The brand’s Goat Milk-Based Infant Formula brand recently launched into Whole Foods Markets and Sprouts Farmers Markets after a decade of working with FDA to gain US recognition, Lipiec explained.
With more than 100 family-run affiliated goat milk farms and five manufacturing facilities in the Netherlands, Kabrita controls every aspect of its production to ensure high-quality standards and a streamlined path to US distribution.
“In terms of expanding, we are always looking for new family-run farms that we can work with that meet all of our high standards,” Lipiec said.
The brand is available in other retailers nationwide including Thrive Market, Wegmans, Meijer, Giant, Fresh Thyme and online at Kabrita.com and Amazon.
Safety first: Landing recognition from FDA, EFSA and Dutch standards
Before landing in the US, Kabrita received the greenlight for its goat milk infant formula from the European Food Safety Authority 11 years ago.
For the last decade, the brand worked with FDA to receive Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) recognition, in addition to meeting the standard requirements for infant formula, including passing the growth and protein efficiency ratio studies. The brand was authorized for retail last June, Lipiec said.
This marked a significant milestone for Kabrita and the infant formula industry, as the brand became the first goat-milk based infant formula and European infant formula to meet all FDA requirements, according to Lipiec.
While FDA does not approve infant formulas before they are marketed, formulas must adhere to federal nutrient guidelines and manufacturers must notify the agency prior to marketing a new formula.
To date, FDA has recognized several brands of formula that contain goat milk, including Aussie Bubs and Kendamil.
Goat milk enters the formula mix, but more evidence is needed on health benefits
Last year, goat milk received more credibility after the American Academy of Pediatrics expanded its formal recommendations to include it in infant formula. Historically, the options in the US were cow- or soy-milk-based.
Goat milk-based infant formula provides a nutritionally complete option for infants. Studies show that goat milk contains a higher level of alpha-S2-casein which is linked to improved digestibility compared to cow. However, evidence remains inconclusive on whether goat milk formula offers better health outcomes compared to cow milk formula.
Kabrita’s supply chain strengthens its quality assurance
Lipiec credits Kabrita’s supply chain, from selecting the family-run farms to regulatory guidelines as the foundation to ensuring a safe product for “the delicate needs of infants.”
“We really carefully select the family-run farms that we work with. We are always looking at both safety standards and at their sustainability practices and so all of our production facilities that we make the product at have gone through FDA audit processes and they are all FDA registered. There are very strict rules that limit antibiotics, hormones, pesticides … that we follow,” she said.
Kabrita also follows the Dutch KwaliGeit (QualiGoat) standard system which is set up by the Dutch Goat Dairy Organization that “promotes really high animal welfare standards,” Lipiec said.
In sum, Kabrita’s products go through “over 90 quality checks … to really ensure that we are meeting really high standards,” Lipiec said.
The brand also received three awards from the Clean Label Project. The national non-profit recognized Kabrita with the First 1,000 Day Promise Certification, Pesticide Free and Purity awards.
Expanding education instore starts with the staff
Given the legacy of cow and soy milk formula, goat milk’s prevalence in the US has a ways to go in terms of consumer awareness. Kabrita will train store staff “to make sure that they all understand the benefits of goat and that they can knowledgeably speak to customers on the floor,” Lipiec said.
This also includes issuing cards for staff members to have on hand and “share with customers when they have questions about the product,” she added.
