MORINAGA-MILK-INDUSTRY
8.8.2024 20:01:28 CEST | Business Wire | Press release
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 market1.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240808893280/en/
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 worldwide2.
*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 20233, 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 toddlers4.
*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 |
|
Strain |
Registration date |
Bifidobacterium breve M-16V Registered name: 短双歧杆菌 M-16V |
2016 |
Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum BB536 Registered name: 长双歧杆菌长亚种 BB536 |
2022 |
Bifidobacterium longum subsp. infantis M-63 Registered name: 长双歧杆菌婴儿亚种M-63 |
2024 |
* All three strains are approved for use in foods for infants and toddlers under the age of three. |
|
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/.
To view this piece of content from cts.businesswire.com, please give your consent at the top of this page.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240808893280/en/
About Business Wire
Subscribe to releases from Business Wire
Subscribe to all the latest releases from Business Wire by registering your e-mail address below. You can unsubscribe at any time.
Latest releases from Business Wire
DEWA Signs Three Agreements With Global Partners During WETEX 202628.10.2026 15:50:00 CET | Press release
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) signed three agreements with leading global entities during the 28th Water, Energy, Technology and Environment Exhibition (WETEX 2026). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261028187355/en/ DEWA signs three agreements with global partners during WETEX 2026 (Photo: AETOSWire) In the presence of HE Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD&CEO of DEWA, the agreements were signed by Hussain Lootah, Executive Vice President of Transmission Power at DEWA, and concluded through Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, the digital arm of DEWA. Al Tayer said: “We are committed to strengthening our strategic partnerships with leading global organisations and leveraging the latest technologies, solutions and best practices. This enables us to enhance the efficiency, resilience and future-readiness of our critical infrastructure, while keeping pace with advancements in cyber security, digital tra
Ras Al Khaimah Signs Landmark Friendship Agreement & 10 MoUs during Historic High-Level Tour of South China28.10.2026 14:48:00 CET | Press release
His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, witnesses the signing of a historic agreement between Ras Al Khaimah and Fujian Province, China, concluding a six-day China visit. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261028878989/en/ His Highness Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qasimi, UAE Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Ras Al Khaimah, witnessed the signing of a landmark agreement between Ras Al Khaimah and Fujian Province, alongside 10 Memoranda of Understanding between entities from the Emirate and their Chinese counterparts, reflecting a shared commitment to broadening cooperation and translating longstanding relations into meaningful opportunities for the future. (Photo: AETOSWire) Signed in Fuzhou, the agreement establishes a framework for strengthening economic, maritime and cultural ties, including cooperation in green supply chains, port logistics, sustainabl
Media Release: Further Up – Allianz Reaches Highest-Ever Brand Value of $30.7 Billion28.10.2026 14:08:00 CET | Press release
Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2026 ranking: For the eighth consecutive year, Allianz is the world’s most valuable insurance brand and now ranks No. 26 among all brands.Financial performance and continuous brand management underpin brand strength, reflected in a record first-half 2026 operating profit.In 2026 Allianz helped deliver safe Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Milano Cortina, established a partnership with tennis player Jannik Sinner and founded the Allianz School for Life to foster financial literacy. A steady climb to a new high: For the eighth consecutive year, Allianz is the world’s most valuable insurance brand and has reached a record $30.7 billion in brand value, lifting it one place to No. 26 in Interbrand’s Best Global Brands 2026 ranking. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261028268225/en/ #1 Global Insurance Brand This 9% increase on 2025 further narrows the gap to the world’s most valu
Seoul Semiconductor Ends Need for Rare Earths in White LEDs28.10.2026 14:03:00 CET | Press release
Affiliate Seoul Viosys begins mass production of WICOP 3, which emits white light without rare earths from chips as small as 10 micrometers For three decades, white LEDs have depended on rare earth materials such as yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) layered onto a blue LED chip (Figure 1). Seoul Viosys Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ: 092190) today announced that it has broken that dependence. It has developed and begun mass producing a chip that emits white light without rare earths. The chip can be as small as 10 micrometers (µm). This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20261028475699/en/ Figure 1. New invention: white WICOP 3 (source: Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd.) Seoul Viosys and its parent company Seoul Semiconductor Co., Ltd. (KOSDAQ: 046890) opened the micro LED market with WICOP. WICOP is a chip architecture that eliminates the package altogether. Doing away with the package is widely regarded in the industry as a revolution in
Gurobi’s 2026 State of Mathematical Optimization Report Reveals Growing Convergence of AI and Optimization28.10.2026 14:00:00 CET | Press release
Survey finds GenAI use is on the rise as organizations embed optimization deeper into everyday operations. Gurobi Optimization, LLC, the leader in decision intelligence technology, today announced the release of its 2026 State of Mathematical Optimization Report. Based on a survey of 382 non-academic professionals across industries, the report examines how businesses are putting optimization to work, and how its use is evolving alongside other AI technologies. In a notable shift, 79% of respondents now use GenAI or large language models (LLMs) in their optimization work, up from 30% in 2025, with 37% using these tools systematically in their development workflows. Respondents see the greatest potential for this combined approach in code generation and debugging (68%), model formulation (67%), and natural-language interaction with optimization models (62%). Other key findings include: Optimization is becoming part of everyday operations: 52% of respondents say optimization supports ongo
In our pressroom you can read all our latest releases, find our press contacts, images, documents and other relevant information about us.
Visit our pressroom