Kotalahimbutu to control diabetes
The herbal product market is currently US$ 60 billion and it is
expected to reach US$ five trillion by 2050, said Head Natural Products
Division, Industrial Technology Institute (ITI), Dr. Sirimal Premakumara
addressing a ceremony to launch Munchee Kotalahimbutu biscuits on
Tuesday.
He said there is a huge market for functional food products globally
and added that the market in Sri Lanka is growing at around eight
percent annually.
The demand for ayurvedic herbal products is on the rise with the
increase in the number of diabetic patients around the world. According
to reports around 60 percent of the global population is affected by
diabetes.
Munchee Kotalahimbutu, the latest addition to the Munchee range of
biscuits is an ayurvedic herbal product, the result of extensive
research by the ITI and Ceylon Biscuits Ltd. (CBL).
Dr. Premakumara said that there are around 50 kotalahimbutu patented
products in the world and added that it is the first time the
medicinally rich plant is used to manufacture biscuits.
"It was challenging to produce a biscuit using Kotalahimbutu. Our aim
was to introduce a biscuit which is tasty and has a good visual appeal
with medicinal effect", he said.
Kotalahimbutu is native to Sri Lanka and South India. CBL plans to
cultivate the plant in Galgamuwa, Hambantota and other locations for the
manufacture of biscuits.
Munchee, the flagship brand of CBL was introduced as a mid day meal
for school children.
The Munchee range of products has a market share exceeding 60 percent
in the country.
LF
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