Bunge Loders Croklaan releases first organic OPO milk formula for EU and Chinese infants

06 Sep 2021 --- Bunge Loders Croklaan (BLC) is releasing Betapol Organic, a Oleic-Palmitic-Oleic or SN-2 palmitate (OPO) for infant milk formula, which it says is the first such product certified organic for the EU and Chinese markets. The OPO is inspired by the composition of human breast milk and designed to meet rising global demand for organic products. 

OPO is a structured lipid naturally present in breast milk. The presence of palmitic acid in the middle position (SN-2 palmitate) has been clinically proven to improve energy intake, reduce constipation, increase bone mineral density, positively affect healthy gut bacteria, improve fine motor skills, reduce crying and result in better sleep.

“Mother’s milk is the gold standard for feeding infants, but when breastfeeding is not an option, choosing an infant formula (IF) that is as close as possible to mother’s milk is key for healthy growth and development, ” Dr. Emiliano Rial Verde, vice president of BLC, tells NutritionInsight. 

“We’ve seen the demand for organic infant milk formula growing, but clinically proven ingredients with organic certification are lacking. Now, we are the first in the market to offer our customers a premium OPO ingredient with dual EU and Chinese Organic certifications.”

Betapol is an attempt to bridge the gap between natural mother’s milk and infant formulas.Infant milk on the rise 
Food brands are striving to have products that align with the values of their consumers, and certified organic products are part of this trend, says the company. 

According to BLC, the Asian organic baby food market constitutes 20 percent of the global market and is growing at a rapid pace of 12 percent a year since 2015. 

China, in particular, is fueling this expansion, with year-over-year growth of over 20 percent in organic baby food and 30 percent in organic IMF. 

“In China, OPO is used by the a large part of the market and the set of clinical benefits for the baby is well documented. With Betapol Organic, another part of the market, one that is growing at a tremendous pace, will convert to using OPO. That means better ingredients for parents that prefer Organic formulas and an even larger market penetration for OPO,” remarks Rial Verde.  

At present, China’s CNY150 billion (US$23 billion) infant milk formula market is the largest in the world, according to analyst group Primavera. 

In 2019, Innova Market Insights forecasted a 16.4 percent CAGR of Chinese infant nutrition value sales (2010 to 2022). In contrast, volume gains are set to be around 11.4 percent. 

Formula specifically is driving value growth, recording a CAGR of 17 percent over 2010 to 2022 (forecasted), compared to 5 to 6 percent each for baby cereals and baby meals.

Enabling growth for infant formula manufacturers 
BLC says the introduction of Organic Certified Betapol marks another milestone for the company in its ambition to be a growth enabler for its customers. 

This year, the company released Betapol Select, which aims to cater specifically to the Chinese market. 

In Chinese mothers’ milk, the fat composition contains a higher level of OPL and OPO. In contrast, Western mothers tend to have OPO as the most prevalent triglyceride.

Because of this, Betapol Select aims to mimic the Chinese balance by providing a high level of palmitic acid in the center position (SN-2 palmitate) with the right combination of OPL and OPO triglycerides.

Innova Market Insights highlighted the growing trend toward personalized nutrition by labeling “Tailored to Fit” as a top trend for 2021. 

By Louis Gore-Langton