Arla releases new concepts for maternal nutrition market

Arla Foods Ingredients has launched two maternal supplementation concepts to support children’s cognitive development during pregnancy and lactation.

The Smart Mama drink and Smart Mama bar prototypes contain the ingredient Lacprodan MFGM-10 – a whey protein concentrate featuring the benefits of milk fat globule membranes (MFGMs).

Arla said the prototypes offer manufacturers the opportunity to launch functional products into the rapidly growing market for maternal nutrition food and drinks.

“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,” said Anne Staudt Kvistgaard, Arla Foods Ingredients’ senior manager, early life nutrition.

“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.”

Arla Foods Ingredients said maternal nutrition food and drink product launches saw a 13% increase in CAGR between 2014 and 2018, with research showing the two most sought-after product attributes in maternal nutrition in 2018 were convenience and brain health.

The Smart Mama drink is low-fat, offers a source of protein and calcium, and contains high levels of folic acid. The Smart Mama bar is high in protein, calcium and fibre.

Arla Foods Ingredients will showcase the concepts at Food Ingredients Europe in Paris from 3 to 5 December.

Earlier this month, Arla Foods Ingredients launched a 100% whey protein isolate that it says overcomes the taste and mouthfeel issues that have long challenged manufacturers of clear protein waters.