HMO infant formulas: Regulatory developments to drive NPD and affordability
The growing number of regulatory approvals for human milk oligosaccharides (HMOs) in infant formulas is set to fuel product innovation and drive more affordable pricing in the long run.
For instance, Mike Peng, baby nutrition and care CEO for China at H&H Group, said that HMOs, unlike other functional ingredients, have become the core in infant formula innovation.
This is because HMOs are the third-most abundant solid component in breast milk and recent regulatory approvals have increased their use in infant nutrition.
VMS brands double down on e-commerce, Douyin in China
Health supplement brands from Centrum to BYHEALTH are doubling down on their e-commerce efforts in China, especially in Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok.
Haleon, parent company of multivitamin brand Centrum, for instance, is planning to bump up its content pieces on Douyin and increase the number of key opinion leaders for its vitamin, mineral and supplements business.
BYHEALTH, which has traditionally relied on offline pharmacies for success, is also trying to catch up with the shift in consumption behaviour by focusing on cross-border e-commerce and Douyin this year.
‘Immense opportunity’ in India’s sports nutrition but challenges persist
Indian firm BigMuscles Nutrition sees significant growth opportunities in its domestic market’s sports nutrition industry, but challenges relating to misinformation, price sensitivity and product quality remain to be addressed.
India is one of the most dynamic and fast-evolving markets for sports nutrition, said Suhel Vats, founder and director of BigMuscles Nutrition.
While this presents “immense opportunity”, it also comes with challenges such as misinformation, price sensitivity, and inconsistent product quality across the industry.
Heart health claim for soy protein in ANZ set to accelerate innovation – IFF
The approval of heart health claim for soy protein in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) will open up opportunities for brands to accelerate innovation in plant-based nutrition to meet regional consumer needs, says ingredient giant IFF.
In March 2026, IFF confirmed a self‑substantiated general level heart health claim for isolated soy protein at a daily intake of 20 to 25g.
With this, the company believes that the ingredient could be applied to RTD functional beverages, nutrition and protein bars, fortified plant-based milks, and blended dairy-plant products - formats that consumers could resonate with, while enjoying the benefits of ISP at the same time.
Fish oil omega-3 industry tackles supply chain uncertainty and cost pressures
From locking in fish oil supply to confronting ingredient commoditization and counterfeits, dietary supplement brands in the omega-3 space are addressing the pain points impacting the industry.
Belgium-based fish oil supplement company WHC Labs, for instance, is trying to buffer against supply chain uncertainty by increasing its inventory by a maximum of 35%.
Swisse, owned by Hong Kong-based Health and Happiness (H&H Group), has even gone so far as to forecast the volume of fish oil omega-3 required for at least the next 12 months—an approach it is taking for other raw materials, including popular botanicals including cranberry extract and milk thistle.
