Specialised Nutrition

Danone has over 125 years of expertise in Specialised Nutrition. We develop pioneering products that support people of all ages with specific nutritional needs, including babies and people with health conditions like cancer or stroke. We also provide services and educational programs to help families, caregivers, patients, and healthcare professionals make informed choices on nutrition and health.

Our Specialised Nutrition category

With decades of research and innovation experience, including over 50 years of breastmilk research, we’re a global leader in baby formula. Our scientific expertise also extends to medical nutrition products for babies, children, and adults with specific nutritional needs due to a disease or health condition.

No.¹

In adult medical nutrition in Europe

No.²

In early life nutrition worldwide

€^8.5bn

Total sales in specialised nutrition in 2023

Positively impacting health at critical times in life

Our mission is to bring health through food to as many people as possible, including at critical times of our lives such as when we are very young or sick. Our Specialised Nutrition portfolio, encompassing early life nutrition and medical nutrition products, has been developed based on decades of research on the specific nutritional needs of babies and of patients of all ages.

Supporting all feeding journeys

What we eat and drink as babies influences our lifelong health. At Danone, we aim to positively impact maternal and infant health by promoting and protecting breastfeeding. However, we also know breastfeeding is not always possible or the preferred way for parents to feed their baby. We are proud to offer our evidence-based baby formula, which is based on 50 years of advanced breastmilk research, as we continue to foster a supportive environment for all parents, independent of their feeding decisions.

When it comes to marketing our baby formula, we do so responsibly by upholding our global standards and policies, taking action when needed and going the extra mile to support breastfeeding. Find out more about our responsible actions in specialised nutrition below:

Driving better nutritional outcomes in healthcare

As a health-focused company, we understand the power of nutrition for health and wellbeing. This is equally true when someone falls sick, and eating normally becomes challenging or even impossible.

This is why we are proud to support patients of all ages with our evidence-based medical nutrition solutions: from prematurity, cow’s milk allergy, and growth challenges in early life, to life-long metabolic conditions, and malnutrition due to cancer, stroke, or critical illness in later life. We are dedicated to studying patients’ specific nutritional needs due to diseases or medical conditions, and developing tailored nutritional solutions that help improve their quality of life and support better outcomes in healthcare.

Nutrition as we age

As we get older, we all want to continue being able to do the things we value and enjoy the most. But as we age, we may become more vulnerable to malnutrition due to an underlying disease or condition. If not diagnosed, malnutrition may lead to muscle loss and physical frailty, making older people more vulnerable to falls and fractures. A healthcare professional must be consulted to get the right nutritional care at the right time for older people to maintain their mobility and independence, enabling them to age in good health. We have a range of medical nutrition products specifically adapted into formats that address the eating and drinking difficulties can older person might experience, putting them at risk of malnutrition.

Nutrition in times of illness

In adulthood, adapted nutrition can support recovery from illnesses. It is also key in managing disease-related malnutrition. People who have suffered a stroke or who are fighting illnesses such as cancer can have difficulty meeting their nutritional needs through normal food alone. This means they need specific nutrition, in specialised formats. In these scenarios, a healthcare professional may advise on the use of medical nutrition, such food and drink adjusted to the specific nutritional needs of patients.

Investing in nutrition science and research

At Danone, we have a long-standing heritage of research and innovation, investigating the specific nutritional needs of both babies as well as people with health conditions of all ages. Science continues to be at the very heart of our nutrition and health commitment, which is reflected in the Danone Impact Journey, our sustainability roadmap.

¹⁰⁸

SCIENTIFIC PUBLICATIONS

in peer-reviewed journals in 2023 in all areas of expertise, including immunity, allergy, and children’s growth

^>50

YEARS

of experience in breastmilk research

¹⁷

PUBLISHED ABSTRACTS

at the leading ESPEN* Medical Nutrition Congress in 2024

*The European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism

Investing in nutrition research

Important notice

Breastfeeding is best. Infant milk is suitable from birth when babies are not breastfed. Follow-on milk is only for babies over 6 months, as part of a mixed diet and should not be used as a breastmilk substitute before 6 months. We advise that the use of formula milks and the decision to start weaning should be made only on the advice of a doctor, dietitian, pharmacist or other professional responsible for maternal and child care based on baby’s individual needs. Use Toddler milk as part of a varied, balanced diet from 1 year.

Foods for special medical purposes should only be used under medical supervision. Please refer to the label for details.

Our Specialised Nutrition brands

Nutricia

For more than 125 years, Nutricia has supported patients, families and healthcare professionals with specialised products tailored to nutritional needs across every stage of life.

Aptamil

Inspired by Nutricia’s research in early life science Aptamil’s range of follow on milks, toddler milks and cereals have been especially developed for babies and toddlers.

Cow and Gate

For over 100 years, Cow & Gate has been a trusted choice for families in the UK and Ireland, providing a range of follow on milks, toddler milks and baby food.