Protecting the natural power of milk, FrieslandCampina supports nutrition and health in early life

On November 12, during the 11th China Special Food Conference 2026, the special forum "Guarding the Natural Power of Milk - Native Milk Protein, Milk Fat, Bioactive Substances and Intestinal and Immune Health" exclusively supported by Royal FrieslandCampina was successfully held in Nanning, Guangxi. The forum brings together authoritative experts from around the world in the fields of food science, clinical pediatrics, allergy diagnosis and treatment, and maternal and child nutrition. They conduct in-depth discussions on the role of native milk protein, milk fat, and milk-derived bioactive substances on intestinal health, immune development, and allergy prevention. It builds an international exchange platform for industry, academia, research, and medicine, and outputs cutting-edge scientific ideas for early life nutrition innovation and high-quality development of the special food industry.

The China Special Food Conference is hosted by the China Nutrition and Health Food Association. Since its inception in 2016, it has become the most influential and appealing annual event in China's special food industry. Yang Guochao, senior vice president of FrieslandCampina China, said: "Natural nourishment" and "providing better nutrition to the world" are our original aspiration and mission that we have always adhered to. We hope to use the conference platform and join forces with industry, academia and research to jointly explore the natural power of milk, improve nutritional quality, and continue to empower infant nutrition and health.

Milk-derived active nutrition supports intestinal and immune health in infants and young children

Zhou Peng, a professor at the School of Food Science and Technology of Jiangnan University, shared the theme and conducted an in-depth analysis around natural protein structure, digestibility and intestinal health. He pointed out that the research and development and production of infant formula should use breast milk as the gold standard. It can start from formula optimization and process innovation, and improve the nutritional value and health effects of the protein in infant formula by optimizing the composition and structure of casein and innovating moderate processing technology.

Experts from many countries discuss the natural nutrition of milk

Zhang Shiyu, a pediatric gastroenterologist in Malaysia and director of the pediatric gastroenterology service of the Ministry of Health, Malaysia, explained the diverse value of milk lipids from a clinical pediatric perspective: milk lipids contain sn-2 palmitic acid, milk fat globule membrane MFGM and polyvalent long-chain fatty acids, which can help babies build intestinal barriers, cultivate beneficial bacteria, reduce digestive tract discomfort and infection, and can also support immune maturation and brain cognitive development. Dr. Tim Lambers, senior scientist at FrieslandCampina R&D Center, further shared the mechanism of action of milk lipids. In a report titled "Milkfat in Early Life Nutrition: Immune and Digestive Benefits from Fatty Acid Diversity," he pointed out that the natural milkfat in infant formula can bring a richer fatty acid combination and help reduce infant digestive tract discomfort. Medium and short-chain fatty acids also contribute to infant immune development.

In the report "Natural Nutrition in Milk and Children's Nutrition and Health", Professor Jiang Yujun, Vice President of Northeast Agricultural University, pointed out that milk can effectively fill the gap in children's dietary calcium and high-quality protein and promote children's growth and development. With its multiple and synergistic natural nutritional components, milk can help children grow healthily from multiple dimensions: physical, neurological, and immune intestinal tract. Natural milk fat has both energy supply and biological activity, supporting children's brain development, immune function and intestinal health. The milk-derived active ingredients lactoferrin and immunoglobulins have antibacterial and immunomodulatory activities.

Dr. Stavroula Jarvi, a senior consultant allergist in Greece and director of the Department of Pediatric and Adult Allergy, introduced the results of the Allergy Reduction Trial (A.R.T.), which confirmed that a specific partially hydrolyzed whey protein formula can help reduce the risk of atopic dermatitis and food allergies. Dr. Ding Haoen, Assistant Clinical Practice Professor of the Department of Food Science and Nutrition of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, China, emphasized the long-term impact of healthy diet during pregnancy on the baby's early immunity and allergy risk, and pointed out the key points of nutritional supplements during the critical stage of establishing the baby's immune system.

From farm to table, full-chain self-control protects natural nutrition

During the conference, FrieslandCampina’s booth made a grand appearance, focusing on FrieslandCampina’s diverse product matrix, which became the focus of communication for many guests attending the conference. Based on its solid scientific research accumulation and full-chain supply chain strength, FrieslandCampina has built a diversified product matrix: Royal Meisujiaer uses 30 times + lactoferrin and 50% natural butterfat to build a protective barrier; Royal Meisujiaer Chunyue uses four authoritative certifications Certified full-chain organic, powerful baby internal protection; Friso uses Novas soft protein derived from cow's milk, which is friendly to the baby's gastrointestinal tract; Royal Meiso's moderately hydrolyzed milk powder reduces allergy from the source and helps balance the immune system of sensitive babies; Friso Signature uses patented technology to lock in natural active immunoglobulin IgG to help with defense and protection; Royal Meisujiar Wangyue protects children's healthy growth with 6 times higher active immune globulin and superior content of lactoferrin; Meisujiar mother's milk powder uses a low GI formula to help mothers during pregnancy and childbirth be lightly nourished.

Karel van Bommel, agricultural counselor of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in China (first from left), Elzo Kannekens, chairman of the Dutch Dairy Association (center), and Yang Guochao, senior vice president of FrieslandCampina (first from right), at the FrieslandCampina booth

Relying on the management of the entire industry chain "from farm to table", FrieslandCampina's Meizuojiaer has achieved self-control and traceability of the entire chain from its own ranch, raw milk quality inspection to transportation and production, and finished product inspection. Behind the products are more than 3,000 control nodes at all levels. Research and development is another advantage of FrieslandCampina. Relying on the deep processing capabilities of its own ingredients factory, Meisujiaer has achieved its own self-control of many key milk ingredients such as lactose, whey, lactoferrin, and prebiotics. Fully independent management from milk sources, ingredients to quality control makes the natural nutrition derived from milk a quality experience that consumers can perceive.

Deepen Sino-Dutch dairy cooperation with science, standards and trust

As an important participant in the global dairy industry, FrieslandCampina has long been engaged in scientific research on active nutrition of milk sources, shared cutting-edge international results, and continued to promote the development and exchange of the dairy industry between China and the Netherlands. The dairy industry has become an important link in Sino-Dutch economic, trade and industrial cooperation: the Netherlands is China's second largest source of dairy imports in 2025 and China's largest source of infant formula imports. It has been among the top three suppliers of China's infant formula milk powder for 14 consecutive years since 2012. In September this year, the "From Ranch to Fork" Sino-Dutch Dairy Industry Chain Management Seminar was held in Beijing, setting up a high-quality dialogue platform for mutual learning between the two countries' dairy industries.

Elzo Kannekens (first from left), Chairman of the Dutch Dairy Association, signed a memorandum of cooperation on behalf of the Dutch Dairy Association.

On the afternoon of November 11, Elzo Kannekens, Chairman of the Dutch Dairy Association, was invited to attend the conference and signed a memorandum of cooperation with the China Nutrition and Health Food Association on behalf of the Dutch Dairy Association. He said: "The Netherlands hopes to continue to be China's trustworthy long-term dairy partner, providing high-quality dairy products, while continuing to cooperate in nutrition, quality, science, standards and innovation to jointly shape the future of the dairy industry." As an industry organization representing 13 major dairy companies in the Netherlands, covering about 98% of milk processing volume , the Dutch Dairy Association will carry out a five-year collaboration with China focusing on cutting-edge scientific research and technology exchanges, dairy industry communication, regulatory standards dialogue, joint conferences and promotion of member activities, and rely on the International Dairy Federation (IDF) to promote global standards collaboration and inject new momentum into the high-quality and sustainable development of the two countries' dairy industries. (over)