Introducing Betapol® Organic, a breakthrough for manufacturers of organic infant milk formula

ZAANDAM, THE NETHERLANDS 6 September 2021 Bunge Loders Croklaan, the plant-based lipids business of Bunge, announces that it has launched Betapol Organic, the first China and EU Certified Organic OPO (Oleic-Palmitic-Oleic or SN-2 palmitate) for infant milk formula. Inspired by the natural composition of human breast milk, Betapol Organic is the latest offering in its infant nutrition portfolio.

As the inventor of the OPO category, and as part of our ongoing innovation efforts, we are proud to announce that our Betapol product is now Certified Organic, said Dr. Emiliano Rial Verde, Vice President of Bunge Loders Croklaan Nutrition. Weve seen the demand for organic infant milk formula growing, but clinically proven ingredients with organic certification are lacking. Now, we are the first in the market to offer our customers a premium OPO ingredient with dual EU[1] and Chinese[2] Organic certifications.

Increased consumer demand for organic products
Food brands are striving to have products that align with the values of their consumers. Organic certified products are part of this trend. The market intelligence agency Mintel reported that the global number of organic Infant Milk Formula (IMF) product introductions has grown from 5% in 2015 to 13% in 2021. The Asian organic baby food market constitutes 20% of the global market and is growing at a rapid pace of 12% a year since 2015[3]. China is fueling this with a year-over-year growth of over 20% in organic baby food, and 30% in organic IMF[4]. Stricter standards for organic certification have also led to a rise in consumer confidence and thus demand for organic products. With the introduction of Betapol Organic, Bunge Loders Croklaan is working to meet these market demands.

Enabling growth for infant formula manufacturers
Betapol from Bunge Loders Croklaan, is an established infant formula ingredient with clinical benefits proven since the 1990s. OPO is a uniquely structured lipid that is naturally present in mothers milk. The presence of palmitic acid in the middle position (SN-2 palmitate) has been clinically proven to improve energy intake, reduce constipation, increase bone mineral density, positively affect healthy gut bacteria, improve fine motor skills, reduce crying and result in better sleep[5].

The introduction of Organic Certified Betapol, the first EU Organic and China Organic Standard certified OPO, marks another milestone for Bunge Loders Croklaan. Grounded in Bunge Loders Croklaans ambition to be a growth enabler for its customers, Betapol Organic allows the production of organic infant milk formulas with the clinically proven benefits of OPO which, until now, were only available to conventional formulas.

Growing the organic portfolio of Bunge Loders Croklaan
Next to infant milk formula ingredients, Bunge Loders Croklaan is growing its organic portfolio, offering a steady and scalable supply chain of organic oils and fats, ranging from sunflower, rapeseed, soy and palm to shea and coconut. The company is also broadening its network of organic farmers to develop reliable organic supply chains customers can trust.

Betapol nutritional lipids portfolio history
As the inventor of the OPO category, and with over 30 years of experience in Infant Nutrition lipids, Bunge Loders Croklaans fats and oils are essential for infant formula manufacturers to reach the highest nutrition, safety, and quality standards.

Betapol: The very first enzymatically processed fat blend bringing infant milk formula closer to nature by mimicking the lipid structure of mothers milk. Betapol is the original OPO (SN-2 palmitate) product with 55% of palmitic acid in the SN-2 position.
Betapol Plus: The products with the highest SN-2 palmitate levels on the market to mimic the levels naturally occurring in mothers milk (65% to 75%); winner of the Food Ingredients Europe Innovation Award 2019.
Betapol Select: High SN-2 palmitate levels with the right balance of OPO and OPL (linoleic acid in positions 1 or 3) to mimic the fat composition of Chinese mothers milk and, with tailored OPO-OPL ratios available.
Betapol Organic: Certified Organic options to support producers of Organic Infant Milk Formula.


[1] Council Regulation (EC) No 834/2007
[2] GB/T 19630-2019
[3] Source: Euromonitor
[4] Source: Euromonitor
[5] See the Betapol Scientific Summary for more information