Nutricia, part of the global food company Danone, announces the launch of its first savory-flavored plant-based medical nutrition innovation in the Fortimel PlantBased range. It is the first high-protein, high-energy, plant-based medical nutrition drink under this range, developed to support patients with malnutrition due to a medical condition or disease, such as frailty or stroke.
Disease-related malnutrition affects 33 million people in Europe5, and occurs when people cannot or do not eat sufficiently due to serious health conditions like cancer or stroke. It’s associated with decreased quality of life, longer hospital stays, increased risk of infection and complications, as well as increased morbidity, mortality, and healthcare costs5.
Medical nutrition solutions address malnutrition, helping patients meet their nutritional needs and supporting better outcomes - among them, reducing medical complications, supporting independence, and improving quality of life5. The new Fortimel PlantBased Protein is clinically proven to improve nutritional intake, reduce the risk for malnutrition and support better outcomes for patients4.
20% of patients stop using the medical nutrition they have been prescribed1. Flavor variety and options for different consumption moments and mealtimes can be crucial to address monotony, encourage adherence6, and help patients maintain a sense of normality.
While most medical nutrition solutions come in sweet or neutral flavors, the latest Fortimel plant-based innovation breaks this norm by expanding its range with savory flavors that can also be heated up and enjoyed as warm soups. This helps offer people options for different moments of the day as part of everyday life, e.g., in the afternoon or alongside meals7. In addition to savory-flavored options, the new products are available in cappuccino and fruity flavors8, with 84% of patients indicating that the latest Fortimel plant-based products fit in their daily routines11.
The benefit of increased choice is evident in adherence: A clinical study showed that over 9 out of 10 patients (95%) adhered to their prescription, with measurable improvements in nutritional status after only 4 weeks4.
Katrien Van Laere, SVP Research & Innovation, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer at Danone, comments on the launch:
Building on 125 years of research, innovation and care, Nutricia pioneers medical nutrition that helps enable life-changing and life-saving health outcomes, so that people can live their life to its fullest.
Nutricia supports healthy growth and development in early life and plays its part addressing some of the world’s biggest health challenges from birth through to old age. The Nutricia portfolio includes a wide range of nutritional solutions for pre-term birth, faltering growth, food allergy, rare metabolic diseases, age-related conditions and chronic disease, such as frailty, cancer, and stroke.
As part of Danone, Nutricia embraces the company’s long-standing mission of bringing health through food to as many people as possible. Danone aims to inspire healthier and more sustainable eating and drinking practices while committing to achieve measurable nutritional, social, societal and environment impact. Visit www.nutricia.com.
Danone Press Office
press@danone.com
With nearly half consumers identifying as flexitarian, vegetarian and vegan9, medical nutrition solutions that address both nutritional needs and dietary preferences are more relevant than ever. Due to its plant-based content, the new product line aligns with the diverse, evolving dietary preferences and lifestyle choices of patients without compromising on protein quality10.
At the same time, the new Fortimel PlantBased Protein has a 45% lower carbon footprint vs. the standard Fortimel Protein 2 kcal/ml11.
The new innovations have been made available in over 10 markets in just 6 months, including Spain, France, the Netherlands, Germany, Denmark, Norway, and Finland.
The company’s expertise in plant-based nutrition and patient care also led to the launch of the newest tube feed this year: Nutrison PlantBased 2kcal High Protein Multi-Fibre. It is clinically proven to support tolerance12, which saves patients 1.8 hours per day on the feeding pump and helps them experience more freedom in every-day life.
These occasions mark a significant milestone in the company’s inclusive, patient-centric medical nutrition heritage, which includes the reformulation of its core tube range13 addressing patient needs with a higher plant-based protein content, and its first plant-based protein medical nutrition drink in 2023.
Fortimel PlantBased Protein is a food for special medical purposes for the dietary management of disease related malnutrition.Nutrison PlantBased 2kcal High Protein Multi Fibre is a Food for Special Medical Purposes for the dietary management of disease related malnutrition in patients with higher energy and protein needs, and/or fluid restriction. They must be used under medical supervision
The product information for this area of specialization is intended for healthcare professionals or (carers of) diagnosed patients only, as these products are for use under healthcare professional supervision.
Please click ‘Yes’ if you are a healthcare professional or (carer of) a diagnosed patient, or ‘No’ to be taken to a full list of our products.
The information on this page is intended for healthcare professionals only.
If you aren't a healthcare professional, you can visit the page with general information, by clicking 'I'm not a healthcare professional' below.
