Draft Chinese Ministry of Health Ruling Looks Set To Boost Demand For Non-Flavored Infant Milk

The Ministry of Health in China recently published a draft ruling that would ban the use of food flavoring and fragrance in more than 20 of infant formula and food products leading to widespread concern in the industry, which is heavily dependent on the practice. Excess intake of certain fragrances has been found to be harmful, especially in the development of infant organs; parents also argue that the use of flavors affects children’s sense of taste and causes them to become dependent upon them. In contrast, consumers view natural milk products as the products most reliably beneficial for their baby’s growth. Currently, only five companies in China do not add any fragrance to their milk products. This includes Yili, the leading diary product company that has firmly established its image as natural and pure. With the anticipated passing of the draft ruling, the market for non-fragrant baby milk product is looking promising again.