Goat milk formula is a relatively new option for parents compared to the decades of dominance by mainstream cow’s milk-based baby formulas. There's a lot of confusion in the world of baby milk, with many parents unaware that most baby formulas are based on cow's milk.

This became clear during a consumer survey we conducted in 2020, which revealed that 67% of parents didn’t realise the formula they were using was based on cow’s milk.

The Myth of Magical Baby Formula

How can this be? The reality is that big milk brands have created the perception that their formulas are almost magically designed in a lab to mimic breast milk. But, of course, that’s not the case.

Mainstream cow’s milk formulas are typically made from:

•    Skimmed cow's milk

•    Demineralised whey (a milk protein)

•    Added vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids

•    Additional ingredients such as prebiotics (GOS/FOS) or HMOs (Human Milk Oligosaccharides)

These ingredients are combined and processed to mimic as closely as possible, the nutritional profile of breast milk according to strict regulations, but of course will never be equivalent to breast milk. 

Why This Matters: A New Alternative for Parents

For the first time in decades, there’s a new option available to parents. To be clear, all baby formulas are safe, whichever one you choose. The purpose of this article is to provide more information to help make an informed decision.

Nannycare: Specialists in Goat Milk Formula

At Nannycare, we specialise exclusively in goat milk formula. Why?

•    We firmly believe that breast milk is the best choice for babies.

•    We also understand that, for various reasons, some parents choose to bottle-feed.

We believe that parents should feel supported in their choice after considering all factors and consulting with healthcare professionals. This is why we’re proud to offer Nannycare Goat Follow on Formula, providing parents with an alternative to traditional formulas, that upholds the highest standards.

The Journey: Why Goat Milk Formula?

So, why goat milk formula? And why did Nannycare spend 15 years working to amend EU and UK regulations to offer an alternative to cow’s milk formulas?

The reality is that the European directive, drafted in the late 1980s, limited baby formulas to cow’s milk based products (with soy for limited use). When I first discovered goat milk formula, I learned that the world’s very first one had been developed in New Zealand—a country with a stellar reputation for child care.

New Zealand’s Reputation for Childcare Excellence

New Zealand’s reputation is built on several key factors:

•    A high-quality healthcare system

•    Strict safety and product standards

•    A pristine natural environment

•    A supportive parenting culture

•    Research and innovation

These factors have established New Zealand as a leader in nurturing and supporting the well-being of babies and young children. In this spirit, the world’s first goat milk formula was developed in the late 1980s by a Co-operative of goat farmers in New Zealand, known as the Dairy Goat Co-operative.

The Dairy Goat Co-operative: An Entrepreneurial Story

What’s interesting is that the business was initiated by a man in his 50s, who had given up running his independent electrical firm due to stress. He turned to goat farming instead. When he realised that local goat farmers were struggling to sell their milk at a decent price, he formed the Dairy Goat Co-operative NZ Ltd.

They began receiving inquiries from mothers asking if goat milk was suitable for their babies. While they knew that neither cow’s milk nor goat’s milk is safe for infants in their raw form, they recognised a need—mothers were using goat milk regardless, and they wanted to provide a safer, more suitable option.

Partnering with a Paediatrician: The Birth of Nannycare

To meet this need, they partnered with a UK paediatrician who had relocated to New Zealand. Together, they developed the world’s first goat milk formula to meet UK Department of Health guidelines at that time. This was the birth of Nannycare, although the UK brand name only came along in the 1990s.

Bringing Goat Milk Formula to the UK

Years later, a friend of mine travelled to New Zealand and discovered this. He had an entrepreneurial spirit, having introduced soy milk to the UK years before, and saw an opportunity to bring goat milk formula to the UK.

He partnered with Ian, another friend, and they set up a company in the UK to import the formula. However, since baby milks were traditionally sold in pharmacies and supermarkets, not health food stores (where they had connections), the business struggled to take off.

My Involvement in 1998

I became involved in 1998. At the time, I was working in an entirely different field as the Managing Director of a UK management services company. I had a broad science background and general business experience, but no previous exposure to baby milk. My friend Ian approached me to see if I was interested in taking over the business, as he and his partner were feeling discouraged by the challenges and wanted to move on.

Owning my own business had always appealed to me, though I knew the risks—80% of businesses fail. After carefully reviewing the available scientific and industry data, one thing became clear: almost all baby formulas were based on cow’s milk. It seemed no one had truly questioned which type of milk would be the best-suited base for formula.

When I explored the science further, I discovered that goat milk had characteristics that bore a closer natural resemblance to breast milk than cow’s milk. Yet the market was dominated by cow’s milk products. Why? It seemed this dominance was mainly due to the availability of inexpensive by-products from the highly popular dairy industry. I began to wonder, is cow’s milk really the best choice for baby formula?

A Mission to Change: The Long Road to Regulatory Approval

This realisation sparked my mission to change things. I began discussions with the relevant officials in Brussels, and it quickly became clear that changing the Directive would require a large clinical trial.

Alongside our NZ manufacturer, this took me and Nannycare on a very, very long journey spanning more than a decade. Despite the challenges we continued to grow as a business and strengthen our position in the health food sector, eventually becoming one of the top five baby products. However, the formulation could only be sold as a fortified goat milk product. Meanwhile, we worked tirelessly in the background to achieve an amendment to the law and recognition for goat milk formula.

After years of relentless determination, and following two high-quality clinical trials, we finally succeeded in amending the EU Infant and Follow-On Formula Directive and UK regulations in 2014 to fully recognise goat milk formula granting it equal status to cow’s milk formula.

This was a groundbreaking moment, as it’s not every day that a new baby formula with a different protein base becomes available.

The Impact: A New Choice for Parents

Without our efforts spanning more than a decade, no other goat milk formula would be available in the UK or Europe today.

"Only those who attempt the absurd can achieve the impossible."

—Albert Einstein

We truly are the goat milk formula experts! Yet, it’s still not widely known among parents that there is another formula choice, and that this option has been brought to them by Nannycare.

Learn More About Nannycare

Interested in learning more about our goat milk Follow-On formula and how it could fit into your baby’s nutritional journey? Visit our www.nannycare.co.uk for more information.

Important notice:

Every baby is unique. Consult with your healthcare professional to find the best feeding option for your child.

Breastfeeding is best. Follow on Milk should only be used as part of a mixed diet from 6 months. Not suitable for cow’s milk protein allergy. 

References: 

Zhou et al., 2014; Han et al., 2011; Grant et al., 2005