TOKYO--(Business Wire / Korea Newswire)--Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:2264), a leading Japanese dairy product company, today announced its proprietary probiotic Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 was approved by the National Health Commission (NHC) of the People’s Republic of China as a new food ingredient for use in infant and children foods (under the age of three) on 25 July, 2024. This approval marks a significant milestone for the company, making it the only Japanese firm to have three bifidobacteria strains registered for use in China’s infant and toddler food market[1].

Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 is a unique probiotic strain of human-residential bifidobacteria (HRB) – bifidobacteria that naturally reside in the human gut – and is renowned for its ability to utilize human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) found in breast milk, significantly improving the intestinal environment of healthy full-term infants. (Graphic: Business Wire) *[1] Source: Public announcement published on the website of the China National Center for Food Safety Risk Assessment (August 5, 2024)

The newly registered Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 joins Morinaga Milk’s other approved strains, Bifidobacterium breve M-16V and Bifidobacterium longum BB536. All three strains are now permitted for use in foods for children under three years old in China, meeting the country’s stringent nutritional and safety standards.

Expanding Global Presence

This approval aligns with Morinaga Milk’s 10-year vision to become a globally recognized company with a significant international presence. As part of this vision, the company aims to achieve a Global Business sales ratio of 15% or more by the fiscal year ending in March 2029. The approval of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 represents a strategic step towards this goal, allowing Morinaga Milk to strengthen its bacteria business in the Chinese market, which accounts for more than 40% of the global formula milk market and is the second-largest supplement market worldwide[2].

*[2] Source: Survey by Euromonitor International (May 2024), based on retail sales prices

Health Benefits of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63

Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 is a unique probiotic strain of human-residential bifidobacteria (HRB) - bifidobacteria that naturally reside in the human gut - and is renowned for its ability to utilize human milk oligosaccharides (HMO) found in breast milk, significantly improving the intestinal environment of healthy full-term infants. With China’s recent approval of HMO use in formula milk in October 2023[3], the combination of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 and HMO is expected to support the growth of beneficial intestinal bacteria, enhancing the development and health of infants and toddlers[4].

*[3]Source: National Health Commission of the People’s Republic of China, No. 8, 2023 (Sept. 22, 2023)
*[4] Source: Mintel, “HMOs approval in China infant formula is a game changer” (Jan. 2024)

Probiotics strain of bifidobacteria registered as New Food Ingredients in China

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Commitment to Quality and Research

Morinaga Milk has been at the forefront of bifidobacteria research since discovering Bifidobacterium longum BB536 in 1969. The company leads globally in the number of clinical research papers on bifidobacteria, underlining its commitment to advancing scientific understanding and improving public health.

Future Prospects

The registration of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 paves the way for its use in a wide range of products. Morinaga Milk plans to leverage this approval to expand collaborations with major formula milk manufacturers and promote supplements and other related products in China and globally. By providing accurate information on the benefits of Bifidobacterium infantis M-63 to consumers and partners, Morinaga Milk aims to enhance the health and nutrition of people worldwide.

About Morinaga Milk Industry

Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. is one of the leading dairy product companies in Japan, with over a century of history in harnessing the nutritional properties of dairy products and functional ingredients. Morinaga Milk is also a key global probiotics manufacturer that excels in innovative technology and offers a premium line of probiotics and functional ingredients worldwide. Since the 1960s, Morinaga Milk has been engaged in research on the safety, functional health benefits, and mechanisms of action of probiotic bifidobacteria to better understand their role in maintaining human health. For more information about Morinaga Human-Residential Bifidobacteria (HRB) probiotics, please visit us at https://morinagamilk-ingredients.com/.

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Website: http://www.morinagamilk.co.jp/english Contact Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.　
Mitsunori Watanabe / Kazuaki Kajikawa
Investor& Public Relations Department
Junichi Minami / Chyn Boon Wong
International Division
[email protected]
This news is a press release provided by Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.. Korea Newswire follows these editorial guidelines. Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. News ReleasesSubscribeRSS 모리나가 유업, 프로바이오틱 ‘비피도박테리움 인판티스 M-63’이 중국 영유아 식품 ‘신식품원료’로 등록 모리나가 유업 (Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd.)(도쿄증권거래소: 2264)은 자사의 독점적 프로바이오틱스인 ‘비피도박테리움 인판티스 M-63(Bifidobacterium infantis M-63)’이 2024년 7월 25일에 영유아 및 아동(3세 미만) 식품에 사용할 수 있는 신식품 원료로 중국 국가위생건강위원회(National Health ... 8월 11일 09:45 Morinaga Milk’s New Research Breakthrough Backed the Superiority of its Human-Residential Bifidobacteria (HRB) Strains in Metabolizing Toxin Precursor in the Gut Morinaga Milk Industry Co., Ltd. (TOKYO:2264), a leading Japanese dairy product company, has announced a groundbreaking discovery in the fundamental research of Human-Residential Bifidobacteria (HRB). Through a joint collaboration with Kyoto University, the research has discovered that ... 6월 2일 13:35 ... More  More News Health Biotechnology Life Style Baby & Birth Certification Overseas Morinaga Milk Ind... All News Releases 