New Human Milk Oligosaccharide Ingredient Approved for Infant Formulas in Europe, U.S.

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FrieslandCampina Domo (Amersfoort, The Netherlands), a company that specializes in ingredients for infant nutrition, announced that its new 2’-fucosyllactose (2’-FL) human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) ingredient for infant formula has received EU Novel Food approval and Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status in the U.S. FrieslandCampina Domo says that these certifications are important steps toward launching its first human milk oligosaccharide by the end of this year.

HMOs are complex, non-digestible carbohydrates found in human breast milk. After fat and lactose, HMOs are the third-most-abundant component in breast milk. According to FrieslandCampina Domo, there are more than 200 varieties of HMOs currently identified in human milk, though 2’-FL is the most abundant.

Research indicates that 2’-FL plays an important role in infant health, and infant immune health in particular, the company says. Until recently, many infant formulas lacked HMOs, and were therefore unable to provide the same range of nutritional benefits as breast milk. When breastfeeding is not possible, however, infant formulas that include HMO ingredients can help make up the nutrition gap between formula and human milk.

In 2016, FrieslandCampina Domo partnered with U.S.-based carbohydrates firm Glycosyn to develop a range of infant nutrition ingredients. FrieslandCampina Domo says that this new 2’-FL ingredient will be the first in a range of HMOs that the companies are developing. The company also says that it is currently building a new manufacturing plant in Italy dedicated to large-scale production of 2’-FL HMOs, which is slated for completion by the end of the year. The new 2’-FL ingredient will be marketed under the brand name Aequival.

Godert Zijlstra, business development director, FrieslandCampina Domo, told Nutritional Outlook that achieving EU and GRAS approval is "key to advancing progress in the industry." He continued:  “In the coming years, we welcome all companies working on HMOs, as together we can continue to develop important nutritional breakthroughs and make infant formulas better than ever before.”

“From our state-of-the-art new facilities, we will be formulating and launching a broad range of HMOs over the next years, in line with our mission to give infants a great start in life,” added Zijlstra in a press release. “After decades of experience in infant nutrition and oligosaccharides, we have embarked on a new and exciting time in the development of breakthrough innovations for our industry.”

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