Denmark’s Chr Hansen has worked with Vinamilk in the past, but at a ceremony being held in Zurich, Switzerland, today, the two companies formalised their relationship and agreed to develop a new raft of healthy products for specific populations.
“We are already a trusted supplier of documented probiotics for Vinamilk’s nutrition products for children but I anticipate that this cooperation agreement will bring us even close together while working on our shared task: to develop nutritional products with proven health benefits for consumers, in this case Vietnamese children,” said Henrik Dalboege, executive vice president of Chr Hansen’s Health & Nutrition Division.
The first product tabled for launch shortly is an infant formula to be sold under the brandname Dielac Pedia.
Both the probiotic cultures it contains have a long history of safe use, and have been subjects of clinical trials. According to Chr Hansen’s website, studies indicate that Bifidobacterium BB-12 can help with gastrointestinal health and immune health. In particular, it has been seen to have an impact on colic and reduces risk of rotavirus diarrhea in infants.
Lactobacillus rhamnosus LGG, meanwhile, originates from human intestinal flora and has show potential in maintaining normal stools during antibiotic treatment, enhancing the immune system after vaccination, potentially reducing respiratory infections, and reducing the risk of antibiotic treatment, and reduce risk of nosocomial and rotavirus diarrhea
Different markets, different needs
“The unfulfilled nutritional needs of children differ from country to country, relying on various factors such as socio-economy and living habits. The thorough understanding of such needs is a good point of departure for Vinamilk to develop specific nutritional products for Vietnamese children”, said Nguyen Quoc Khanh, executive director of R&D and production at Vinamilk.
“Our strategic cooperation with Chr. Hansen will significantly support us in developing
breakthrough products in world-class quality which fit the needs of Vietnamese children.”
Vinamilk is the largest dairy company in Vietnam; the government owns 47.6 per cent of shares and the remainder are traded on the Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange.
It produces and distributes products including condensed milk, powdered milk, fresh milk, soya milk, yogurts, ice-cream, cheese, fruit juice, coffee and other products derived from milk. Some products, such as powdered milk and condensed milk, are exported to the Middle East, Cambodia, the Philippines and Australia.