DENMARK – Arla Foods Ingredients has launched two maternal supplementation concepts: the Smart Mama drink and Smart Mama bar to support children’s cognitive development during pregnancy and lactation.
According to the company, the two bar prototypes contain the ingredient a whey protein concentrate called Lacprodan MFGM-10, featuring the benefits of milk fat globule membranes (MFGMs).
The Smart Mama drink is low-fat, offers a source of protein and calcium, and contains high levels of folic acid, which helps prevent neural tube birth defects while the Smart Mama bar is high in protein, calcium and fiber.
The company says that the Smart Mama prototypes offers manufacturers the opportunity to launch a premium functional product into the rapidly growing market for maternal nutrition food and drink products.
Anne Staudt Kvistgaard, Arla Foods Ingredients’ Senior Manager, Early Life Nutrition, said: “During pregnancy and lactation, the mother is the main source of nutrition for the developing infant, so it’s important she makes the best possible dietary choices.
“Our Smart Mama drink and Smart Mama bar concepts are convenient, offer a great taste and provide Lacprodan® MFGM-10, which has documented benefits for brain development when applied in early-life nutrition products.”
According to an Innova Market Insights 2019 report, maternal nutrition food and drink product launches saw a 13% increase in CAGR between 2014 and 2018.
In 2018, convenience and brain health were the two most sought-after product attributes in maternal nutrition, the report indicates.
The new supplements follow the recent launch of Lacprodan ISO.Water, a 100% whey protein isolate ingredient that can be used in protein waters without imparting the taste of protein.
Arla Foods Ingredients said that the product helps manufactures overcome challenges with taste and dry mouthfeel – that have long challenged manufacturers of clear protein waters.
Specially designed for clear beverages, it delivers great mouthfeel without the taste of protein, creating new opportunities for innovative products with a unique taste.
