Arla Foods Develops New Milk Protein Ingredient

The CGMP protein is part of the whey from cheese production and is similar to all other proteins except for the fact that it does not contain the amino acid Phenylalanine.

10 Jun 2010 --- Arla Foods Ingredients has developed a special milk protein ingredient that will make life easier for people diagnosed with PKU (Phenylketonuria).

Instead of consuming special amino acids that have an unpleasant taste, they can now enjoy food where normal proteins have been replaced by the milk protein CGMP (CaseinoGlycoMacroPeptide).

People diagnosed with PKU lack the enzyme that enables them to break down the amino acid Phenylalanine, which is found in all food containing protein. As a result, Phenylalanine is accumulated in the blood and subsequently in the brain. Ultimately, this may lead to brain damage unless the person follows a controlled diet.

In relation to protein intake, people diagnosed with PKU will therefore have to eat a special amino acid diet where proteins are broken down in amino acids and the Phenylalanine removed. This part of their diet, which usually comes in liquid form, tastes very unpleasant.

However, Arla Fodos Ingredients have found that if the protein CGMP is sufficiently pure, it can replace protein in foods with out adding phenylalanin.

The CGMP protein is part of the whey from cheese production and is similar to all other proteins except for the fact that it does not contain the amino acid Phenylalanine. This means that those diagnosed with PKU can eat ordinary food made with CGMP as the main protein.

As a result, it will be possible to make dairy products and protein bars with a low Phenylalanine content where ordinary proteins have been replaced by CGMP. And it therefore becomes possible for people diagnosed with PKU to enjoy tasty food that is not harmful to them.

As one in 15,000 people is born with PKU, the CGMP protein has considerable potential. Currently, Arla Foods Ingredients is increasing the production of CGMP to meet the needs of the market. However, Arla Foods Ingredients expect to be able to increase the production of

CGMP significantly over the next couple of years.

For Arla Foods’ owners, the dairy farmers, CGMP is good news. Until now, the CGMP protein has generally been an undesirable component in the whey. This, however, is no longer the case.