Prominent Australian health food brand Sanitarium has launched a new line of plant-based milks the company says contains clinically proven superplant and superfood ingredients to deliver targeted health benefits.
Sanitarium – which celebrated its 125th anniversary last year – said in a statement that its new PLANTWELL range includes a high protein soy milk with natural plant ingredients, such as seaweed calcium to build bone density, and prebiotic fibres to nurture gut flora; cholesterol lowering oat milk with plant sterols; and a almond milk with powerful beta glucans to strengthen immune defences.
Developed and produced at the company’s NSW Central Coast facility, the PLANTWELL range is described by Sanitarium as, “tipped to revolutionise Australia’s plant milk category.”
Sanitarium Brand Manager and dietitian Anja Laudrin, who led the project, said, “We’ve worked for more than four years researching superfood and superplant ingredients and balancing tastes and textures to create a delicious range of versatile plant milks with science-backed health benefits.
“This has included reviewing and collating comprehensive scientific evidence to substantiate the food-health relationships of key ingredients and notifying FSANZ, so we are able to use and communicate the clinically proven superplants and their health benefits.”
Sanitarium says its High Protein Bone & Gut soy milk provides clinically proven 2.5g of FOS prebiotic fibres, which have been shown to promote the growth of bifidobacteria with beneficial effects after just one week. The company also says the product provides half of the recommended daily amount of vitamin D from mushrooms, as well as B1, B2, B3, B9, B12, iodine, iron and magnesium.
Meanwhile, Sanitarium says its Cholesterol Lowering oat milk contains 1g of plant sterols per serve – half of the amount needed to lower LDL cholesterol by up to 9% within three weeks – as well as half the recommended daily amount of vitamin D, 300mg of calcium, a high amount of fibre, and vitamin B2 and B12.
Lastly, the company claims its Immune Defence almond milk contains 250g of Wellmune beta glucans, which have been clinically proven to strengthen immune defences.
Sanitarium says the PLANTWELL range is vegan and free from dairy, lactose, preservatives, artificial colours and flavours, in addition to being low in sugar and saturated fat and high in fibre.
The company says the full PLANTWELL range will be hitting Woolworths shelves in July 2024, with broader distribution later in the year.
PLANTWELL adds to Sanitarium’s existing portfolio of plant milks including So Good range and The Alternative Dairy Co for food service. Sanitarium has been in the Australia plant-based milk business since it introduced soy milk in 1986.
The global plant-based milk market is on the rise, the industry being valued at USD 3.32 billion in 2023 and expected to reach roughly USD 8.87 billion by 2033, expanding at a CAGR of 10.32% from 2024 to 2033.
Plant-based milk consumption is also steadily gaining traction in Australia – data from Western Australia coffee shop chain Muzz Buzz found that drink orders using dairy alternatives such as oat, soy, almond, and lactose free products across its 34 sites increased by over 260% between 2021 and 2022.
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