In the 1990s, scientists began to study the effect of applying lactoferrin to milk powder on the growth and development of infants, and observed the growth and health of infants in different groups. A large number of experiments confirmed that lactoferrin is safe and beneficial to immune function. Products containing lactoferrin powder are increasingly favored by consumers.
● In the United States, lactoferrin is generally regarded as safe (GRAS), such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) allows lactoferrin to be used as a food additive in sports, functional foods, and medicines.
● Lactoferrin is approved as a food supplement ingredient in the European Union. It is a new food raw material. In Canada, lactoferrin is considered a natural health product (NHP).
● Health Canada stipulates that products containing lactoferrin must have a product license and meet quality and safety standards.
● In Australia, lactoferrin is regulated as a food ingredient by Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).
● In Japan, lactoferrin is approved for use as a food additive. According to regulations set by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, it can be used in a variety of foods, including infant formula. Japanese food additive standards stipulate that lactoferrin concentrate contains at least 85% lactoferrin. In 2004, lactoferrin was allowed to be added to infant formula milk powder. Since then, global dairy companies have begun to widely use this nutrient in infant formula milk powder. As of now, lactoferrin has become a standard ingredient in high-end milk powder, and many infant formula powders have enhanced the lactoferrin content in the product.
With the deepening of research and the improvement of relevant regulations, the application of lactoferrin has also developed from parenting to sports nutrition supplements, immune strengthening, bone strengthening, skin whitening and other products.
How to improve immunity has always been an important topic of public concern. Therefore, in addition to infants, pregnant women and the elderly who have relatively poor immunity, more and more young people are also beginning to recognize the many benefits of lactoferrin.
