"Yixi Biology" 2'-FL Receives Official Approval from National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China | Oasis Vitality

On March 13, 2024, the Department of Food Safety Standards and Monitoring and Evaluation of China's National Health Commission of the People's Republic of China announced that 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) from Yixi Biology had received regulatory approval.

Image source: Yixi Biology WeChat account

For domestic dairy companies, the approval of HMOs marks the beginning of a product upgrade "war." Public reports show that leading domestic dairy firms launched HMOs research programs around the time of approval. Almost simultaneously, multiple domestic dairy companies began advertising "HMOs infant formula," competing fiercely for the title of "first domestic product." Such intense competition all but foretells that HMOs will become one of the key ingredients in the infant formula race.

What are HMOs? HMOs (human milk oligosaccharides), also known as human milk oligosaccharides or breast milk oligosaccharides, are naturally occurring oligosaccharides in human breast milk, composed of 3-14 monosaccharides. They are the third largest component of human breast milk dry matter (after lactose and fat), accounting for more than 10% of breast milk dry matter content. Extensive experiments both in China and abroad have shown that HMOs possess antimicrobial, antiviral, immune-modulating, and gut health-promoting functions, playing a critical role in infant growth and health. Given the powerful functions of HMOs, their applications extend beyond infant formula to probiotics, functional foods, and foods for special medical purposes. In the era of the silver economy, elderly nutrition products may also become a significant growth area for HMOs applications. Going forward, HMOs will not only become standard in infant formula, but their application will follow four trends: more brands adding HMOs, more products containing HMOs, more comprehensive HMOs varieties being used, and increasingly higher HMOs content in formulations.

Yixi Biology completed construction of its HMOs production line in 2022, with an annual capacity of 300 tons and room for expansion. With HMOs now approved, Yixi Biology will soon initiate a new funding round to begin expanding capacity, with projected annual output reaching 3,000 tons by the end of 2024. Going forward, Yixi Biology will continue to improve its HMOs production processes and technical capabilities, building local advantages, actively developing international markets, and reshaping the competitive landscape of the global HMOs market.