Osteoblast milk protein
Encyclopedia
Osteoblast milk protein (OMP) is the name used by Mengniu
, a Chinese dairy company, for a milk protein used as a food additive
in their Milk Deluxe since 2005. It is supposed to help the absorption of calcium
and promote bone growth in the osteoblast
s and prevent osteoporosis
.
In February 2009, the safety of OMP was questioned by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
(AQSIQ), national quality supervision department in China, when they were doing a general clean-up on the use of food additives after the 2008 Chinese milk scandal
where melamine
was found in some milk products. Mengniu stopped adding OMP to its milk on February 2nd after a government order, but did not recall products already on the market. On February 13 the Ministry of Health stated that OMP is "not harmful to human health", but the ban on its use stayed in place because the importer had not submitted the necessary paperwork.
The raw ingredients for OMP were imported from the Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company in New Zealand via Shanghai Tongyuan Food Technology Co. Ltd. . Mengniu first stated that the major active ingredient in OMP is Insulin-like growth factor 1
(IGF-1), but later denied adding IGF-1 and said that OMP is the same as Milk Basic Protein
(MBP). IGF-1 could possibly cause cancer
in extreme doses. The company claimed that the additive is widely used in Europe, the United States and Japan, and had been certified by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority
and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However it turned out that the FDA letter referred to a perhaps different additive used by the Japanese Snow Brand Milk Products Company. A director of the Guangdong Dairy Industry Association said that OMP is seldom used in milk products overseas and no conclusion about the impact of OMP on human health has been proven globally. The association may contest any official declaration from the Ministry of Health that OMP is safe.
According to Mengniu and the Ministry of Health, OMP is made from milk by degreasing by skimming
and membrane filtration
and its major components are lactoferrin
and lactoperoxidase
.
Mengniu
China Mengniu Dairy Company Limited is a manufacturing and distribution company of dairy products and ice cream in the People's Republic of China...
, a Chinese dairy company, for a milk protein used as a food additive
Food additive
Food additives are substances added to food to preserve flavor or enhance its taste and appearance.Some additives have been used for centuries; for example, preserving food by pickling , salting, as with bacon, preserving sweets or using sulfur dioxide as in some wines...
in their Milk Deluxe since 2005. It is supposed to help the absorption of calcium
Calcium
Calcium is the chemical element with the symbol Ca and atomic number 20. It has an atomic mass of 40.078 amu. Calcium is a soft gray alkaline earth metal, and is the fifth-most-abundant element by mass in the Earth's crust...
and promote bone growth in the osteoblast
Osteoblast
Osteoblasts are mononucleate cells that are responsible for bone formation; in essence, osteoblasts are specialized fibroblasts that in addition to fibroblastic products, express bone sialoprotein and osteocalcin.Osteoblasts produce a matrix of osteoid, which is composed mainly of Type I collagen...
s and prevent osteoporosis
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis is a disease of bones that leads to an increased risk of fracture. In osteoporosis the bone mineral density is reduced, bone microarchitecture is deteriorating, and the amount and variety of proteins in bone is altered...
.
In February 2009, the safety of OMP was questioned by the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine
The General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine is a ministerial-level department under the State Council of the People's Republic of China that is in charge of national quality, metrology, entry-exit commodity inspection, entry-exit health quarantine, entry-exit...
(AQSIQ), national quality supervision department in China, when they were doing a general clean-up on the use of food additives after the 2008 Chinese milk scandal
2008 Chinese milk scandal
The 2008 Chinese milk scandal was a food safety incident in the People's Republic of China, involving milk and infant formula, and other food materials and components, adulterated with melamine....
where melamine
Melamine
Melamine is an organic base and a trimer of cyanamide, with a 1,3,5-triazine skeleton. Like cyanamide, it contains 66% nitrogen by mass and, if mixed with resins, has fire retardant properties due to its release of nitrogen gas when burned or charred, and has several other industrial uses....
was found in some milk products. Mengniu stopped adding OMP to its milk on February 2nd after a government order, but did not recall products already on the market. On February 13 the Ministry of Health stated that OMP is "not harmful to human health", but the ban on its use stayed in place because the importer had not submitted the necessary paperwork.
The raw ingredients for OMP were imported from the Tatua Co-operative Dairy Company in New Zealand via Shanghai Tongyuan Food Technology Co. Ltd. . Mengniu first stated that the major active ingredient in OMP is Insulin-like growth factor 1
Insulin-like growth factor 1
Insulin-like growth factor 1 also known as somatomedin C is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IGF1 gene. IGF-1 has also been referred to as a "sulfation factor" and its effects were termed "nonsuppressible insulin-like activity" in the 1970s.IGF-1 is a hormone similar in molecular...
(IGF-1), but later denied adding IGF-1 and said that OMP is the same as Milk Basic Protein
Milk basic protein
Milk basic protein is a milk protein fraction. It stimulates bone formation and suppresses osteoclastic-mediated bone resorption. It is approved in Japan as a functional food ingredient in tofu and nattō....
(MBP). IGF-1 could possibly cause cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
in extreme doses. The company claimed that the additive is widely used in Europe, the United States and Japan, and had been certified by the New Zealand Food Safety Authority
New Zealand Food Safety Authority
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority , or Te Pou Oranga Kai O Aotearoa is the New Zealand government body responsible for food safety...
and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). However it turned out that the FDA letter referred to a perhaps different additive used by the Japanese Snow Brand Milk Products Company. A director of the Guangdong Dairy Industry Association said that OMP is seldom used in milk products overseas and no conclusion about the impact of OMP on human health has been proven globally. The association may contest any official declaration from the Ministry of Health that OMP is safe.
According to Mengniu and the Ministry of Health, OMP is made from milk by degreasing by skimming
Skimmer (machine)
An oil skimmer is a machine that separates a liquid from particles floating on it or from another liquid. A common application is removing oil floating on water. These technologies are commonly used for oil spill remediation but are also commonly found in industry...
and membrane filtration
Membrane technology
The membrane technology covers all process engineering measures for the transport of substances between two fractions with the help of permeable membranes...
and its major components are lactoferrin
Lactoferrin
Lactoferrin , also known as lactotransferrin , is a multifunctional protein of the transferrin family. Lactoferrin is a globular glycoprotein with a molecular mass of about 80 kDa that is widely represented in various secretory fluids, such as milk, saliva, tears, and nasal secretions...
and lactoperoxidase
Lactoperoxidase
Lactoperoxidase is a peroxidase enzyme secreted from mammary, salivary, and other mucosal glands that functions as a natural antibacterial agent. Lactoperoxidase is a member of the heme peroxidase family of enzymes. In humans, lactoperoxidase is encoded by the LPO gene.Lactoperoxidase catalyzes...
.