FrieslandCampina Ingredients, a global supplier of functional ingredients and solutions, recently announced the launch of a line of ingredients called Biotis Immune Health Solutions, formulated for immune support. It is the latest of three health benefit-based platforms under the Biotis brand, and the ingredients unlock the immune support potential of dairy-based proteins and prebiotics.
 
Citing demand for immune support formulas, which are now at an all-time high, the company reports that the number of consumers that actively wanted to improve their immunity rose from 50% to 70% in 2020. 60% of consumers have become more conscious of their overall immune health as a result of the global pandemic, the company said.
 
“At the same time, people are more interested in, and are educating themselves about ingredients that are scientifically proven to support immune health, including those derived from dairy,” the company said in its announcement. “As a result, consumers are proactively seeking solutions which contain scientifically proven ingredients with supporting clinical evidence that demonstrate they can help support the human body against disease and illness.”
 
The company suggests that its Biotis Immune Health line would be ideal for certain formulations, such as “Biotis lactoferrin: Immunity Up!” chewable gummies or its Immune-Plus powder drink.
 
“Our Biotis Health Benefit Solutions represent a new era of ingredient science,” Guus Aerts, managing director for Performance, Active, and Medical Nutrition at FrieslandCampina Ingredients, said. “Supporting immune health has been a growing top priority for consumers for some time, and of course the global COVID-19 pandemic has continued to ensure that immunity stays in the spotlight. Through our Biotis brand, we bring together renowned scientific understanding, extensive application expertise and global market insights to unlock new opportunities for customers in the health and wellness field. With dairy and immunity going hand in hand, we’re very excited to be expanding our Biotis portfolio with concepts that will support immune health using natural, science-backed ingredients.”
 
“It’s certainly important that new products appeal to consumer health concerns and fit into their daily lifestyles,” Miriam Peters, marketing manager at Biotis Immune Health, added. “But it is also essential that products are effective. Lactoferrin is a protein naturally present in cow and human milk. It is proven to provide multiple human health benefits in adults, including reducing the risk of both viral and bacteriological infections, and of iron deficiency, which can affect the body’s defenses. With the expansion currently in progress, FrieslandCampina Ingredients is set to be one of the world’s largest suppliers of this valuable and versatile ingredient by 2022.”
 
“With Biotis Immune Health, we remain at the forefront of rapidly evolving science and innovation in this field – committed to furthering our scientific knowledge of lactoferrin and other promising dairy ingredients – in order to collaborate with customers to bring effective immunity solutions to the market,” Peters continued.
 
FrieslandCampina said that its quality and consistency is achieved through the company’s total control of each part of the lactoferrin supply chain, starting from the production of raw milk, to the end processing, which involves a precise heat treatment process that preserves nativity and bioactivity.
 
“Though the pandemic may have boosted innovation in the immunity space, we see immune-targeted solutions playing an important role in consumers’ lives now and in the years to come, as individuals look to futureproof themselves against further potential health threats,” Aerts said. “With this in mind, we’re really looking forward to continued collaboration with our customers to bring these much-needed solutions to life.”