FrieslandCampina’s History of Infant Formula

Since 1916, FrieslandCampina had been producing evaporated milk, which was widely accepted as an alternative infant formula. Studies later revealed that evaporated milk was not a feasible alternative of breast milk due to its composition.

In the 1950s, FrieslandCampina formulated a diverse range of liquid (evaporated) infant nutrition products. Then, in the early 1960s, FrieslandCampina began developing a powdered form of infant formula known as Frisolac.

Major steps were taken to develop an infant formula that was similar to mother’s milk:

• Milk fat was replaced by a mix of vegetable oils to obtain a better fatty acid profile.
• Increased whey resulted in a better casein-whey ratio as a protein source.
• Vitamins and minerals were added.

Subsequently, other smaller improvements were gradually made to fortify infant formulas:

• Nucleotides were included in the formula.
• Long chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (DHA and AA) were added.
• Prebiotics: FOS (Fructooligosaccharides) and GOS (galacto-oligosaccharides) became regular ingredients.
• Probiotics: Starting with Lactobacillus reuteri in Growing Up Milk, different species are being tested for infant formulas. Today, Lactobacillus paracasei and Bifidobacterium lactis have been added to the latest formulation.