FDBusiness.com

Danone has launched the first ever Dairy and Plants Blend baby formula, in response to parents’ desire for vegetarian and flexitarian options for their baby. Plant-based consumption is growing substantially, with over one-third [37%] of EU consumers¹ choosing a vegan, vegetarian or flexitarian diet, and almost 70% [69%] of parents now preferring their children eat more plant-based foods.² Until now, there have been few options for parents if they decide to move on from breastmilk, and want to make food choices that are healthy, more plant-based and good for the planet.

Drawing on over 50 years of advanced breastmilk research and experience in pioneering plant-based products, Danone has developed the new Dairy & Plants Blend baby formula – a nutritionally complete³ formulation that combines the best of both dairy and plants. The new baby formula is the 1^st specifically created for a vegetarian diet, and is the 1st blended formula for healthy babies in which more than half the required protein is derived from soy.

Soy is a well-established ingredient in baby formulas and is recognized as a suitable source of plant-based protein for infant and follow-on formulas.⁴ In the Dairy & Plants Blend baby formula, 60% of the protein is sourced from high-quality, non-GMO soy, and 40% comes from the dairy ingredients, casein and whey protein. The new formula also contains the key dairy ingredient lactose – an important source of carbohydrates for babies, and an essential nutrient found in breastmilk.

With its mild taste of plants, the Dairy & Plants Blend formula is also intended to help familiarize babies and toddlers with plant flavours in a gentle way, which can help shape future food preferences.

Commenting on the launch, Manuela Borella, Vice President, Global Plant Based Strategy & Business Acceleration, explained, “As a mother of four, I appreciate parents want the very best nutrition for their baby’s healthy growth and development. At Danone, we also recognize many parents want to introduce plant-based, vegetarian and flexitarian options into their baby’s diet, while still meeting their baby’s specific nutritional requirements. Our new Dairy & Plants Blend baby formula has been developed with these needs top of mind.”

Compared to other powdered formulas,⁵ the Dairy & Plants Blend baby formula will have a carbon footprint approximately 30% lower per pack. The higher share of plant-based ingredients in the Dairy & Plants Blend formula milk and its fully-recyclable packaging will contribute to the lower carbon footprint.

Danone’s Dairy & Plants Blend formula is being launched first in the Netherlands – under the Nutrilon brand, and in other countries later this year – under the global Aptamil brand.

1. Smart Protein. What consumers want: a survey on European consumer attitudes towards plant-based foods. 2021. www.smartproteinproject.eu. Accessed June 2022.
2. OnePoll. Survey of 2000 Parents of Children aged 5-17, Conducted February 2021.
3. As required by EU legislation.
4. ESPGHAN, Soy protein infant formulae and follow-on formulae: a commentary by the ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 2006. 42(4): p. 352-361.
5. Compared to Nutrilon Volledige Zuigelingenvoeding, Nutrilon Opvolgmelk 2 and Nutrilon Dreumesmelk 4. Calculation compared carbon emissions linked to sourcing the ingredients, producing, packaging and transporting products to distributors and retailers.