AFBR was recently given the opportunity to interview Mr Job van Rozendaal, Managing Director of Asia-Pacific at FrieslandCampina Ingredients to gain a more in-depth understanding of the dairy industry leader’s range of Biotis® portfolio of ingredients and its applications for the Asia Pacific region.
Asia is fast gaining traction as one of the fastest growing region for nutritional and functional food products, as consumers are developing a growing awareness of the importance of maintaining good health and immune system to fight future diseases and epidemics. There is also a growing association of good health with good gut, digestion and immune system, and this is where Biotis® range of offerings provide the necessary solutions for both customers and consumers.
The following are excerpts of the interview with Mr Rozendaal.
Biotis® GOS-OP High-Purity and Biotis® Fermentis are 2 new offerings under the Biotis® trademark – are they targeted for supplementation mainly to adult consumers ?
While we do offer prebiotics for the early life nutrition market, our Biotis® portfolio has been expressly formulated to meet adult consumers’ health needs. Within our portfolio, we offer gut, brain and immune health solutions to help meet a wide range of consumer health needs.
For example, Biotis® Fermentis combines prebiotics, probiotics and whey protein and ferments them together, and has been specifically designed to support both serious and recreational athletes and active consumers looking to boost their overall well-being. Biotis® GOS-OP High-Purity, on the other hand, has been designed to overcome the formulation challenges typically associated with creating prebiotic tablets, capsules, gummies, which is achieved thanks to its high galacto-oligosaccharide content of over 90% which ensures it is efficacious in doses as low as two grams.1
Both Biotis® Fermentis and Biotis® GOS-OP High-Purity are suitable for a wide range of supplements across the nutrition segment. Biotis® GOS-OP High Purity, in particular, can be tailored to provide a wide range of consumer groups with a quick and convenient gut health boost. For Biotis® Fermentis, athletes and active consumers are the audiences where this ingredient will resonate best.
What are the flavours/ingredients that go well (in terms of application) with these two Biotis® products ?
Biotis® GOS has excellent stability and a neutral, mild taste – meaning it can be used in a wide variety of end products and is suited to many flavours, including delicate ones. For instance, we have developed an exciting gummy application using Biotis® GOS-OP High-Purity which has a clean sensory profile and subtle, slightly sweet flavour. And at the other end of the scale, our Biotis® Fermentis Uplift powder stick application has a lively blood orange flavour.
In which food and beverage categories do you find the application of (a) Biotis® GOS-OP High-Purity and (b) Biotis® Fermentis to be in high demand ?
Biotis® GOS-OP High-Purity can be formulated into powders, gummies and tablets. This is because Biotis® GOS-OP ensures a typical galacto-oligosaccharide content of 94% – significantly higher than the typical range for other prebiotics currently available on the market. Research has also substantiated the efficacy of the ingredient in doses as low as 2 grams,1 enabling brands to easily create effective supplements that meet consumer needs. Formats such as tablets, powders and gummies are in high demand because of their convenience – they are ideal for increasingly busy consumers looking to get the nutrition they need quickly, wherever they are. Gummies, in particular, are very popular right now because not only are they convenient, but they can also provide a moment of enjoyable indulgence.
To target athletes and gym goers, Biotis® Fermentis could be formulated into a range of foods, drinks and nutritional supplements. Currently, we have developed a powder stick concept that can be easily added into shakes, yoghurts and drinks– getting people the right nutrition quickly and conveniently as part of their training routines. We’re always actively researching the potential of Biotis® Fermentis for other applications – so watch this space for updates such as RTDs and protein powders.
Speaking on the Asian region specifically, how can these products help to reduce/ assist in alleviating symptoms or promote health in this community ?
Poor gut health is an issue all over the world and problems are on the rise in Asia Pacific particularly due to changes in diet and lifestyle. Researchers have recently suggested that morphing dietary habits – specifically higher fat intakes and reduced plant-derived fibre consumption – may be altering the gut microbiota in Asian people and, with that, their metabolic function.2 Mental health issues are also on the rise in this region. For example, 1 in 7 people in Singapore have experienced a mental health condition in their lifetime,3 and 10% of people in India have suffered one or more mental health issue.4
These changes mean there’s a clear need for nutritional products that can positively influence the gut microbiota and keep its composition in balance. Doing this provides beneficial effects not only within the gut itself, but more widely too – for instance for immune health and mental well-being. For example, Biotis® GOS has been shown not only to influence gut microbiota composition,5,6,7,8,9 producing beneficial effects on gut health,3,7,10,11 but it has also been shown to produce beneficial effects on mental well-being.4
In your own words, why do you think gut health is an important attribute for good health in the Asian community ?
Gut health is important for everyone, regardless of where they are in the world. That said, research suggests that as much as 61% of consumers in APAC experience digestive health issues at least once a week,12 So there’s a significant need for innovations that meet Asian consumers’ needs. What’s more, scientific research is increasingly showing us that the gut is a cornerstone of human health. Its impact goes far beyond avoiding or solving digestive problems – gut health supports the immune system and may provide even more holistic benefits via the gut-muscle and gut-brain axes.13,14
For lactose intolerant consumers, can these products be applied to them in any form ?
Biotis® GOS OP-High Purity contains less than 6% lactose, meaning this ingredient is suitable for low lactose formulations.
In your own words, what can F&B manufacturers gain/benefit in terms of market positioning from using the Biotis® ingredients in their products?
Galacto-oligosaccharides have been proven by many researchers to impart significant health benefits, and our GOS is one of the most researched galacto-oligosaccharides in the world. This gives manufacturers, and their consumers, reassurance of the quality and efficacy of this ingredient. ®
The health benefits of Biotis Fermentis have also been substantiated in a large-scale consumer study and a clinical study that explored consumer insights on the perceived health benefits in recreational athletes and active consumers with self-reported gut complaints. The results highlighted that Biotis® Fermentis improved consumers’ perceptions of their overall well-being and reduced bloating.15 Not only are these two key health areas consumers are interested in, but they’re also important factors for helping active people and athletes perform at the top of their game.
From a marketing perspective, we work hard to understand what will resonate with consumers and how best to position final applications – in this case, convenience and supporting overall health are critical. In addition to the benefits of the ingredients themselves, manufacturers have access to the expertise of the FrieslandCampina Ingredients experts in gut health, application know-how and regulatory support.
Being a leading dairy ingredients supplier focusing on proteins and prebiotics, are there any near future plans to launch a new ingredient relating to the Biotis® or other related trademark?
Innovation is at our core, and we are constantly looking for more and better ways to help consumers get the most out of life, always. So it’s safe to say we’re always working on the development of new ingredients that offer in-demand health benefits. In fact, we have a very exciting Biotis® launch coming up – so watch this space in the new year!
