Slashing formula production cost: Arla Foods Ingredients launches dry-blend alpha-lactalbumin protein

24 Feb 2021 --- Arla Foods Ingredients has launched Lacprodan Premium ALPHA-10, an alpha-lactalbumin product touted as helping infant formula manufacturers reduce production costs without compromising safety or quality.

It is the company’s first protein ingredient designed for dry blending, a process that allows manufacturers to reduce energy usage and production costs. It also provides greater flexibility to produce more recipes from one base powder.

Lacprodan Premium ALPHA-10 is currently available globally in trial quantities, with commercial quantities due to become available in the second half of 2021.

Arla Foods Ingredients will also continue to offer its existing alpha-lactalbumin product – which received US GRAS approval in 2019 – for wet blend applications.

Rising interest in dry blending
The company already offers customers a dry blend lactose. In November 2020, it estimated total CO2 savings from customers using it to be as high as 24,400 metric tons.

Commercial quantities for Lacprodan Premium ALPHA-10 are due to become available in the second half of 2021.However, dry-blendable proteins have been less common until now, according to Lone Strøm, head of sales development in pediatrics at Arla Foods Ingredients. 

FrieslandCampina Ingredients is also highlighting the benefits of dry-blend ingredients. Last June, it launched a milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) ingredient. 

“What sets us apart is that we ensure that it can be included in the dry blend part of making an infant formula, therefore boosting applications,” Renske Hopman, marketing manager, Early Life Nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients, told NutritionInsight at the time. 

Promoting gut health
Lacprodan Premium ALPHA-10 is rich in essential amino acids and alpha-lactalbumin, the most abundant whey protein in human milk. This holds appeal as the formula industry continues to work toward more closely replicating the gold standard of breast milk. 

According to the company, the enrichment of formulas with alpha-lactalbumin can also promote gut comfort and healthy growth, and enhance protection from intestinal infections. Gut health is a major trend in infant nutrition as growing research sheds light on its role in holistic health. 

Lacprodan Premium ALPHA-10 is produced according to the highest food safety standards. It is free from Cronobacter sakazakii, a bacterium that can cause serious infections in infants. It is also compliant with new Chinese food safety standards, making it suitable for products entering the world’s largest formula market.

Other players like Kyowa Hakko Bio have also been eyeing the rapidly growing Chinese market – which notably does not currently authorize HMOs. 

Edited by Katherine Durrell