Damon Mcknight
The a2 Milk Company, previously known as A2 Corporation, is a New Zealand company that owns the US trademarks for the term A2 and A2 MILK for milk and other dairy-related products. The company was founded in 2000 by Dr Corran McLachlan and Howard Paterson, who recognized that not all milk is the same. The A2 Milk Company has trading activities in Australia, New Zealand, China, the US, and other countries. While the company is not Australian-owned, it has a strong presence in the Australian market, with a2 Milk® being the brand leader in the fresh liquid milk category in the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Company Name | The a2 Milk Company Limited |
| Previous Name | A2 Corporation |
| Founder | Dr Corran McLachlan and Howard Paterson |
| Year Founded | 2000 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Business | Commercialises intellectual property relating to A1 protein-free milk |
| Markets | Australia, New Zealand, China, the US, Canada, South Korea, Singapore, and other emerging markets in Asia |
| Revenue in 2014-2015 | 40% growth |
| Revenue in 2018 | 9,000 stores in the US distribution network |
| Australia-specific Products | Australia's Own A2 Protein Full Cream Milk |
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What You'll Learn
The a2 Milk Company is a New Zealand company
The a2 Milk Company has developed a genetic test to determine whether a cow will produce milk without the A1 protein, and it licenses milk producers whose cows produce only the A2 type protein exclusively. The company has a strong presence in Australia, with around 9,000 stores in its distribution network, and its products are also available in New Zealand, China, the United States, Canada, South Korea, and Singapore.
In Australia, the a2 Milk Company has been active since 2007, and its products are well-established in the market. The company has licensed the a2 Milk® brand to Fonterra in New Zealand, and its fresh milk became available in stores in July 2019. Chinese consumers can purchase either the Australia and New Zealand a2 Platinum® products via cross-border e-commerce platforms or unique Chinese a2™至初® infant formula products in Mother and Baby stores across China.
The a2 Milk Company has also expanded its business beyond New Zealand and Australia, forming a joint venture with British milk supplier Müller Wiseman Dairies (MWD) in 2011 to market and sell its products in Britain and Ireland. However, in 2019, the company decided to exit the UK market and discontinue a2 milk sales in the region.
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A2 Milk is available in Australia
The company's Australian and New Zealand segment revenue grew by 40% in the 2014-2015 financial year, with sales of A2 infant formula increasing by 650%. In 2019, the company announced that it had a distribution network of around 9,000 stores in the US, but it is not clear how many stores it has in Australia. However, A2 Milk is available in Australia at Coles and Woolworths.
A2 Milk is produced by cows that naturally produce only the A2 protein type, which is said to have unique digestive and other potential health benefits. The A2 Milk Company has developed a genetic test to identify these cows and license milk producers. The A2 Milk Company claims that milk containing A1 proteins is harmful, but Dairy Australia and other industry groups have disputed this, saying there is no conclusive scientific evidence.
In addition to the A2 Milk Company, there are other brands of A2 milk available in Australia, such as Australia's Own A2 Protein Full Cream Milk, which is sourced from Australian dairy farmers and available at selected Coles and Woolworths.
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A2 Milk is suitable for children
A2 Milk™ is suitable for children over 12 months old, as long as they do not have a medically diagnosed allergy or intolerance to cow's milk protein or lactose. Doctors recommend full-cream milk for children over 12 months and low-fat milk for children over the age of two.
A2 milk is becoming an increasingly popular option for parents due to its similarity to breast milk. A2 beta-casein is the same protein that exists naturally in human breast milk. This means that A2 milk is more structurally comparable to the beta-casein protein in human breast milk, and therefore often an easier transition for babies who were breastfed.
A2 milk is also believed to be easier to digest than A1 milk, as it lacks the histidine amino acid found in A1 milk protein. Research has shown that the digestion of the A1 variant of beta-casein leads to the generation of a bioactive peptide, beta casomorphin 7 (BCM7), which is associated with several health hazards, including Type 1 diabetes, heart disease, and atopic dermatitis in children. One study found that children who consumed A2 milk protein had fewer digestive symptoms compared to children who consumed A1 milk protein.
Another study conducted among Australian children aged 21–144 months showed a higher resolution of the proportion of constipation in the A2 versus the A1 milk group (79% vs. 57%). The study also found that toddlers consuming A2 GUM were more sociable and more easily soothed but less active than those consuming conventional milk.
It is important to note that A2 milk products may not work for everyone, and some babies may be allergic or intolerant to cow's milk protein. Always check with your child's healthcare provider before making any changes to their diet.
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A2 Milk is suitable for those who are lactose intolerant
A2 Milk™ contains the same quantity of lactose that is found in conventional cow's milk. However, it may be suitable for those who are lactose intolerant as it does not contain the A1 beta-casein protein, which can trigger gut symptoms and inflammation in the gut.
Lactose-intolerant individuals can usually tolerate up to 12-15 grams of lactose per day, which is equivalent to 250 millilitres of cow's milk. The Australian Dietary Guidelines recommend that this amount of cow's milk may be well tolerated by lactose-intolerant individuals when consumed with other foods and spread throughout the day.
A 2016 double-blinded randomised control trial crossover study published in the Nutrition Journal supports this claim. The study monitored the effects of A2 milk vs A1-containing milk on gut symptoms and cognition in 45 people with self-reported lactose intolerance in China. The researchers found that although both milks contained the same amount of lactose, the participants reported fewer gut symptoms when consuming A2 milk.
However, it is important to note that not all lactose-intolerant individuals will be able to tolerate A2 milk. Some people have reported experiencing negative side effects such as diarrhoea and stomach pain after consuming A2 milk. Additionally, individuals with a medically diagnosed allergy to cow's milk protein or lactose should not drink A2 Milk™, or any other natural cow's milk.
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A2 Milk comes from cows that produce only the A2 protein type
A2 milk is a variety of cow's milk that contains predominantly the A2 form of β-casein protein. It is produced by cows that have the A2A2 gene and these cows produce milk with only the A2 protein. The A2 Milk Company, which sells A2 milk, was founded in New Zealand in 2000 by Dr Corran McLachlan. The company has trading activities in Australia, New Zealand, China, the US, Canada, the UK, South Korea and Singapore.
The A2 Milk Company markets milk produced by cows that only produce the A2 protein. They have developed a genetic test to determine whether a cow produces the A2 or A1 type protein in its milk. This test involves taking a hair sample to test the DNA of the cows. They also test the milk after production to ensure it does not contain the A1 protein.
In 2010, around 40 million litres of milk with predominantly A2 protein were being produced by 12,000 A2-certified cows across Australia. A2 milk is also produced in the UK, where it was sold between 2012 and 2019.
The A2 Milk Company claims that milk containing A1 proteins is harmful to human health. However, there has been no widely accepted scientific work identifying a direct link between A1 protein and any adverse health effects. Dairy Australia and other market competitors have also stated that there is no conclusive scientific evidence to suggest A1 proteins are dangerous.
Some studies have suggested that A2 milk may have health benefits. For example, one study found that participants took longer to process information and made more errors on a test after drinking regular milk compared to A2 milk. Another study in mice found that 47% of the mice that had A1 protein added to their diet developed diabetes, while none that had A2 protein did so. However, other studies have failed to replicate these findings. For example, a study in rabbits found that A1 protein increased cholesterol levels, but the results cannot be generalised to humans. Overall, the industry needs more data to confirm if there are added benefits to A2 genetics beyond the potential for easier human digestibility.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, a2 Milk is available in Australia and has been since 2007. It is the brand leader in the fresh liquid milk category in the country.
No, a2 Milk is not Australian-owned. The a2 Milk Company is a New Zealand company founded in 2000 by Dr Corran McLachlan and Howard Paterson.
a2 Milk is milk that contains only the A2 protein type and no A1 protein. It is produced by cows that are specially selected or bred to produce only the A2 protein type.
People with lactose intolerance can usually tolerate up to 12-15 grams of lactose per day, which is equivalent to 250 milliliters of cow's milk. According to Australian Dietary Guidelines, this amount may be well tolerated by lactose-intolerant individuals when consumed with other foods and spread throughout the day. However, each person with lactose intolerance will have their own level of tolerance.
