FrieslandCampina Ingredients debuts organic infant formula ingredient amid skyrocketing consumer demand

03 Jun 2021 --- FrieslandCampina Ingredients is introducing a premium demineralized whey ingredient for the burgeoning organic infant formula market. Deminal 90 Organic is a component of infant milk formula and enables manufacturers to achieve “the ideal” casein to whey ratio while also limiting mineral content, according to the company.

“Hectic lifestyles and long working hours are responsible for much of the growth in infant formula sales, but organic options are becoming more popular across all areas of the nutrition industry,” Sophie Nicolas, marketing manager, Early Life Nutrition, FrieslandCampina Ingredients, tells NutritionInsight.

“This is due to a number of factors, including concerns about the environmental impact of agrochemicals, rising disposable incomes and perceptions that organic foods are both healthier than their counterparts and of a better quality.”

Within the infant nutrition sector, these trends are even more pronounced as parents seek the very best nutritional choices for their babies, Nicolas notes.

Local product
Deminal 90 Organic is a new organic version of the company’s long-standing, demineralized whey ingredient, and produced locally in the Netherlands.

Deminal 90 Organic is made of fresh milk from the company’s own group of organic dairy farmers, who follow organic farming standards that go beyond legislation. 

Within the infant nutrition sector, organic trends are even more pronounced as parents seek the very best nutritional choices for their babies.This is achievable thanks to FrieslandCampina’s on-farm monitoring tools, which measure diverse criteria such as biodiversity and animal welfare, the company notes.

“What makes Deminal 90 Organic so special is the care we take over the process. From farm to factory, everything is handled right here in the Netherlands. Not only does this maximize traceability, but also supports organic standards, thanks to our monitoring tools that measure biodiversity and animal welfare on our organic farms,” Nicolas says.

“On a technical level, our ingredient offers low and stable mineral content and high microbiological standards, providing our customers with a new opportunity to strengthen or expand their organic offerings,” she adds.

Demand for organic
The growth of the organic infant formula market over recent years has been spectacular, according to the company. 

Research exclusive to FrieslandCampina Ingredients reveals that three in four parents now consider organic an important criterion when purchasing formula for their young children. In China, the figure exceeds 90 percent.

Last summer, FrieslandCampina Specialised Nutrition launched an “ultra-premium” organic milk formula in China, dubbed Organic Friso Prestige Bio.

“That formula is made using fresh milk from our organic member farms and includes organic demineralized whey powder to achieve the right casein to whey ratio. Now, this specific organic demineralized whey ingredient is available through FrieslandCampina Ingredients as a standalone choice for formulators,” Nicolas explains.

“We’re proud of how comprehensive our organic ingredient portfolio has now become,” continues Nicolas. “Deminal 90 is the newest member of an organic family of products including Lactopure Lactose Organic, Vivinal GOS Organic and Hyvital Whey EtD 100 Organic.”

“Together, they cover core and functional components of infant milk formula, which means manufacturers now have more options than ever to enhance their organic positioning and brands in ways that truly resonate with today’s consumers.”   

COVID-19 impact
The volume sales of organic infant milk formula have increased by 12 percent over the past year, reflecting the steady rise in interest from parents looking for organic infant nutrition, supports Nicolas. 

“The COVID-19 period has led to stronger demand for products that are made with health and natural sourcing in mind, such as organic foods.”

This holds particularly true in China, where demineralized whey is a popular choice for infant formula, suggesting a promising future for an organic variant as well, she adds.

Deminal 90 Organic is a component of infant milk formula and allows manufacturers to achieve a good casein to whey ratio.

Importance of demineralization
The demineralization process of whey ensures that its mineral content is lowered, explains Nicolas. Demineralized whey 90, for example, has had its mineral content lowered by 90 percent. 

The process guarantees low and specific target levels for minerals in the ingredient. 

Leveraging proteins with low mineral content makes it easier for infant nutrition manufacturers to optimize the mineral profile of their formulation, and it helps to make sure mineral levels comply with legislation. 

“When it comes to demineralization, FrieslandCampina has over four decades of experience leading the industry. Our new Deminal 90 Organic is a premium demineralized whey solution offering low and stable mineral composition.”

Organic farming matters
FrieslandCampina has an over 40-year heritage in both organic farming and the production of demineralized whey. In 2020, the company invested in its locations in the Netherlands, allowing for a certified and scalable production to meet growing consumer demand for organic products. 

Its co-operative includes 135 certified organic member farmers in the Netherlands. These farmers provide their cows with 100 percent organic feed only and take extra care over animal welfare while also protecting biodiversity. 

They comply with three levels of certification: EU and Chinese organic legal standards; the “aanvullende normen” set by De Natuurweide (the Dutch organic farmers’ association). 

“This encompasses mandatory monitoring and reporting of factors like biodiversity, animal welfare and greenhouse gas emissions. Our data is detailed and visible right down to farm level, meaning we can – and do – give tailored advice to our farmers about how best to make further improvements,” Nicolas notes.

Organic farming not only protects soil and water by avoiding artificial agrochemicals like pesticides but is also extremely beneficial to biodiversity on each farm by enabling native species to flourish.

By Kristiana Lalou