An interesting research findings by Mintel showed that different regions place varying nutritional priorities in their infant formula products, driven by regional regulations, dietary patterns, market preferences and even breastfeeding practices.
To sum it up, different regions have different nutritional needs for infants, although the fundamental nutritional needs of infants are universal.
The clear differences in regional regulatory requirements are as follows:
Europe: EU regulations specify fairly detailed compositional requirements, including mandatory DHA levels. For example, EU infant formula must contain DHA within a specified range.
U.S.A: FDA sets minimum requirements for 29 nutrients and maximum levels for nine, but DHA is not mandatory in standard infant formula.
China: China’s standards have also evolved independently, with revisions to requirements for nutrients such as vitamin D, choline, selenium, protein, fat and other components.
Mintel research found that in the US, families place priorities on ‘Brain & Nervous System’ claims in infant formula products whereas its European counterparts look more into ‘Immune System’ claims. In Asia Pacific, infant formula innovations mainly revolve around ‘Digestive’, ‘Brain & Nervous System’ and ‘Immune System’. See the Chart 1.0 below to see recent infant formula launches in different regions with their functional health claims from 2021 to 2026.
Modern parents are also seeking products with health benefits targeted to the unique needs of their children. As an example, 49% of Chinese parents (buyers) are more willing to pay for specialised products tailored to specific needs of their children, whereas 36% of German parents look more at digestive health benefits as a main influence in their purchasing decisions. Ultimately, innovation in infant nutrition should remain firmly focused on one objective namely to support healthy growth and development during one of the most important stages in life.
