FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ Aequival prepares to enter world’s largest infant milk formula market, as China gives green light

13 Oct 2023 --- FrieslandCampina Ingredients will soon be able to market its Aequival range of prebiotic ingredients 2’-Fucosyllactose (2’-FL) to infant milk producers in China, following the green light by the country’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs for the approval of the production strain. This paves the way for the introduction of this HMO into the Chinese market after the company receives “final nutrition fortifier” approval.

“2’-FL is the HMO most abundant in human milk. Like galacto-oligosaccharides (GOS), HMOs are complex non-digestible carbohydrates that have a prebiotic effect, benefitting the development of the infant gut microbiota and its metabolism,” Sophie Nicolas, marketing manager of early life nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients, tells Nutrition Insight.

“China’s infant milk formula market is the world’s largest, and it is, therefore, no surprise that we wanted to enlarge our ingredient portfolio for our customers there, to offer them more choice and value, which they, in turn, can then offer to parents,” she further states. Studies have shown that HMOs may reduce the risk of infection and support infant brain development.

Promising combination 
FrieslandCampina Ingredients has partnered with Chinese infant milk formula brand owners and producers for decades. 

“Critically, the approval of our Aequival 2’-FL will mean that we’re the only company able to provide both GOS and HMOs to China. This combined offering will be not only unique but also extremely valuable to customers looking to elevate, differentiate or premiumise their products,” Nicolas explains.

“The Chinese market has particular circumstances to which a combined GOS and HMO offering is the ideal response. Health benefits are a significant priority for people selecting an infant milk formula: approximately 90% of parents say they are looking for them,” adds Cindy Zhao, FrieslandCampina Ingredients China’s general manager. 

“For instance, gut health is a priority for 80% of parents of young children, and emerging scientific research is shedding light on the gut health benefits that prebiotics like GOS and HMOs may have.”

Nicolas points to their combined positive health benefits and efficiency, stating: “Combining these ingredients could unleash additional health benefits. Inspired by the complexity of breast milk, we believe that offering a broader diversity of non-digestible oligosaccharide structures in infant milk formula can better support gut health and the wider benefits that gut health enables.”

 “The second benefit is sourcing these two valuable ingredients from one partner. This simplifies the supply chain and makes many processes, including procurement, logistics and finance, more efficient,” she adds. 

Gut health benefits
FrieslandCampina Ingredients’ researchers outline the diversity of structures in human milk as the inspiration for exploring the possible benefits of combining GOS and 2’-FL. 

A recent in vitro study published in the journal Children revealed that these two types of oligosaccharides stimulate the beneficial bacteria Bifidobacterium longum in a species-specific manner.

“HMOs and GOS stimulate the growth of ‘good’ bacteria and suppress the growth of ‘bad’ ones. This helps achieve an optimal balance in the gut microbiota, which reduces digestive issues like diarrhea or constipation, improves stool consistency, enhances the absorption of minerals and regulates bowel movements,” explains Nicolas.

“2’-FL also can bind pathogens associated with childhood diarrhea to prevent them from adhering to the intestinal wall. The body of science in this area is already large but still constantly growing.”

She details that studies have shown that HMOs may reduce the risk of infection and support infant brain development, indicating that different types have different effects. 

“Pre-clinical research has shown that 2’-FL can inhibit the adhesion and infectivity of the diarrhea pathogens norovirus, rotavirus, Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli, Campylobacter jejuni and Salmonella enterica serovar fyris, as well as the respiratory tract pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa.”Many Chinese parents are concerned about infant gut health and consider probiotics a viable solution.

Responding to customer needs 
According to FrieslandCampina Ingredients, this GOS and 2’-FL combination also offers an opportunity for the company to respond directly to the current consumer needs, which have been shown to place great importance on infant gut health. 

“Gut health is a priority for 85% of parents in China, according to our proprietary research. We’ve also found that people are increasingly researching proven ingredients to address their concerns and priorities. As a result, awareness of GOS and other gut-healthy ingredients is rising, and so is the number of people proactively seeking them,” Nicolas states.

Data presented by the company states that close to 30% of parents in China perceive probiotics as beneficial to ensuring infant gut health. 

“What’s exciting is the motivation for improving their baby’s gut health,” highlights Nicolas. “Some parents are focused quite tightly on the gut and the digestive system. Still, others know it influences other aspects of health like the immune system or cognitive development and learning. So those who want their children to do well at school and have good careers see improved gut health as a way to achieve their aims, for example.”

Zhao adds: “From final approval, Chinese customers will be able to purchase GOS and 2’-FL from one trusted and experienced supplier with a long heritage in the Chinese infant nutrition market.”

Last month at Vitafoods Asia in Bangkok, Thailand, FrieslandCampina Ingredients introduced an early life nutrition platform to support children’s physical and mental development into adolescence. 

Recently, China has also approved dsm-firmenich and IFF to sell their HMOs on its substantial infant nutrition market.

By Milana Nikolova