[Investigation on the Addition of Microbial Food Cultures in Infant and Follow-up Formula in China from 2017 to 2022]

Objective: To understand the addition of microbial food cultures in infant and follow-up formula milk powder in China.

Methods: The product information of infant and follow-up formula milk powder approved in China from 2017 to 2022 was investigated, including the query platform and packaging label information, and the strains, addition rates and addition amount of microbial food cultures were statistically analyzed.

Results: From 2017 to 2022, a total of 1438 infant and follow-up formula milk powder products were approved in China, of which 434 products were added with microbial food cultures, 6 types of strains were used, namely Bifidobacterium animalis Bb-12, Bifidobacterium lactis HN019, Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07, Lactobacillus fermentum CECT5716, Lactobacillus rhamnosus HN001 and Lactobacillus acidophilus NCFM, the top three addition rates were Bifidobacterium animalis Bb-12, Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 and Bifidobacterium lactis Bi-07, the addition rate were 79.72%, 18.43% and 12.67%, respectively. The addition amount of the strains ranged from 1×10~6 to 6×10~7 CFU/g, the median value was 1×10~6 CFU/g.

Conclusion: There is insufficient scientific evidence on the feeding effect, types and amounts of microbial food cultures added to infant and follow-up formula in China.