Infant Nutrition

The unique nutritional requirements of babies and the highest possible quality standards make the infant nutrition business a challenging one.

With the help of Valio infant nutrition solutions, you can expand your product portfolio without having to invest in new production lines or product development. You get all the ingredients and expertise you need to develop your infant nutrition business from one reliable partner.

Our modern processing technologies enable us to manufacture high-quality and traceable infant nutrition products. Our state-of-the-art Lapinlahti plant is located in the heartland of Finnish dairy farming. It has wet blend and dry blend facilities for a large variety of recipes and value-added options.

With a strong legacy of infant nutrition R&D, our experienced professionals can help you with infant formula recipes and processes as well as legal requirements and patents. You also have access to our researchers’ latest insights into the effects of MFGM and OPO.

Valio commitment to safety and high-quality

The use of genetically modified GM feed is not permitted at Valio dairy farms. Our products are not produced from genetically modified organisms or do not contain GMOs*.

The raw milk is always tested for antibiotics residue and the level of usage of antibiotics is very low in Finland. Animal welfare is a cornerstone of our operations. All Valio farms are committed to a quality manual and receive a sustainability bonus for investing in animal welfare more than required by law.

*ref Regulation (EC) No 1829/2003 and No 1830/2003

Infant nutrition solutions

Complete infant formula powders

Valio offers an optimal full IMF process based on wet process, dry blending, and premium packing. From a wide range of options for recipes and packing, we can flexibly tailor a product to suit the market-specific needs of our IMF customers.

Our IMF manufacturing process always starts with fresh, unprocessed milk. Compared to processes that use powdered milk as raw material, we can skip one processing round altogether. In a less processed product, the nutrients are better preserved, risk of contamination is lower, and the taste is more natural.

In our state-of-the-art Lapinlahti plant, the new dry blend facility adds even more flexibility in terms of recipes and nutrients. The dry blending process allows us to add heat-sensitive micro ingredients such as lactoferrin and probiotics.

Wet process: The composition of the formula is 70-80% of Valio’s own high quality and fully traceable key macro ingredients. In the wet process, the key macro ingredients (milk, whey, lactose, milk fat/vegetable oil), prebiotics and vitamins and minerals are blended prior evaporation and drying.

Dry blending: A wide range of value-added micro ingredients can be added to tailor the product for a certain nutritional or market specific need. A tailored composition may allow a variety of marketing claims related to the value-added ingredients.

Premium packing:

• premium tin with spoon-overcap or snap-on lid
• pouches
• bag-in-box

Support for your go-to-market strategy

Valio has over 70 years of experience in infant nutrition and science-driven innovation. We can support you in everything you need for a successful market entry, from product development and recipes to legal requirements and patents.

• Recipe design management to meet the nutritional and regulatory requirements
• Trial runs and shelf-life tests
• Registration support and clinical study management (if required)
• Stages 1-3: Infant formula, follow-on formula, and growing up formula
• Additional portfolio range possibilities in further stages, mama products and ready-to-feed UHT liquid formulas
• Opportunity to add product qualities such as organic, lactose free, and hydrolysed whey

Ready-to-feed infant formula

Valio’s expertise leads the way in the “ready-to-feed” sector in baby foods. Ready-to-feed infant formula is immediately consumable, which makes it a convenient choice for consumers who can easily transport, package and prepare the product as needed. In Finland, 90% of infant formula on the market is liquid, ready-to-feed, and just 10% is powdered.

At the global level, figures are almost reversed, and growth is now seen globally in the demand for ready-to-feed baby formulas. In markets like Japan for example, there is a rising interest for liquid infant formulas to feed children in natural disaster events where fresh water is unavailable, or as a novel form of infant formula to make life easier for families with small children.

Base powders from basic blends to complete formulas

Valio offers base powders from basic blends to almost completed formulas. You can choose between fully customised solutions and Valio’s own high-quality recipes. We supply both tailored formulas and standard recipes according to EU and CODEX regulations.

High-quality ingredients and recipe knowhow make Valio a reliable partner for adding capacity where needed, resulting in less need for investments at your own facility. We can tailor the solution to your specific needs so that you can make nutritious, high-quality infant nutrition products, while optimising your manufacturing process.

Valio base powders are an ideal solution for milk-based infant formulas. They also offer a variety of possibilities for a wide range of other baby foods, such as milk-based cereals.

Wet and dry blend facilities allow for a variety of micro ingredients

All Valio base powders are manufactured in our new state-of-the-art IMF production plant that has the highest standards of hygiene. The wet blend process and spray drying started in 2014, and the dry blend process and tin packing line was added in 2020. All processes are built on decades of R&D, manufacturing, and market experience in infant nutrition, as Valio’s first consumer IMF product was launched in 1955.

In the dry blend process, we can add heat-sensitive micro ingredients, such as lactoferrin and probiotics. This allows for flexibility in recipe design.

The whey is delivered in a closed system from our cheese factory next door. We have full control over the quality chain, and the quality of the whey is not affected by transport. All our milk is fully traceable to the farm of origin and subject to our strict quality controls.

Business opportunities in value-added early life nutrition

Toddler and mama products are a rapidly growing business opportunity. It is becoming clearer that the foundations for health are laid during the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. As a result, parents are increasingly willing to invest in nutritional products that support normal growth and development.

Our dry blend process allows us to add heat-sensitive value-adding micro ingredients, such as lactoferrin and probiotics. With these micronutrients, you can create new special nutrition products and succeed in the value-added early life nutrition market.

Valio base powders for infant nutrition:

• packaged in 20 kg modified atmosphere
• also available in big bags with modified atmosphere
• standard specifications for stages 1-3
• tailored base powders for infant, toddler, and mama products
• tailored base powders for special nutrition products, such as lactose free

Infant grade ingredients from fresh milk and whey

Valio offers IMF grade milk powders, also buttermilk, organic and lactose free.

Compared to production processes that use powdered milk as raw material, we can skip one processing round altogether. The manufacturing process of our infant milk formula (IMF) grade milk powders always starts with fresh, unprocessed milk. In a less processed product, the nutrients are better preserved, risk of contamination is lower, and the taste is more natural.

We deliver quality through the entire value chain, offering full traceability and complete records right from our own dairy farms to the end-product. You can manufacture safe and nutritious infant formula with our ingredients that meet highest quality requirements as well as nutritional recommendations.

For example, all the whey used in our processes comes from our own cheese factories. In our Lapinlahti plant, the whey is delivered from the cheese factory in a closed system. We have full control over the quality chain, and the quality of the whey is not affected by transport.