Arla Foods Ingredients receives positive Novel food opinion for BLG

Arla Foods Ingredients’ Novel food application for its BLG (Beta-lactoglobulin) ingredient, Lacprodan® BLG-100, has received a positive EFSA opinion.

The European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has published an opinion that BLG is safe and suitable for use in food products in the EU. It has submitted its findings to the European Commission, which is expected to grant final authorisation later in the year.

When this process is complete, Lacprodan® BLG-100 will become Arla Foods Ingredients’ first product approved under the new Novel Food Regulation (EU) 2015/2283. It will be able to be used in categories including sports nutrition, health foods, and foods for special medical purposes.

In October 2021 Arla Foods Ingredients became the first supplier with the capacity for commercial production of pure BLG. Lacprodan® BLG-100 contains 45% more leucine than commercially available whey protein isolates.[1] This, coupled with its palatability, makes it an ideal solution for medical nutrition applications, where it can help minimise the loss of muscle mass and maintain mobility.

Lacprodan® BLG-100 also provides 26% more essential amino acids and 40% more branched-chain amino acids than commercially available whey protein. This opens up new opportunities in sports nutrition applications, in particular clear ready-to-drink beverages and powder shakes.

Niels Østergaard, Vice President, Innovation at Arla Foods Ingredients, said: “BLG is unique – in fact it’s basically a whole new protein category. Its combination of purity, amazing nutritional quality and appealing taste will create a world of new opportunities in medical and sports nutrition. We’re delighted by this decision, and proud to have led the way in the development of a game-changing new ingredient.”

View the EFSA opinion: https://efsa.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/ doi/full/10.2903/j.efsa.2022.7204

[1] Gorissen et al 2018