Iron biscuits: a healthy snack against anemia

Anemia is a disease that affects millions of people in Peru, especially children, pregnant women, women of childbearing age, and older adults. This condition is caused by a lack of iron in the blood, which prevents adequate oxygen transport to organs and tissues. Anemia can cause tiredness, weakness, paleness, poor appetite, difficulty concentrating and learning, and an increased risk of infections.

To prevent and combat anemia, consuming foods rich in iron, such as red meat, liver, oily fish, legumes, nuts, and fortified cereals is necessary. However, many times these foods are not available to everyone or are not liked by the little ones. For this reason, we, a group of students from El Carmelo de María School, located in the city of Tacna, have created an innovative and delicious product that provides iron in an easy and fun way: iron cookies.

Iron cookies are handmade cookies made with natural and nutritious ingredients, such as whole wheat flour, oats, honey, butter, eggs, and chocolate. In addition, they contain a secret ingredient that gives them a high iron content: blood meal. Sangrecita is a byproduct of the meat industry obtained by drying and grinding animal blood. It is a very bioavailable source of iron, that is, it is easily absorbed by the body. It also contains proteins, vitamins, and minerals that complement a healthy diet.

The presentation of the product consists of a package of four cookies with a total weight of 44 g. Each packet provides between 8 and 9 mg of iron, which is equivalent to 100% of the recommended daily dose for a school-age child and 50% of the amount required by a woman of childbearing age. The label shows the nutritional content of the product, as well as the sugar content and caloric value. The product meets all the minimum quality and safety requirements for consumption.

The objective of this project is to install a small iron biscuit production plant that allows us to offer healthy and accessible food to prevent anemia in our community. To do this, we need to acquire a mixer, an oven, a cutter, a kneader, and a packaging machine, as well as the necessary ingredients to make the cookies. These equipment and supplies are available in the local market.

With your support we can make this dream come true and contribute to improving the health and quality of life of many people who suffer from anemia. Collaborate by sharing our project!