CHINA – American based food ingredients supplier Bunge Loders Croklaan has announced the launch of Betapol Select, a lipid ingredient for infant formula that “mimics the fat composition of Chinese mother’s milk”.
According to a statement from Bunge, the new ingredient is developed out of a recent study that showed existence in variation in mother’s breast milk from different regions.
“Research in infant nutrition made us understand that macronutrients in human breast milk vary – not only with lactation stages, diurnally and within feeds, but also regionally. These regional differences are influenced by the mother’s origin and diet,” said Dr Emiliano Rial Verde, vice president nutrition at Bunge Loders Croklaan.
The company says that in Western mothers’ milk fat, OPO (oleic-palmitic-oleic) is the most prevalent triglyceride, followed by OPL.
Chinese mothers’ milk however, proved to be fundamentally different, containing OPO as the most prevalent triglyceride followed by OPL (oleic-palmitic-linoleic).
To mimic this balance, the Bunge’s new infant lipid solution provides a high level of SN-2 palmitate with the right combination of OPL and OPO triglycerides.
“Especially designed for the needs of Chinese babies, Betapol Select provides the right OPL-OPO balance to mimic Chinese mother’s milk fat and, at the same time, comply with the new Chinese GB standards for infant and toddler formula.”
Dr Wiola Mi – Global human nutrition science lead of the new generation Betapol.
“Especially designed for the needs of Chinese babies, Betapol Select provides the right OPL-OPO balance to mimic Chinese mother’s milk fat and, at the same time, comply with the new Chinese GB standards for infant and toddler formula,” explains Dr Wiola Mi, global human nutrition science lead of the new generation Betapol.
Bunge says that the presence of palmitic acid in the centre position (SN-2 palmitate) has been clinically proven to improve energy intake, increase bone mineral density, increase healthy gut bacteria and improve sleep, among other benefits.
“With the launch of Betapol Select today and award-winning Betapol Plus last year, we are expanding our infant nutritional lipids portfolio in all geographies and getting closer than ever before to the gold standard of mother’s milk,” said Dr Emiliano Rial Verde.
“Our new solution combines the benefits of Betapol with the OPL and OPO balance naturally present in Chinese mother’s milk fat.”
Dr Wiola Mi, global human nutrition science lead of the new generation Betapol, added: “While mother’s milk fat contains only 3-4% fat, it provides 50% of a baby’s energy intake in the first six months.
Bunge Loders Croklaan is a leading global producer and supplier of sustainable plant-based specialty oils and fats for the food manufacturing industry.
As a pioneer in the specialty oils and fats for the food manufacturing industry, the company also recently launched Karibon, a 100% shea-based cocoa butter equivalent.
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