Press release

Nutricia reformulates its core tube feeding range¹ addressing patient nutritional needs, now with higher plant-based protein content

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - September 6, 2024

• Reformulated range meets the latest ESPEN micronutrient guidelines², including for Vitamin D
• Updated composition of the hybrid P4 protein blend contains 78% plant-based proteins
• Certified with 17% lower by-design CO2 footprint compared to previous range³
• Building on Nutrison’s 50-year tube feeding leadership in product innovation

Nutricia, part of leading global food and beverage company Danone, announces the launch of its reformulated Nutrison core range tube feeds¹ at the 46th European Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN) Congress on Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism this week in Milan.

Nutrison is the company’s highest-selling⁴ adult medical nutrition brand, producing specialized tube feeds created to tackle malnutrition in patients unable to eat or drink normally, such as in critically ill conditions, or when receiving treatment for diseases like head or neck cancer. 

The core range has been redesigned having both patient needs and by-design reduction of CO2 footprint in mind, and is intended to fully replace the current core range by the end of 2025 in all markets. The state-of-the-art composition addresses the nutritional needs of tube-fed patients, across micronutrient intake and gastrointestinal tolerance. This reformulation is an important milestone for Nutricia’s adult medical nutrition range, building on the introduction of the recyclable by-design tube feeding pack (OpTri) in 2018. 

Leveraging Nutricia’s long-term expertise in health, research and innovation, and Nutrison’s patient-centric heritage, the new formulation: 

• Pioneers in the category by meeting the vitamin D level of the latest micronutrient guideline set by the European Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition (ESPEN)²
• Includes more vitamin B1, B2, B6, B12 and C than previous ranges, to prevent risk of deficiencies of these nutrients supporting immune function⁵
• Includes a higher portion of plant-based proteins in the hybrid protein P4 blend vs. the previous composition, from 40% to 78% plant-based proteins⁶
• Is well tolerated. Long-term enterally tube fed patients who used one of the reformulated tube feed with a plant-dominant protein blend for two weeks tolerated it well, maintained their body weight and had excellent product compliance⁷
• Is certified with 17% lower CO2 footprint produced in the manufacturing of the products, compared to the previous Nutrison core range³
• Is inspired by the EAT Lancet Proposed Planetary Health Reference Diet, which recommends diets with higher proportions of vegetables and plant-based proteins, and smaller quantities of meat and dairy products⁸

The range of tube feeds is designed to break the cycle of disease related malnutrition, which if left untreated may lead to increased risk of infection and complications, longer recovery times, decreased quality of life and increased mortality⁹. Research shows that one in four patients admitted to hospital for other diseases and illnesses are malnourished, equating to 33 million people⁹ in Europe alone, showing the scale of demand for timely intervention with medical nutrition including state-of-the art tube feed products.

This week at the 46th ESPEN Congress Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, which is the biggest global medical nutrition conference, Nutricia is highlighting the importance of nutritional tailored care to optimize patient outcomes across cancer, critical and elderly care. Beyond the reformulated Nutrison core range, other products highlighted at the congress include  plant-based oral nutritional supplements and tube feeding innovations, and pioneering cancer care products addressing specific nutritional needs, such as taste changes.

Katrien van Laere, SVP Research & Innovation, Chief Medical & Scientific Officer at Danone commented: