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China's answer to its milk scandals: Cows that produce 'human breast milk'
Forget about smuggling milk formula from Hong Kong, Chinese scientists are turning to local cows for the answer to China's milk supply
Although just producing the regular stuff now, if Chinese scientists have their way, the next generation of Chinese cows could be producing "human-like" milk in the next few years.As questions about the safety of baby formula continues in China, Chinese scientists are going to soon help quell fears by offering an alternative source for milk: human breast milk produced by cows.
The move is somewhat similar to the recent push in the UK for human breast milk ice cream with one notable difference: instead of banning the innovation, the government is supporting the new nutritional source.
The researchers believe, according to China.org, that milk from about 300 cows can offer alternative to human breast milk and formula milk for babies.
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Chinese consumers “will soon be able to buy dairy products that are produced by genetically modified cattle and contain most of the nutrients that are in human breast milk,” reports Shanghai Daily.
The paper says that the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture has given the go ahead to test the new human-like milk. If all goes as planned -- famous last words -- the cow/human milk would hit the market within the next two years.
The scientists on the project, writing in the “Public Library of Science One” journal, say they have successfully created cows that produce lactalbumin, lactoferrin, and lysozume -- all proteins that in human breast milk.
"Such proteins can be easily absorbed by the human body and can boost the immune system,” says Li Ning, a leading researcher at the State Key Laboratories for AgroBiotechnology at China Agricultural University, to Chinese papers.
Although more nutritious, milk will lack the antibodies present in human breast milk, and " tastes stronger than normal milk," says Li. Can't have everything.
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Even though it’s not a complete substitute, Chinese scientists see major market potential for the product.
"The milk pumped out by our cattle will be a cheap source of such rare proteins, which are precious components hailed by the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries," says Li, adding that annual sales of lactoferrin are expected to reach US$5 billion worldwide.
The modified milk has passed tests by the Chinese Center for Disease Prevention and Control, which ruled that the milk produced by these could prove healthier than its conventional brethren.
