Significant growth in demand from the infant formula industry for whey protein fractions rich in alpha-lactalbumin has spurred Arla Foods Ingredients to expand production. During 2007, the company will almost double the capacity of its LACPRODAN^® Alpha production line.
Interest in alpha-lactalbumin has increased as manufacturers of starter and follow-on formulas look to tailored bovine milk fractions as a means of lowering the nitrogen burden on the kidneys of newborn infants and meeting the minimum amino acid requirements. The new European infant formula directive backs the growing alpha-lactalbumin sales by requiring infant formula manufacturers to simulate the amino acid profile of human milk as closely as possible.
Nutrition manager at Arla Foods Ingredients, Anders Steen Jørgensen welcomes the development.
"It has been evident for some years that support from strong clinical evidence is necessary in order to build a sustainable market for speciality milk fractions. It is with excitement that we can now see these investments become converted into market growth for our LACPRODAN^® Alpha range," he says.