Organic food sales increased in 2020, displaying the highest growth rate compared to other health categories. Additionally, 6 out of 10 parents in China consider organic products when purchasing for their children. To meet the needs of the market, Arla Foods Ingredients plans to roll out new additions to its current organic line.

First are products for early life nutrition, which will be showcased at Food Ingredients China on May 31 to June 2. These are Lacprodan® IF-7390 Organic, an organic-certified whey protein concentrate and Premium Lactose Organic.

Arla Foods Ingredients has access to one of the largest pools of organic milk, so supply will not be an issue. Further, the Arlagården® farm management programme ensures that ingredients produced meet the highest standards of safety and animal welfare.

Niels Joakim Karlsen, Paediatric Sales Development Manager at Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “Having a child is often the trigger for interest in organic, and of course parents are particularly focused on safety and high standards. It’s therefore especially important for formula manufacturers to use high-quality ingredients. As we expand our range, our vision is to become the most trusted supplier of organic ingredients for early life nutrition.”

The company is also making strides in introducing concepts for organic food applications. Among these is Cast cheese, a simple way of organic cheese making. This process can yield items that simulate cheddar, gouda and other variants, and finished or semi-finished products with a pleasant milky taste.

Other items in the pipeline include an organic alternative to popular white cheese, cooking-stable cheese, high-protein and -calcium ready-to-drink beverages for health-conscious consumers and the organic version of Nutrilac® protein solutions.

Barbara Jensen, Sales Development Manager at Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “Demand for organic is high across the world, but interpretations of what it means can vary significantly. In China, for example, organic has powerful associations with health and food safety. In other markets, it’s more about values like sustainability. As these concepts demonstrate, our ingredients can help manufacturers to create organic products that appeal to consumers in their target regions, while at the same time delivering functional benefits.”

Arla Foods Ingredients began releasing product lines for the organic market in 2020, starting with MicelPure™, an organic micellar casein isolate.