Indian demand for reduced lactose on the rise, says Novozymes

Indian awareness of lactose intolerance is growing rapidly, leading consumers to seek reduced reduced lactose and lactose-free products without compromising on taste, according to a Novozymes South Asia executive.

Speaking to FoodNavigator-Asia at FI India in Mumbai, industry sales manager at Novozymes South Asia, Krishna Mohan Puvvada, said that the company was showcasing its lactose-reducing enzyme Lactozyme at the show, as it had seen particular interest in solutions for lactose intolerance in India.

Puvvada said that as many as 40% to 60% of Indians are thought to be lactose intolerant, and with rising awareness of the condition, there is rising demand for foods that provide the nutrition and taste of dairy with reduced lactose.

He said that Lactozyme can be used to cut lactose by up to 98% - and it also has functional benefits for some foods, reducing grittiness associated with lactose in ice cream, for example.