at
government-subsidized prices, people didn’t go hungry.
However, with the way things are now, the situation
seems about to change. Commercial rice prices have
already gone up by at least 50 percent, while cheap rice
retailed by the government is now about to be pulled out
of local markets. Meantime, prices of other foodstuff
have also gone up, including that of bread and instant
noodles, with wheat and flour prices also on the rise in
the world market. And as the world grapples with a new
brewing crisis of shortages, one can only wonder what
the next cheap food, particularly for the urban folk,
will be.
Comments to matort@yahoo.com |
