AFI eyes Chinese market as nation approves imported whey permeate

02 Jun 2020 --- China has approved the import of whey permeate for use in F&B products. Arla Foods Ingredients (AFI) has welcomed this news, which comes as a result of a recent trade agreement between the US and China. However, the standard allows permeate from any country to be exported to China provided it complies with the material and sensory requirements. In mid-May, China released an official safety and quality standard for using permeate powders in food processing, which AFI says signifies that the country is ready to accept imports of the ingredient with immediate effect.

“The use of whey permeate in food products has been limited due to the fact that there has been no Codex Alimentarius international standard on whey permeate. The establishment of a codex for whey permeate has opened up the possibilities of getting whey permeate allowed as a food ingredient in more countries. In Europe and the US, whey permeate has been used as an ingredient in food applications for many years and the latest quality improvement whey permeate has gone through in terms of taste and improved powder properties has expanded its applications possibilities into a broader range of more demanding food applications,” Henrik Jacob Hjortshoej, Head of Sales Development, Food at AFI, tells FoodIngredientsFirst.

“The opening of the Chinese market to permeate exports is highly significant for the global dairy ingredient industry. Demand for permeate is rising fast in China, just as it is across the world. We look forward to working with our customers in China to supply them with the highest quality whey permeate powder for their food and beverage applications,” he adds.

Whey permeate is a milk solid with a lactose content of around 80 percent. It is used as a bulking agent and is a cost-effective replacement for skimmed milk powder, lactose and sweet whey powder. Permeate is increasingly used by multinational brands, particularly in categories such as chocolate and biscuits, but also in hot drinks, dairy and desserts.

Hjortshoej notes that the price of dairy solids are currently on the rise. “Therefore, a high-quality whey permeate offers food manufacturers a great opportunity to replace more costly dairy solids without compromising taste and quality.”

According to Innova Market Insights, the number of new products containing whey permeate has more than doubled in recent years, growing from 100 launches in 2015 to 229 in 2019 (Index 2015 = 100).

AFI is a major global supplier of whey permeate, with production facilities in the EU and Argentina. It markets Variolac whey permeate, which has a sweet milky taste, low ash content, stable mineral profile and free-flowing powder properties over a 12-month shelf life. Earlier this year, the company argued that quality is becoming increasingly important in the rapidly growing whey permeate market. 

The whey permeate must be white, cream or tan in color. Meeting sensory requirements
Powdered permeate’s popularity in other countries was bolstered in 2017 when it received a Codex Alimentarius international standard. Now according to China’s official safety and quality standard (translated from Chinese), the provisional standards apply to deproteinized milk mineral lactose powder derived from whey and cow’s milk, and is limited to use as a raw material for food processing. 

Various raw material and sensory requirements must be met. These include being white, cream or tan in color. The product should also be a dry and even powder product. Any lumps should be able to be broken up by extrusion, and there can be no visual impurities. Food additives cannot be used and labels have to state that the products are “not suitable for direct consumption.” Additionally, the source of whey and milk should be specified in the product name on the label.

This new ruling comes as global players continue to expand within China. In April, AFI launched a clean label ambient yogurt concept to meet Chinese demand. Meanwhile, Nestlé recently revealed a series of new investment measures aimed at further strengthening its layout in the country and expanding its product portfolio. Also eager to appeal to this booming market, Symrise invested €50 million (US$55 million) in the construction of a new production site for flavorings in Nantong.

Edited by Katherine Durrell