Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times - Sunday, 15 August, 2004
Suthentira Govender
The immune-boosting product, developed by the KwaZulu-Natal-based Gift of the Givers humanitarian organisation for people with malnutrition and HIV/Aids, requires no water or cooking.
Organisation head Dr Imtiaz Sooliman said the vitamin-enriched supplement, made from groundnuts and soya beans, could be used by government bodies, non-governmental organisations and donor agencies.
The supplement was developed in consultation with a food technologist and a nutritionist.
He is awaiting the green light from the Department of Foreign Affairs to provide humanitarian aid in Chad.
Samples of the supplement will also be offered to the KwaZulu-Natal Red Cross Society for use in its Aids centres.
The lactose intolerance of many HIV/Aids patients, malnutrition and the absence of clean drinking water led to the development of the protein supplement. It is also beneficial to people with vitamin deficiencies.
The product, which tastes like peanut butter, can be added to pap and porridge, spread on bread or eaten on its own.
Sooliman has teamed up with a Malawian food-processing company to produce the ready-to-eat supplement, known as Sibusiso Ready Food.
"We are not claiming the supplement will cure diseases, but it will most certainly boost the immune system and improve the quality of life," he said.
Sooliman said he intended discussing the supplement with Minister of Health Manto Tshabalala-Msimang.
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