Milk Specialties Global taps further into clean label with calcium caseinate from US rBGH-free milk

By Mary Ellen Shoup

- Last updated on GMT

Milk Specialties Global has expanded further into the clean label sports nutrition market with the launch of a new calcium caseinate. ©iStock/marekuliasz
Milk Specialties Global has expanded further into the clean label sports nutrition market with the launch of a new calcium caseinate. ©iStock/marekuliasz

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Milk Specialties Global, a dairy protein manufacturer based in Minnesota, has launched a clean label calcium caseinate produced from US milk to better target the growing sports nutrition market. 

Mintel research shows that 39% of consumers use nutritional and performance drinks as a replacement for breakfast. Three in five (58%) consumers currently use nutritional and performance drinks as a meal replacement and 48% consume them as part of a meal, up from 20% who used nutritional drinks as a meal supplement in 2012.

The rBGH-free, non-GMO skim milk is sourced from local California dairy farms and transported to its Visalia, California, plant where the other milk components are removed to produce the calcium caseinate.

“We wanted to supply our customers with an rBGH-free, non-GMO, calcium caseinate using fresh, local US milk,”​ Suvash Kafley, Sr., director of innovation for Milk Specialties Global, said.

“In addition to offering more clean label options, the new value-added ingredient is targeted at sports nutrition companies due to its dispersability, viscosity, and emulsification capabilities.”

The process of producing calcium caseinate involves gentle acidification and neutralization of the milk to help retain all nutritional qualities. Calcium caseinate delivers a high level of protein with low levels of carbohydrates (sugar/lactose). It is also high in naturally-occurring calcium phosphate, which helps to maintain bone density and structural functions.

Focus on clean-label sports nutrition

According to the 2017 Food Processing Trends report by PMMI, 37% of US consumers find it important to understand ingredients on food labels and 91% believe that products with recognizable ingredients such as US-sourced milk are healthier.

In addition, PMMI found that value-added dairy drinks pre- and post-workout will continue to grow as 60% of new food and beverage launches were positioned as healthy.

“Our calcium caseinate is a versatile ingredient of choice for ready-to mix-powder formulations and other applications; making it ideal for sport nutrition companies in search of a value-add protein that is nutritious, clean tasting, and contains low levels of carbohydrates,”​ Kafley told DairyReporter.

Milk Specialties Global’s calcium caseinate is available in instant and regular form. Instant calcium caseinate is recommended for use in all nutritional powder formulations to improve nutritional and sensory characteristics, and increase the product shelf life.

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