Sana Abdul Salam Saudi Gazette JEDDAH — Researchers at the Batterjee Medical College (BMC) have successfully produced an intensive food product called “green honey,” which can be used to fight malnutrition in nations affected by war and famine. The product contains concentrated amounts of proteins, amino acids, vitamins, minerals, salts, sugars, antioxidants and fat. One 20ml-sachet fulfills the nutritional requirements of a complete meal. While introducing the product, Khalid Batterjee, dean of Batterjee Medical College, said green honey is produced from natural honey and protein-rich microscopic plants, making it more nutritional than most common food aid. “Since it is packaged in sachets, green honey is suitable for charitable distribution internally and externally to relief agencies in areas of famine. “Generally, rice, flour and soybean flour are distributed in large quantities during emergencies but these do not cover the complete nutritional spectrum. “Also, must effort is required to transport and store these items but green honey takes up less space and can prove to be a viable solution,” said Batterjee. Yahya Yousef, director of the Batterjee Research Center, said: “The microscopic plants that we have used in producing green honey have numerous health benefits, and have been recommended by the United Nations, American Food and Drug Administration and other global nutrition organizations. “Hence, these can be used as effective and concentrated food for the sake of prevention and treatment and also for malnutrition.” According to researchers involved in producing green honey, the product can remain stable in a wide range of temperatures and contains no preservatives. While students of the college were not involved in creating the product, they are currently engaged in clinical trials for sending the product to Sudan. Sobhi Batterjee, dhairman of the college's board of trustees and president of the Saudi German Hospital Group, said the production of green honey helps Saudi Arabia's strategy of helping combat hunger and malnutrition in poverty-stricken countries all over the world. “We are very proud of this achievement.”
