Mumtaz Food Industries started out as a small takeaway in 1980 and diversified into supplying its own range of Asian delicacies to UK supermarkets. The baby food range has been given a resounding welcome by some of the UK's leading paediatricians who are keen to see Muslim babies having access to meat-based products during their first few crucial months of weaning onto solids.

Muslim mums currently tend to delay the switch from milk to solids because of the lack of Halal meat dishes available for young babies. Months of development have gone into perfecting the 10-flavour range with the Bradford-based company commissioning a global search for suppliers to ensure its quality and distribution needs.

The range will be available for 4 month+ and 7 month+ and offer a main course and pudding combination. It is due to be stocked in around 3,000 independent and local retailers, already loyal to the Mumtaz brand, with interest being expressed by several of the high street supermarket giants.

The new range will solve a modernday dilemma for busy Muslim mothers in the UK, on where they can source truly Halal baby food without compromising on the quality of the meat or their religious requirements.

Rab Nawaz, Director of Mumtaz Foods, says: “There has been a dilemma amongst Muslim mums for some time because they simply haven't had access to ready-prepared Halal baby foods. As a result, they tend to delay weaning their babies onto solids from around the recommended 6 months to nearer 12 months which can mean they are missing out on essential proteins and iron in that crucial development stage.”

Shabana Aziz and husband Waheed Iqbal who has a son, Saif, of 14 months assisted in the development through food trials said "Halal meat is one of the most important parts of our faith. If I could not get Halal meat I would become vegetarian, it is as simple as that. "It worried me that my children were not getting enough protein but it is more important that they eat Halal meat than their lack of protein. It reflects on your inner being and that is such an important factor.”

Rab Nawaz says : "The Mumtaz baby food range means that every Muslim parent in the UK will now have that choice so their baby's diet can be varied and interesting but also convenient for them. Mumtaz is a name that is respected across the Muslim world and we know that trust will extend to our baby range with parents confident in its quality and religious adherence."