Arla Foods Ingredients achieves first non-GMO project certification
Arla Foods Ingredients has announced Native milk protein MicelPure as the first product to be certified by the Non-GMO Project, North America’s most comprehensive non-GMO scheme.
Certified products are permitted to carry the famous Butterfly label, which provides consumers with the assurance of third-party assessment for compliance with the Non-GMO Project Standard. It incorporates stringent provisions for testing, traceability and segregation.
MicelPure is a micellar casein isolate. Containing 86% native protein and naturally high in calcium, it is ideal for sports nutrition and other healthy food applications. Already certified EU Organic and China Organic, it is produced from Danish milk by gentle membrane filtration technology to ensure the protein remains in its natural form with minimal denaturation, thereby protecting its nutritional benefits.
Troels Nørgaard Laursen, director for health & performance at Arla Foods Ingredients, said the company is delighted that MicelPure has been awarded the Non-GMO Project Verified seal and Butterfly logo, which is the most trusted certification for GMO-free products in North America.
“This is particularly important at a time when shoppers are increasingly showing a preference for GMO-free foods,” Nørgaard Laursen said.
A recent study found that 83% of US consumers are aware of GMOs (up from 79% in 2020), with 44% citing “GMO free” as an important statement on food and beverage labels (source: HealthFocus international Trend Study, 2022).
The Non-GMO Project Verified seal is the most widely recognised food certification scheme after USDA Organic, and according to the scheme, is the fastest growing label in the natural products industry, representing around $40 billion in annual sales and over 66,000 unique-formula products.
Research from the Non-GMO Project shows that brands bearing its Butterfly logo experience a sales uplift of up to 20%.
Troels Nørgaard Laursen added: “We are already known for having the industry’s highest standards for quality and food safety. This certification for MicelPure further demonstrates our commitment to going above and beyond regulatory requirements and to meeting or exceeding the quality levels demanded by our customers.”
