Arla Foods Ingredients unveils GLP-1 support nutrition at Vitafoods Europe 2026

Arla Foods Ingredients has introduced a range of high-protein, nutrient-dense solutions at the Vitafoods Europe 2026 trade show, which took place from May 5 to 7 in Barcelona, Spain. These innovations were specifically designed for individuals undergoing GLP-1 therapy, addressing nutritional challenges such as lean muscle loss, gastrointestinal discomfort, nausea, and loss of appetite.

The showcased concepts incorporate Arla Foods Ingredients’ Nutrilac and Lacprodan BLG-100 (beta-lactoglobulin) protein solutions, which are rich in essential amino acids to support muscle health. Additionally, the products include probiotics and cultures from Novonesis to promote digestive well-being.

A New Approach to Weight Management

At the event, Peter Schouw Andersen, senior director in Performance Nutrition at Arla Foods Ingredients, highlighted the company’s focus on redefining weight management for GLP-1 users. "Traditionally, weight management has been almost entirely about calorie reduction and volume control. GLP-1 therapy is forcing a fundamental rethink of that approach", he explained.

He emphasized the need for nutrient-dense solutions that can deliver essential nutrition in smaller portions. "What we’re seeing - and what we’re highlighting at Vitafoods - is that for GLP-1 users, eating less doesn’t automatically mean eating better. Reduced appetite, early satiety, and gastrointestinal side effects make it harder to meet basic nutritional needs, particularly for high-quality protein and micronutrients."

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Compact, Targeted Nutrition

Arla Foods Ingredients is addressing these challenges with innovative small-format products. Among the featured concepts is a fermented high-protein shot with Nutrilac ProteinBoost, providing 10 grams of protein in just a 70 milliliter serving. Another innovation is a lactose-reduced drinking yogurt containing 20 grams of protein, alongside a fermented high-protein spoonable yogurt.

The company has also developed a health-focused, high-protein water-based shot featuring Lacprodan BLG-100. This ambient storage shot contains 21 grams of protein per 100 milliliters, is low in lactose, and free from fat and sugar.

Schouw Andersen described the importance of compact and nutrient-dense formats for GLP-1 users. "Portion size reductions are generally insufficient to support GLP-1 users, which can even result in a risk of undernutrition in some cases. The focus has to shift toward nutrient density, ensuring that smaller servings still deliver optimized levels of protein, essential amino acids, and key micronutrients."

Whey Protein: A Standout Solution

Whey protein plays a critical role in these solutions due to its superior amino acid profile and digestibility. Lacprodan BLG-100, for example, naturally provides high levels of leucine, a key amino acid for muscle protein synthesis. "BLG allows us to deliver a meaningful leucine dose in a very small serving size, which is ideal for GLP-1 users with reduced appetite", noted Schouw Andersen.

In addition to supporting muscle maintenance, whey protein aids satiety and metabolic health, making it a valuable component of companion nutrition products. "Successful GLP-1 companion products will be those that are designed around the physiology of users, not retrofitted from traditional weight management concepts", he added.

A Bridge Between Nutrition and Therapy

Schouw Andersen also noted the growing importance of functional nutrition as a complement to GLP-1 therapies. While pharmaceuticals address appetite regulation and metabolic pathways, functional foods and beverages fill critical gaps, such as protein inadequacy, muscle loss, digestive discomfort, and micronutrient deficiencies.

"Pharmaceuticals address appetite regulation and metabolic pathways, but they don’t solve practical, day-to-day nutritional challenges such as protein inadequacy, muscle loss, digestive discomfort, or micronutrient gaps. That’s where functional foods and beverages come in", he explained.

Going forward, he predicted a convergence of clinical nutrition, active nutrition, and everyday wellness. "We see a growing overlap around muscle health, metabolic resilience, and digestive well-being - needs that apply to clinical patients, active consumers, and wellness-focused individuals alike. The difference lies less in what people need and more in how nutrition is delivered."

Convenience as a Nutritional Enabler

Ease of use is a critical factor for improving compliance and long-term nutritional intake, according to Schouw Andersen. At Vitafoods, the company showcased ready-to-stir concepts that simplify preparation and encourage consistent use.

"When someone is managing a chronic condition or undergoing medical treatment, even small practical barriers can significantly impact compliance", he explained. "Ingredients like Lacprodan BLG 100 Acidic play a key role here because of their high solubility. They dissolve easily in both cold and warm liquids and even work in foods as well as beverages. This flexibility makes it easier to integrate nutrition into everyday life, which ultimately improves compliance and supports better long-term nutritional intake."

With these innovations, Arla Foods Ingredients is setting the stage for a new era of targeted, nutrient-dense support for GLP-1 users, blending clinical credibility with practical convenience. "GLP-1 creates a new type of consumer - one the market wasn’t originally designed for - and that’s pushing all three sectors closer together around targeted, nutrient-dense, small-format nutrition", concluded Schouw Andersen.

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