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Last Updated: Sep 25th, 2006 - 11:36:04 |
Why Mumtaz is catering for babies' needs
By Mark Casci
A pioneering range of halal baby food was today unveiled by a Bradford food company.
Mumtaz began to develop the range in response to fears that Muslim babies are being deprived of vital nutrition because many mothers are reluctant to feed their children mass-produced baby foods which may contain meat that does not comply with the Halal diet.
But, although Mumtaz's new product is produced with Islamic dietary needs in mind, it is aiming its food at parents of all religions.
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Rab Nawaz, a director of the Mumtaz group who manages the food's production, travelled all over the world researching ingredients.
He said: "This project started six years ago, and since then I have consulted with mothers, doctors, paediatricians, dieticians all of whom have given us very positive feedback on the baby food.
"We were told by dieticians that a ten per cent meat content is ideal for growing babies so that's what we have gone for.
"The baby food is good for any baby, regardless of their religion."
Tesco has been among the first to agree to stock the baby food.
Mumtaz, which was formed 25 years ago, plans to market the food worldwide and chose to manufacture the food in Spain to allow easier distribution to the Middle East and Asian sub-continent.
Judy More, a paediatric dietician who has worked at hospitals across the UK, said: "From a dietary point of view it is important that babies aged six to 12 month old get a balanced diet.
"I worked at several hospitals across east London where I saw many babies lacking in iron and protein due to their not eating enough meat.
"Many Muslim mothers are concerned that the baby food sold in supermarkets is not Halal and obviously most mothers do not have the time or the space to prepare baby foods.
"Lack of meat can lead to anaemia and lack of energy in babies.
"Also, by not introducing them to meat as babies, parents will find it harder to get them to eat it as toddlers."
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