At present, the milk powder industry is in a critical period of innovation and development, and more and more brands have embarked on the journey of scientific research and traceability. In this context, Wyeth's brand Qifu also carefully organized an in-depth experience activity of "Breast Milk Oligosaccharide HMO Scientific Research Traceability Tour".
Recently, the ultra-high-end maternal and infant nutrition brand Qifu Global "Human Milk Oligosaccharide HMO Research Traceability Tour" was successfully concluded at the headquarters of its parent company Nestlé Group in Vevey, Switzerland, and industry experts, consumer representatives and media delegations from China discussed the important role of HMOs in the field of global infant nutrition for the healthy development of mothers and infants.
In this traceability, Qifu not only demonstrated its profound "scientific research strength" to the outside world, but also deeply experienced the excellent quality and solid support behind the brand, and through close observation, let everyone understand how Qifu uses global pilot science to unlock the mystery of breast milk, and the application and implementation of relevant scientific research results in the Chinese market.
As Isabelle Bureau-Franz, Head of R&D at Nestlé Nutrition, said: "The Global HMO Research Traceability Journey aims to uncover the world's cutting-edge research results in breast milk, explore the mysteries of the first 1,000 days of life, and support the healthy growth of future Chinese babies with an advanced HMO formula portfolio. ”
Since the approval of the two HMOs in 2023, HMO products such as Qifu Yunchun, Qifu Future, and Qifu Water Milk have been attracting the attention of Chinese consumers. In the near future, Qifu will further develop the Chinese market, and a new generation of patented HMO infant formula will also be launched, leading the category development with cutting-edge scientific research, taking a step closer to breast milk, and bringing continuous advancement to Chinese babies Maternal Source Yuli.
HMO products of Qifu and Nestlé Group
Witnesses on the ground: Global HMO research leadership continues to deconstruct the mysteries of breast milk
As we all know, human milk oligosaccharide HMO is the third largest component of breast milk after fat and lactose, and is also the first active immune nutrition, which has health benefits such as improving gastrointestinal health, enhancing immunity, and promoting growth and development in the first 1000 days of infant life.
It is reported that the safety and effectiveness of a variety of HMOs ingredients used in infant formulations have also been certified by world authorities such as the European Food Safety Authority, the European Commission, and the United States Food and Drug Administration. With the approval of 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) and lactose-N-neotetraose (LNnT) as new varieties of food nutrition enhancers by the National Health Commission of China in October 2023, China's maternal and infant nutrition field has also entered the HMO era.
In this regard, industry insiders said that there are more than 200 kinds of human milk oligosaccharide HMOs, and now there are six kinds of applications, and there are two of them currently approved by the state.
Norbert Sprenger, a senior expert at Nestlé's R&D Center, who has been focusing on HMO research for many years, said that Nestlé scientists discovered the importance of HMOs in breast milk more than 30 years ago – the lack of HMOs is one of the main gaps between infant formula and breast milk.
Back in 1988, Nestlé published its first academic HMO article; So far, he has published more than 75 HMO-related research papers; It has more than 100 HMO-related scientific patents in the world, including 61 in China, which is at the leading level at home and abroad. More than 30 of the more than 55 HMO-related studies have been conducted, fully validating the safety, tolerability and efficacy of HMO products.
At present, scientists continue to explore the effects of HMOs on brain development, bone health, and metabolic health; These research results will continue to reveal the mystery of breast milk and promote product innovation and iteration in the local market.
雀巢营养业务研发负责人Isabelle Bureau-Franz致欢迎辞
Norbert Sprenger, Senior Specialist at Nestlé's R&D Center, presents HMO scientific discoveries
In short, HMO, as a health product with great potential, is bringing new opportunities to the maternal and infant industry. In the product display corridor of Nestlé's headquarters, the Traceability Tour delegation toured the vast HMO product family that spans the global market.
According to Laurent Alsteens, head of Nestlé's global maternal and child nutrition business, Nestlé has applied the results of HMO research to more than 100 products in more than 100 countries and regions to protect the healthy development of babies at different stages from newborns to preschoolers. These HMO products have also been well recognized by consumers, especially the world's first HMO to add 6 HMOs, which has been awarded the "HMO Breast Milk Oligosaccharide Infant Formula with the Most Medical Recognition and the Best Recognition" for many consecutive years, and has the largest market share in the HMO human milk oligosaccharide category of ultra-high-end brands in Hong Kong, China, driving the rapid growth of this category.
Laurent Alsteens, Head of Nestlé's Global Maternal and Child Nutrition business, shared the global adoption of HMO products
Ms. Chan, a consumer representative from Hong Kong, shared at the event: "I very much agree with the concept of Qifu, which is to help babies build their own immune system by providing the closest nutrients to breast milk. All three of my babies are drinking HMO Milk Powder, and as the kids grow up, I see the positive impact that Milk Powder brings to them. They are physically strong and have strong immunity, which gives me the confidence to let them explore the world, whether it's playing outdoors or learning new things indoors. ”
Advanced layout: Qifu Pilot Science promotes localized innovation and focuses on the Chinese market
In today's society, where the demand for health is increasing, scientific and technological innovation has become a key force to meet people's health pursuits. Technological innovation and the ability to transform achievements are also the core elements for milk powder companies to build market competitiveness.
Based on the forward-looking global scientific research layout and solid clinical practice, Qifu actively carries out localized innovative application of cutting-edge scientific research achievements, and constantly applies cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements to products, creating a good milk powder with extraordinary formulas like Qifu and constantly leading the market development.
As industry insiders say, as an infant formula brand trusted by consumers, Qifu has been insisting on iterative upgrading of products through technology empowerment since its establishment, and is committed to providing all-round nutritional support and warm-hearted protection for maternal and infant families around the world.
At the traceability event, Jocelyn Lacida, global brand manager of Qifu's ultra-high-end category, said that the iteration of the formula is not achieved overnight, taking Qifu Future as an example, from the 2 HMOs at the time of listing to the latest formula containing 6 HMOs, which is now proud, it took 7 years and gone through three upgrades and iterations; At a time when HMOs have become an emerging track in China, Qifu is still leading the market strongly - it is the first foreign brand to launch Qifu Children's Growth Milk Powder with 2 HMOs, and then released the first HMO water milk with 2 HMOs on the market. "Each of our recipes has been honed and honed over years, if not decades." Jocelyn Lacida continued, "Not only is it important to ensure the safety and effectiveness of key nutrients such as HMOs, but also to study the precise ratio of multiple ingredients to finally form a superior formula with clinically proven health benefits. ”
Jocelyn Lacida, Global Brand Manager of the Ultra-Premium category, introduces the innovation of HMO formulations
It is worth noting that Qifu is also one of the first brands to enter the field of HMOs infant formula in China. As early as 2017, the first HMO product was launched in the Hong Kong market.
Since entering the Chinese market, Qifu has always been guided by "scientific and technological innovation", and has achieved rapid development of the enterprise through localized innovation, and at present, China has become an important market for Qifu in the world.
In order to better focus on the Chinese market, Qifu has been actively exploring the latest generation of HMOs formula for Chinese mothers and babies - a patented ace combination, adding 2 kinds of approved HMOs, a variety of native HMOs, α-lactalbumin, milk fat globule membrane and other nutrients, simulating 80% of the mother's active nutrients, providing continuous and advanced mother-derived Yuli; It has been verified by consumer tests that it can extend the immune protection from the mother to 12 months, help the development of the digestive tract, effectively increase the beneficial bacteria and reduce the harmful bacteria, build a whole-body self-defense system, and help the newborn gradually advance from congenital maternal protection to strong self-active protection.
Jocelyn Lacida revealed at the scene that based on years of dedicated research in the Chinese market, Qifu's advanced formula has become mature; A new and upgraded HMOs infant formula product that embodies the cutting-edge scientific research achievements of Qifu will soon be launched in China, helping Chinese babies to achieve advanced maternal origin.
In the view of third-party observers such as food industry analyst Zhu Danpeng, Qifu uses scientific research and innovation to promote the development of the market, and continues to improve the nutritional adaptability of formula milk powder to infants and young children, which will bring it a new space for development and growth, and lead the transformation and upgrading of the entire industry.