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
Dryad Wins International XPRIZE Wildfire Award for Autonomous Wildfire Detection and Suppression23.9.2026 19:00:00 CEST | Press release
European finalist demonstrates ultra-early wildfire detection with Silvanet and autonomous suppression with Silvaguard Dryad Networks, a leader in ultra-early wildfire detection, today announced it has been awarded $800,000 in the XPRIZE Wildfire competition for its performance in the Autonomous Wildfire Response finals in Alaska. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260923024178/en/ Silvaguard Observation and Suppression drone and Hangar Dryad advanced from an original field of approximately 300 entrants in the four-year competition. In June 2026, three finalists were challenged to autonomously detect and completely suppress a high-risk wildfire within 10 minutes of ignition across 1,000 km² of Alaskan wilderness, leaving any decoy fires untouched. It was the most demanding live test to date of what it will take to stop a destructive fire before it grows out of control. During the tests, the Dryad’s Silvanet senso
SES Appoints Michel Scholer to Board of Directors23.9.2026 18:54:00 CEST | Press release
Michel brings extensive leadership, governance and strategic policy experience through his roles with the Luxembourg government SES today announced the appointment of Mr. Michel Scholer, Secretary General of the Luxembourg Government and Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, to its Board of Directors effective immediately. This appointment is part of SES’s Board succession planning and ongoing commitment to regularly review and strengthen the composition of its Board with diverse expertise and industry experience, ensuring the company is well positioned for future growth and value creation. Prior to his current role with the Luxembourg Government, Mr. Scholer served as a Senior Adviser to the International Monetary Fund, and with the Ministry of Finance, Luxembourg. He was nominated for the SES Board of Directors by the Government of the Grandy Duchy of Luxembourg. Follow us on: LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | X | Instagram Read our Blogs > Visit the Media Gallery > About SES At SES, w
Future Health - A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi: New Analysis Estimates Modifiable Health Risks Represent $16.4 Trillion Annual Global GDP Opportunity in 205023.9.2026 18:50:00 CEST | Press release
A new whitepaper by Future Health – A Global Initiative by Abu Dhabi, in collaboration with the McKinsey Health Institute, estimates that eliminating modifiable health risks could deliver substantial health and economic benefits Under a full risk-elimination scenario, annual global GDP could be USD 16.4 trillion higher in 2050, equivalent to 9% of projected global GDP Analysis finds that eliminating modifiable behavioural, metabolic and environmental risk factors could avert an estimated 1.5 billion disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) globally and add 12 years to global healthy life expectancy at birth in 2050 The 1.5 billion DALYs are equivalent to approximately 47 percent of projected global disease burden in 2050 The whitepaper sets out a five-step framework for governments to turn healthy-living ambitions into coordinated action, presenting Abu Dhabi’s Healthy Living Strategy as a practical example of government-wide, whole-of-society delivery Addressingbehavioural, metabolic an
SES Confirms Interim Dividend of EUR 0.2523.9.2026 18:46:00 CEST | Press release
Interim dividend approved as part of SES’s continued commitment to shareholder returns intended to be at least EUR 0.50 total dividend for FY2026 The SES Board of Directors has approved the payment of an interim dividend of EUR 0.25 per A-share (EUR 0.10 per B-share) to be paid to shareholders on October 15, 2026, in line with SES’s commitment to shareholder returns. The interim dividend to be paid in October 2026 will be followed, subject to financial results and shareholder approval, by the payment of a final dividend of at least EUR 0.25 per A-share (EUR 0.10 per B-share) in May 2027. Follow us on: LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube | X | Instagram Read our Blogs > Visit the Media Gallery > About SES At SES, we believe that space has the power to make a difference. That’s why we design space solutions that help governments protect, businesses grow, and people stay connected—no matter where they are. With integrated multi-orbit satellites and our global terrestrial network, we deliver res
Nomios Expands Presence in Southern Europe with Leading Portuguese Cybersecurity Services Specialist Orbcom23.9.2026 16:30:00 CEST | Press release
Nomios, a pan-European specialist in cybersecurity services, announces the acquisition of Orbcom, a leading Portuguese provider of cybersecurity services and IT consulting solutions with about €15 million of yearly revenue and 80 FTEs. Orbcom is one of the few partners with Diamond Innovator status within the Palo Alto Networks NextWave Partner Program in Portugal and a key partner of Netskope, Infoblox and Arista. The acquisition marks another milestone in Nomios’ European expansion, establishing the Group’s first foothold in Portugal and further reinforcing its position as the trusted cybersecurity partner for organisations across Europe. Strengthening our security expertise with key vendor relationships Nomios supports organisations across Europe in securing their critical digital infrastructures, whether on-premise or cloud based. Nomios’ approach is structured around three core service pillars. Through its Consulting Services, the group provides strategic advisory and tailored sup
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