China Focus: Cage-free eggs, Yili at Growth Asia Summit, Nestle new product launch and more feature in our round-up

Clucking good: China’s egg industry prepares to go cage-free as consumer demand surges​

China’s egg industry is preparing to make a significant switch to more cage-free eggs production in light of growing demand from domestic consumers and food manufacturers.

Various sectors within China’s food and beverage industry have been attempting to achieve to distance themselves from the many food safety and quality scandals that it was continually associated with as recently as a decade ago.

These initiatives have now also extended into the eggs sector, a division which still continues to get a bad rep over various types of food safety scares from antibiotics usage to high melamine content.

East meets West: Yili on how dairy is improving public health in China – exclusive Growth Asia Summit insights​

Chinese dairy giant Yili has highlighted the vital, science-backed role that dairy is playing in improving consumer nutrition and public health in the country, by combining both Eastern and Western technologies.

It is no secret that the Chinese government has rapidly accelerated its focus into the dairy sector over the last few years, believing this to be a core of a balanced diet and vital source of protein and minerals that needs to be strongly encouraged amongst local consumers, advising a daily intake of 300g.

One of the country’s largest dairy companies Yili has taken the importance of dairy a step further, beyond the provision of just protein or vitamins of calcium from milk and other common dairy products.

Commercial launch decisions: Nestle’s novel infant formula lands in China following Hong Kong debut​

Nestle has introduced new infant formulas containing a novel nutrient blend in China, after the product made its global debut in Hong Kong in July.

The product, launched under the brand WYETH S-26 Ultima, contains alpha-lipids, phospholipids including sphingomyelin, vitamin B12, DHA, iron, folic acid, and 2’-Fucosyllactose relevant for the formation of myelin.

Myelin is a lipid-rich sheath that insulates and protects nerve fibres crucial for cognitive and behavioural development.

Expelling excessive packaging: China includes more food categories to slash waste​

China has expanded efforts to eliminate excessive packaging with rules now covering more food categories, in addition to implementing a multi-ministerial governance system to regulate the supply chain.

China has been on a mission to remove what it has deemed ‘excessive packaging’ in the country since 2021, with focus for the food industry previously having been mostly centralised in the festive foods segment such as mooncakes and rice dumplings.

Recently, the government has moved to further expand this regulatory control to include more types of food products, particularly fresh foods such as fruits and vegetables, health-focused foods, takeaway foods and foods purchased via e-commerce.

Oversupply of infant formulas expected in China during Double 11 shopping festival – Bubs​

The oversupply of infant formulas by various brands has led to a slowdown in revenue growth for Australian organic goat milk specialist Bubs, and the firm foresees that the situation will continue to include the upcoming Double 11 shopping festival.

The firm, which also sells goat dairy products for adults, pointed out the above in its latest financial report for the first quarter of its 2023 financial year.