This tiny iron fish could save people’s lives

By Kate Hassett

Photo: Dr. Christopher Charles
Photo: Dr. Christopher Charles
A tiny iron fish could soon be making anaemia and iron deficiency a thing of the past.

Across the globe, over 2 billion people are anaemic, which makes iron deficiency the most common nutritional problem in the world.

Whilst supplements are available in abundance, access and affordability prohibit many from adding them to their diet.

However, Dr. Christopher Charles has an answer that may solve the worldwide issue.

His invention, a small iron fish, can provide up to 75 percent of an adult’s daily-recommended intake of iron.

Used almost as a condiment, the fish is added to boiling water or soup for at least 10 minutes before serving, and then removed before eating, with the addition of lemon juice to aid in absorption.

Trials have begun in Cambodia where over 2,500 people are now using the little fish to supplement their existing diets. In a country where over half of the population suffers from anaemia, Cambodia has benefitted from trials, which show that half of those who took part in the study were no longer anaemic after the first 12 months.

The little fish, which does nothing to the taste of the dish and can last for years, can also be appropriated to make it culturally suitable for other countries.

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