Arla Foods Ingredients to launch high protein, juice-styled nutritional supplements

04 May 2023 --- Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI) has developed a solution that increases the protein content of juice-style oral nutrition supplements (ONS) for medical nutrition to 7% without compromising taste or mouthfeel. The company will showcase the concept at Vitafoods Europe in Geneva next week (May 9-11).

The solution incorporates Lacprodan BLG-100, a pure beta-lactoglobulin that contains 7 g of protein per 100 g and is high in essential amino acids, including leucine (1.13 g per 100 g). The ingredient has received authorization from the European Commission as a novel food.

ONS are mainly milky beverages; however, the juice-style ONS has gained traction recently.

According to Innova Market Insights, these products remain niche only, accounting for 3.7% of adult liquid ONS launches over the past five years. The low protein content of the average ONS, about 4.2 g per 100 g, has been cited as a potential reason for this.

“Juice-style options are a promising alternative to traditional milky oral nutritional supplements, but there has been room for improvement regarding their protein profile,” says Troels Nørgaard Laursen, director for health and performance at AFI.

Fat-free and no astringency
The new solution is fat-free, and BLG-100 enables very low viscosity and stability over shelf life. 

The taste is less astringent than specific ONS juice-style products.

Lacprodan BLG-100 is rich in essential amino acids, specifically leucine and helps ONS deliver a more palatable drinking experience.

 Muscle wasting significantly contributes to loss of mobility and independence as aging progresses or illness sets in. Medical patients with small appetites have difficulty consuming enough protein to maintain muscle mass.

AFI’s ONS with Lacprodan BLG-100 allows manufacturers to target the dietary management of malnutrition and muscle loss by developing appealing alternatives to the traditional milky drinks that continue to be the primary offer to this segment.Lacprodan BLG-100 is rich in essential amino acids and helps combat muscle wasting.

Nørgaard Laursen explains that while juice-style ONS has been on the market for some time, there is much more potential to explore. Recent product launch history by Innova Market Insights shows they still represent less than 4% of all market launches over the last five years.

AFI also offers a line of whey proteins, Nutrilac ProteinBoost, based on a patented microparticulation technology to meet the growing consumer demand for protein quality. 

Novel food authorization
As of December 21, 2022, AFI has received final authorization from the European Commission for Lacprodan BLG-100, a beta-lactoglobulin ingredient. Lacprodan BLG-100 is the first product by the company to receive approval under the new Novel Food Regulations (EU) 2015/2283.

The authorization states that Lacprodan BLG-100 is safe and suitable to use in food products in the EU. The ingredient is suitable for various applications within sports nutrition and in food for particular medical purposes.

In 2022, AFI unveiled two high-protein products for chronic kidney disease patients. Both products use Lacprodan BLG-100, consisting of a ready-to-drink (RTD) beverage with 7% protein and a shot format with 21% protein.

Arla Foods Ingredients will exhibit at Vitafoods Europe on Stand G30. Other concepts on show will include innovative solutions for high-protein RTD tea and coffee and a multi-textured bar with protein in every layer, a special edition of which has been created for Vitafoods.

By Inga de Jong