The History of Baby Food
HMOs are the third largest solid component of human breast milk, after lipids and lactose, and these components have been extensively researched since the early 19th century. Although breastfeeding was not considered particularly important at that time, infant mortality in the first year could reach up to 30%. Infants who did not receive breast milk, but instead were fed infant formula such as cow’s milk mixed with grains (“Kindersuppe”), had a seven times higher mortality rate compared to breastfed infants. In the following decades, it was observed that fecal bacterial compositions differed between breastfed infants and bottle-fed infants. In particular, the lactobacilli and bifidobacteria found in the first group were correlated with overall health, and it was discovered that their presence is caused by the carbohydrate fraction in breast milk. From today, after several more decades of research, more than 200 individual HMOs have been identified, and they all pass through our small intestine undigested. They reach the large intestine where they work in various ways: HMOs prevent pathogens from attaching to the cell surface of the large intestine, thus preventing disease. Secondly, HMOs act as a prebiotic for Bifidobacteria; they convert them into acetic acid and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). This causes the pH in the intestine to drop, inhibiting the growth of pathogenic bacteria. The excreted SCFAs are directly used as an energy source by the cells of the large intestine. Even in the event that a virus bypasses the HMOs and attaches to the surface of the large intestine, the HMOs directly positively influence the inflammatory response of the immune system.
Enormous Demand, Limited Supply
These health benefits are the reason why the WHO states that breastfeeding is best when it comes to feeding infants. However, there is a huge challenge worldwide: 84% of women are unable to exclusively breastfeed their babies for the entire recommended first six months. This group switches to dairy-based infant formula due to low milk production, incompatible workplaces, or the persistent stigma surrounding public breastfeeding. Families do not want to face a trade-off between feeding a baby and a mother’s well-being, and this is the main driver for the development of more nutritious baby food.
An example of such innovation can be found in the goat milk industry. Most infant formula sold worldwide is produced from cow’s milk, with bifidogenic factors such as inulin and GOS added to modulate the bacterial composition in the large intestine. Over the years, it became increasingly clear that goat milk is more diverse and richer in milk oligosaccharides than cow’s milk, with a higher percentage of HMOs in goat milk as well. Not only is goat milk more bifidogenic on its own compared to cow’s milk, it also offers the specific health benefits of HMOs that the added inulin and GOS lack.
Another example of innovation is the establishment of manufacturers of pure HMO products, such as DSM, Chr. Hansen and Inbiose. These companies produce pure HMO products such as 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) from microbial fermentation. The HMOs are food-safe and can be mixed with existing infant formula to increase nutritional value. Moreover, research into adult health and HMOs is paving the way for adding HMOs to foods and beverages beyond the scope of baby food.
Another trend that can be observed is the rapid establishment of companies such as BIOMILQ, TurtleTreeLabs, and 108Labs, which focus on the production of human-identical milk and milk components in bioreactors. Goat milk formula and formulas enriched with HMOs are a clear improvement, but the gap between them and ‘breast is best’ is still significant. The disruptive technology of cultured breast milk could close this gap, and 108Labs even claims to produce milk with human-identical antibodies, a key ingredient that all products currently on the market lack compared to breast milk.
