In recent years, companies on the infant formula track have entered the stage of "close hand-to-hand combat". In this situation, in order not to be eliminated from the game, finding differentiated advantages has become the core issue within dairy enterprises. As a result, the industry continues to upgrade, and the value is re-excavated from multiple dimensions such as milk source selection, feeding methods, scientific and technological applications, and nutritional ingredients.
At present, the milk source has been refined from a single classification of cattle and sheep to multiple choices of Jersey cattle and Holstein cattle, goats and sheep, and even "A2 gene screening technology" has been used. The feeding method has been upgraded from golden pasture and free grazing to natural models such as grass-fed and organic. In addition, nutrients are also the highlands they are scrambling to be the first to be deployed.
Why did the approval of 2 HMOs cause a shock to the dairy industry?
Because as young parents become more cognitive, their families' financial well-being improves, and their understanding of scientific parenting concepts increases, they are beginning to focus on meeting their children's nutritional needs in order to help them grow up healthy and strong. As for infant formula, according to the "2022 China Maternal and Child Industry Research Report", as many as 46.2% of mothers tend to choose milk powder with a formula close to natural feeding and can simulate the environment and nutrition of breast milk.
Based on this, major dairy companies have invested heavily in R&D, continuously exploring breast milk nutrition and promoting the transformation of relevant research results. At present, a number of ingredients have been developed and applied, including lactoferrin, casein phosphopeptide, fructooligosaccharides, nucleotides, lutein and DHA. But when it comes to the big hit of the moment, it has to be HMOs.
It is understood that in October 2023 and March 2024, the National Health Commission approved a total of two kinds of human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs), namely: 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) from 3 donors and lactose-N-neotetraose (LNnT) from 1a+b donor 1, which can be added to milk powder for children, infant formula, formula for older infants and young children, and infant formula for special medical purposes as food nutrition enhancers.
It is known from relevant information that HMOs (breast milk oligosaccharides/breast milk oligosaccharides) are the third most abundant solid components in breast milk (second only to fat and lactose), with the content in mature milk being about 5~20g/L and the highest content in colostrum being about 20~25g/L. [1] In the process of metabolism in the human body, although HMOs are basically not digested by the human gastrointestinal tract, they can be used by intestinal microorganisms and distributed in body tissues and organs, such as the brain. 【2】
The addition of HMOs to foods such as infant formula is beneficial to improve the nutritional health of infants and young children. Studies have shown that HMOs play an important role in improving the microbiota of intestinal flora, maintaining the intestinal barrier, regulating immunity, resisting pathogenic bacterial infections, and promoting neurodevelopment. This includes increasing the proportion of beneficial bacteria (Bifidobacteria) in infants and young children and reducing the proportion of harmful bacteria (Escherichia coli, Streptococcus peptica and Clostridium difficile). 【1】
Because of this, HMOs have naturally become a battleground for soldiers in the infant formula industry.
HMOs被众星拱月,奶粉配方之战愈演愈烈
As we all know, breast milk is undoubtedly the most ideal food for babies. Now, with the official approval of the two HMOs, it marks a new breakthrough in the pursuit of formulations that mimic the composition of breast milk. In this context, Yili, Mengniu, Wyeth, Feihe, Ausnutria and other dairy companies have vigorously bet on HMOs and applied them to infant formula milk powder to create differentiated competition points and meet more needs for parenting upgrades.
At present, there are 5 HMOs in the market that claim to add/contain HMOs: there are 5 HMOs in the 3rd stage of Golden Champion Treasure Platinum Extract, including 3'-SL, 6'-SL, 3'-GL, 6'-GL, 3-FL, Hypnochem has 5 HMOs, including 3'-GL, 3'-SL, 4'-GL, 6'-GL, 6'-SL, and Nestlé Nernen Total Care has 6 HMOs, including 2′-FL, LNT, 6′-SL, 3′-SL, DFL and 3-FL, Wyeth Blue Diamond and Yunchun have 3'-SL......
It is important to note that these are just a few of the infant formulas that have been widely advertised in the field of HMOs. At this point, some people may wonder why there are so many HMOs used in these infant formulas, even though there are only two HMOs approved in the mainland? In fact, HMOs are not a new word in the field of infant formula.
Because HMOs have been approved and/or marketed in many countries and regions, HMOs are managed as generally considered safe substances in the United States, and HMOs are managed as new food ingredients by the European Food Safety Authority and FSANZ [1], so infant formula with HMOs has long appeared in the Chinese market through cross-border e-commerce channels.
In addition, there is no new national standard infant formula milk powder in the form of food nutrition fortifiers, with additional 2′-FL or LNnT. However, according to industry sources, several related products have been in the registration review stage. Based on this, some of the new national standard infant formula, which is using HMO as the selling point of the product, is naturally brought in by using other raw materials. (As a tip: if other ingredients are not brought in, the specific ingredient name will be displayed in the ingredient list.) ）
For example, Wyeth Blue Diamond and Yunchun clearly indicate on the product detail page that "Qifu products contain galacto-oligosaccharides and contain a natural human milk oligosaccharide, 3'-SL". The Golden Lingguan Zhen Bao Platinum Extract is derived from raw milk, which is a derivative product of milk raw materials. However, it can also be seen that many dairy companies have been eyeing this field.
With the deepening of the market's understanding of the nutritional value of HMOs, this is undoubtedly an important opportunity for dairy companies to consolidate and enhance their competitive differentiation.
What is the future development of HMOs, and how long can dairy companies rely on them to survive without being homogenized?
However, dairy analyst Song Liang once pointed out: "The approval of human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) and the pressure of raw material supply may cause a slight increase in the price of infant formula in the short term, which should not cause major market turmoil." However, with the intensification of the market's profit-seeking psychology, small and medium-sized enterprises are gradually catching up, or facing a new round of homogeneous competition."
According to QYResearch's statistics and forecasts, the global human milk oligosaccharide (HMO) market sales reached $577 million in 2023 and is expected to reach $2.642 billion in 2030, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 24.6% (2024-2030).
At present, many domestic and foreign enterprises are deeply engaged in the academic or industrial side. These include foreign companies such as Nestle, Chr. Hansen, DSM-Firmenich, IFF, Wyeth, FrieslandCampina, and domestic companies such as Yili, Mengniu, Feihe, Ausnutria, Henglu Biotech, Yixi Biotech, and Zeno Technology.
It is reported that Wyeth Nutrition has carried out a series of scientific research on HMOs more than 30 years ago, relying on the scientific research strength of its parent company, Nestle Group. It has created an HMO academic exchange platform and established a human milk oligosaccharide knowledge center - Wyeth Nutritional Science Center HMO Academy. Up to now, the company has more than 80 related patents, published more than 70 relevant authoritative scientific papers, and carried out more than 20 related clinical studies for HMO, covering more than 20 countries on 4 continents.
Yilijin Lingguan is committed to the exploration of the characteristics of breast milk in China, and carried out relevant research on HMOs in breast milk as early as possible in 2014. Up to now, Yilijin Lingguan has obtained 12 HMO-related technology patents, involving the joint application of HMOs with probiotics, prebiotics and other nutritional elements, and is committed to improving the baby's intestinal microenvironment and improving the baby's immunity.
In addition, as early as 2016, Mengniu also joined forces with a number of universities and research institutions at home and abroad to conduct in-depth research on the composition of HMOs in Chinese breast milk. In October last year, Mengniu's self-developed 2′-FL was approved by the National Health Commission, becoming the only Chinese local enterprise among the first batch of approved enterprises.
In conclusion, the rapid growth of the HMOs market presents significant opportunities for dairy companies. But it often comes with challenges. With the continuous innovation and progress of the industry, more and more companies will play the selling point of HMO products in the future. If you want to be invincible in the market, dairy companies need to continue to innovate in this area.
References:
Chinese Society of Food Science and Technology.Scientific consensus on human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs)[J/OL].Chinese Journal of Food Science.
[2]. China Nutrition and Health Food Association Infant Formula Food Branch.Industry Article|How much do you know about breast milk oligosaccharides?.China Nutrition and Health Food Association.