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Feature
What next? Camel Milk!
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Thursday, 05 August, 2010, 08 : 00 AM [IST]
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Hasan Mulani, Mumbai
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Health-conscious consumers could soon be buying camel milk as more and more firms seek permission to sell the product.
Soon we will see India's leading dairy players heading to deserts and tying with camel owners for camel milk.
The camel milk sector is budding at an impressive pace across the globe, particularly in the UK, Middle East, Africa and the Indian market.
Recently, the European Commission has provisionally approved plans by two Middle Eastern camel farms to export the milk to the UK.
Currently, there are only a handful of camel milk firms in the world because the desert animals produce only around 7.5 litres a day compared to more than 28 litres that can be gained from cross-bred cows.
The United Arab Emirates-based firm Camelicious said it was only waiting on checks by the EU health and hygiene inspectors and hoped to begin exports to Europe too.
Says Mutasher Al-Badry, DGM of Camelicious, "It is a highly specialised market. We don't expect to compete with cow's milk but we know there are lots of people who want to enjoy the health benefits of camel milk and confident that the EU will give us its approval soon."
The company was in talks with health food and speciality stores, including Harrods, about future sales of the product, which is already consumed in the Middle East, parts of India and Africa.
In June, Punjab registered drastic increase in milk adulteration cases and contamination by insecticides and pesticides in milk.
To tackle the crisis and offer fresh unadulterated milk, Bhatinda-based Baba Farid Centre for Special Children started the use of camel milk, which also helped improve the condition of patients.
Ray Smith, manager of the Oasis Camel Centre in Norfolk, said in many countries with lower welfare standards the female camels are just used for their milk while the males are used for work and then eaten. Camel meat is very lean.
Taste & Health
Camel milk tastes "salty." Though it comes from an ill-tempered and malodorous animal and is unlikely to improve a bowl of cornflakes, the camel milk will be hitting the shelves and breakfast tables soon.
According to international media reports, it contains only about two per cent fat, compared to four per cent in cow's milk, is lower in cholesterol and has five times as much Vitamin C. It is more digestible than cow's milk and suitable for the lactose-intolerant.
As well as its high mineral and vitamin content, research has suggested that antibodies in camel's milk can help fight diseases like cancer, HIV/Aids, Alzheimer's and hepatitis C. And work is on to see whether it can have a role in reducing the effects of heart disease. However, it is watery compared to cow's milk.
Anthony Bennett, meat and dairy expert at the FAO, said, "The potential is massive. Milk is money. There were 200 million potential customers in the Arab world and tens of millions more in Europe, India, the US and Africa. The market could be worth at least £5.6 billion although improvements are needed along the supply chain."
"No one's suggesting intensive camel dairy farming but just with improved feed, husbandry and veterinary care daily yields could rise to 20 litres per animal. And since fresh camel milk fetches roughly a dollar a litre on African markets it would mean serious money for the nomadic throngs who now have few other sources of revenue," he added.
According to the British Nutrition Foundation, Camel's milk could be a useful addition to the diet as it contains calcium and vitamins B and C and is lower in saturated fat than cow's milk.
Many studies in India showed that the camel milk contains high levels of insulin and helped sufferers of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes by reducing their reliance on injections.
The country also has highest diabetic population in the world.
It is estimated that India has over 30 million diabetics at present, with this number expected to exceed 80 million by the year 2030. This makes India the world's diabetic leader, with China (approximately 24 million diabetics presently, around 40 million estimated by 2030), and the US (approximately 24 million diabetics presently, with an estimated 32 million by the year 2030), trailing significantly behind.
Amul ki C-amul!
Few years back the Rajasthan Co-operative Dairy Federation Ltd had started "C-amul," the dairy van of the desert. With this launch the federation aimed to market camel milk and replicate the Amul success story in the desert state.
Today, the federation has made a new beginning towards marketing camel milk, considered a health food and a cure for diabetes. The camel milk in raw form is now made available in pouches and as value added products such as flavoured milk, kulfi and ice-cream in Bikaner. They are also looking to bring out camel milk paneer and cheese.
"Today, most of the camel milk is procured from the rural people of the state. Due to unfair market prices, rising production costs and negligence of the government the camel milk industry is diminishing gradually," Raja Ram Jhorad, chairperson (Bikaner) of the Rajasthan Co-operative Dairy Federation Ltd told F&B News on telephone.
The current price of milk ranges from Rs 25 to Rs 30 per litre. It was around Rs 20 in 2007-2008. "When we started camel milk sale, many associations/individuals appreciated it but now we are struggling to keep this industry exist. Now we had restricted the sale of the milk to camel dairies and farms only," Jhorad added.
Researchers at the National Research Centre on Camel (NRCC) in the eastern Rajasthan district of Bikaner say they have developed an anti-wrinkle cream from camel milk. The cream has been tested on a number of people and researchers have found that it not only helps in controlling wrinkles but also gives a glow to the skin.
There are six types of fatty acids found in camel milk, including lanolic acid, which is effective in controlling wrinkles as well as improving skin tone.
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