FROM IRON DEFICIENCY STRUGGLES TO INNOVATION: SCHOLAR TURNS FOOD SCIENCE INTO BUSINESS
Written by on August 20, 2025
BY: NOBUHLE LAGAMA ZOZO
Among the many health challenges faced by women, iron deficiency anaemia (IDA) remains one of the most common. Heavy or prolonged periods, pregnancy, and other factors often leave women depleted of this vital nutrient. Despite public health campaigns, anaemia rates remain high, with many women battling chronic fatigue, brain fog, and low energy.
Even for those with iron-rich diets, the body’s poor absorption of iron, especially without vitamin C, makes recovery a challenge. This was the case for Beatrice Oyoo, a Food Science master’s candidate and Mastercard Foundation Scholar at the University of Pretoria. After years of struggling with iron deficiency and trying countless remedies, she found her solution in fermented food, and eventually, an innovative business idea.
Her curiosity began in a food chemistry class, where she learned about fermentation. Experimenting at home, Beatrice started making fermented beetroot juice to improve her iron levels. She discovered that fermentation not only made the nutrients more bioavailable but also added valuable probiotics. Within a month of consistently drinking her homemade juice, her haemoglobin levels improved significantly.
Encouraged by her results, Beatrice turned her breakthrough into a business concept.
With mentorship from programs like the ALX Founder Academy, Google Hustle Academy, and the Mastercard Foundation Scholars Entrepreneurship Fund (SEF), where she also won a pitching competition. She even developed an educational textbook, A Crash Course on Food Fermentation, to introduce the science to high school learners through AccessEd ZA.
Now in its pre-launch phase, her probiotic beetroot juice brand will soon hit the shelves, standing out for its variety of flavours, including ginger, cloves, lemon, mint, and the classic beetroot blend.
Reflecting on her journey, Beatrice says she never imagined classroom science could open doors to entrepreneurship. Today, she encourages young women to embrace STEM fields, reminding them that science doesn’t just stay in the lab, it can change lives and create opportunities.
