Dubai: The adorable, desert-dwelling camels could not only help enhance your beauty, but also help infants who may be facing formula milk-related allergies.

Now, a UAE-based company has developed a baby formula from camel's milk.

The Emirates Industry for Camel Milk and Products, also known as  ‘Camelicious’, unveiled the product at Gulfood 2018, a food and beverage commodity expo held recently in Dubai.

Camelicious keeps thousands of camels in a farm outside Dubai and its camel's milk-based baby formula is believed to be the first of its kind in the world.

Apart from the new formula, the company also produces more than 40 camel milk based products — including energy drinks, milk powder and ice cream.

It received its US export licence for camel milk in 2017.

Various studies have shown that camel milk is almost as nutritious as a mother milk and offers 10 times more iron and three times more vitamin C than cow's milk.

Children with autism are also reportedly relieved of symptoms following therapy that includes camel milk.

Saeed Juma Bin Subaih, General Manager of Camelicious, said: “We have always been committed to engage in the innovation drive that our wise leadership is pursuing to transform the UAE, and Dubai in particular, to an international innovation platform in all fields.”

Name of image Milking the benefits: Camel milk could be the new wonder food, say some experts.Gulf News File

The camel milk formula was designed for babies and infants between the ages of one and three years old, and is expected to hit the shelves of the UAE in the next few months, before going global.

“Camel milk represents an integral part of the Arabic and Islamic culture in general, and the UAE culture and heritage in particular. This milk is genuinely complements the UAE values and traditions that are handed down from one generation to another,” said Bin Subaih. 

Mutasher Awadh Al Badry, deputy general manager at Camelicious, explained that this product, “contains 10 times the iron found in other types of milk … and helps to strengthen the blood, protect children from anaemia, and provide their bodies with vital minerals needed for daily life.”

Name of image Dubai-based Camelicious, which has about 40 camel-milk based products, started marketing its products in 2006, and is the world’s first camel farm engaged in large-scale milk production. It produces camel-milk based cosmetics in tie-ups with top European brands. Virendra Saklani/Gulf News

Camel milk contains a high proportion of vitamin C, which is one of the most important vitamins to maintain the health and strength of the bodily immune system. It helps to protect against infections of various types including viral and bacterial infections.

It also contains Vitamin B1 and vitamin B2, rich in thiamin that is higher than the same element found in sheep, goat or cow milk. 

FACT FILE

Milk allergies affect babies and is the most common food allergy in infants and young children.

Studies show that about 2.5 percent of children under three years old are allergic to milk, according to the US Food Allergy Research and Education organisation, with symptoms ranging anywhere from vomiting and nausea to diarrhoea and hives.