Australia approves Arla Foods Ingredients’ MFGM for infant formula

Milk fat globule membrane (MFGM) has been approved for use in infant formula products in Australia, with Arla Foods Ingredients granted exclusive commercialisation rights. 

The decision means that Lacprodan MFGM-10 will be Arla Foods Ingredients’ first early life nutrition product to be approved by Australian authorities. It will also be the only MFGM ingredient approved for use in products for infants in the country for at least 15 months. 

MFGM occurs naturally in human milk and contains phospholipids, sphingolipids and gangliosides. Lacprodan MFGM-10 was the first bovine MFGM ingredient for the global formula market, and has the most clinical documentation for infant nutrition and immune health.^[1] 

On April 30th 2025, Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) approved the use of MFGM as a nutritive substance in infant formula products. Following formal acceptance by the Australia and New Zealand Food Ministers Meeting, the approval is now effective. 

It applies across Australia, where Lacprodan MFGM-10 can be labelled as “Milk fat globule membrane-enriched whey protein concentrate”, but not New Zealand, which recently opted out of the Australia-New Zealand joint infant formula products standard. Earlier this year, it was confirmed that Lacprodan MFGM-10 is not considered a novel food in the EU, allowing its use in products for infants, as well as adults. 

Jakob Madsen Pedersen, senior director, Specialised Nutrition at Arla Foods Ingredients, said, “We’re proud to have pioneered the use of MFGM in infant nutrition, which has allowed significant improvements in the creation of scientifically backed formula products. Following the recent positive decision about Lacprodan MFGM-10 in the EU, this is another highly welcome regulatory development. We’re delighted that its many clinically supported benefits for infants are now also available in Australia.” 

Australia’s formula market is one of the fastest-growing in the world^[2], with sales projected to reach 487 million AUD in 2029.^[3]

^[1] Li et al 2019, Timby et al 2014, Colombo et al 2023, Zavaleta et al 2011, Li et al 2019, Timby et al 2015, Ren et al, 2024, Billeaud et al 2014, Li X et al 2019, Hedrick et al 201, Jaramillo-Ospina et al 2022, Best et all 2023, Christensen et al 2024 

^[2] Innova Market Insights, Infant Formula Trends: Global Market Overview, February 2025 

^[3] Euromonitor International