Kerry, in collaboration with the Complutense University of Madrid, has become the first to isolate beneficial bacterial strains, including LC40 and BfM26, from human breast milk.
The food and beverage service company used an in-house screening method that evaluated more than 40 criteria to select the most potent candidates.
Human milk probiotics are strains of beneficial bacteria, specifically including Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium, which are naturally found in breast milk.
LC40 Infant supports gut and immune health in babies, especially those born via C-section or fed with formula, who may miss out on the natural microbial transfer during vaginal birth and breastfeeding.
Backed by six clinical studies and two safety trials, LC40 has been shown to reduce gastrointestinal infections by 48% and respiratory infections by 27%, whilst promoting a microbiome similar to that of breastfed infants.
LC40 Breastcare addresses one of the most common challenges in early motherhood and women's health: mastitis.
Affecting up to 30% of breastfeeding women, mastitis can lead to pain, emotional distress and early cessation of breastfeeding.
LC40 has demonstrated a 51% reduction in mastitis incidence and significantly improved emotional well-being and women's health, with 88% of women reporting complete symptom resolution compared to just 29% in the antibiotic group.
"Human milk probiotics such as LC40 are redefining how we support health in the first 1000 days of life," said Dr Monica Maria Olivares, RD&A Director, Women & Infant Health at Kerry.
"They offer a natural yet science-driven solution to some of the most pressing challenges in early life nutrition, from microbial gaps in newborns to breastfeeding complications in mothers."
"LC40 is not just a probiotic; it's a holistic intervention for better outcomes."
LC40 also has applications in neonatal care.
When administered alongside BfM26 in preterm infants, the probiotic duo significantly reduced the risk of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) and lowered mortality rates.
Additionally, LC40 has shown long-term growth benefits, with formula-fed infants demonstrating improved length gains that persisted up to 2 years of age.
With certifications including NDI, QPS, China FDA, Kosher, Halal, Non-GMO and Gluten-Free, LC40 is suitable for a wide range of applications, from infant formula to maternal supplements.
Its patented ExLCusive fermentation process ensures genomic-DNA security as well as consistent quality.
As the Asia-Pacific probiotics market surpasses $3.6bn in 2024 and continues to grow at a CAGR of 6.3%, LC40 represents a clinically supported innovation that aligns with consumer demand for natural, microbiome-supportive solutions in maternal and infant health.