Infant cereal product

Abstract

The present invention relates to infant cereal products and uses thereof. In particular, the present invention relates to infant cereal products having reduced sensitization potential and reducing the risk of developing allergy in infants.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to infant cereal products and their uses. In particular, this invention relates to infant cereal products with reduced sensitization potential and reduced risk of allergies in infants. Background Technology

[0002] Newborns are typically breastfed or fed liquid infant formula that is as close as possible to the contents of breast milk. Breastfeeding and / or formula feeding usually continue for the first year of a baby's life.

[0003] However, typically between 4 and 6 months, babies begin to show interest in other foods and prepare to eat them. This is marked by the baby starting to sit up and control their head movements. They can move food from the front to the back of their mouth, and their tongues coordinate to allow them to swallow from a spoon. The introduction of solid foods is important for establishing a positive relationship between the baby and food. This is a first step in the growth of the infant and in developing lifelong healthy eating habits.

[0004] Baby cereal helps infants experience taste, texture, and nutrition, providing an important source of energy, carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and minerals. Typically, the protein in baby cereal is in the form of cow's milk powder. However, such cereals are less suitable for children with cow's milk allergies.

[0005] Food allergies are mostly caused by a reaction to proteins in food, and the earliest food allergy to occur in life is often milk allergy. In early life, the immune system is still developing and may not be able to develop tolerance to dietary antigens (this can also be described as insufficient induction of oral tolerance). As a result, infants, children, or young animals develop an excessive immune response to dietary proteins and develop an allergic reaction.

[0006] Aside from breast milk, the first dietary protein that human infants typically encounter is cow's milk protein, and cow's milk allergy is the most common food allergy in human infants. It is also generally accepted that infants with established cow's milk allergy have an increased risk of developing allergies to other dietary proteins, such as oval and cereal proteins. These allergies may be more concerning; allergies to cow's milk proteins usually subside between the ages of two and five, while allergies to oval and cereal proteins can persist throughout life.

[0007] Therefore, there remains a need for infant cereals with reduced allergenic potential, which are more suitable for infants with pre-existing cow's milk allergy. Similarly, there remains a need for infant cereals that reduce the risk of developing cow's milk allergy in infancy, thereby also helping to reduce the risk of other allergies in infants, such as allergies to egg proteins or cereal proteins.

[0008] The infant cereal product of the present invention helps to solve the above-mentioned problems. Summary of the Invention

[0009] According to one aspect of the present invention, an infant cereal product is provided, comprising:

[0010] - On a dry weight basis, rice cereal is approximately 75% to 85% by weight of the infant cereal product.

[0011] - On a dry weight basis, corn oil in an amount between approximately 5% and approximately 10% by weight, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; and

[0012] - Partially hydrolyzed whey protein in an amount between approximately 5% and approximately 10% by weight, based on the dry weight of the infant cereal product.

[0013] In some embodiments, the degree of hydrolysis of the hydrolyzed milk protein source is between about 2% and about 80%, preferably between about 8% and about 60%, more preferably between about 10% and 40%, even more preferably between about 15% and 25%, and most preferably between about 15% and about 21%.

[0014] This baby cereal product may also contain other ingredients such as vitamins and minerals, probiotics, and amylase.

[0015] In another aspect of the invention, an infant cereal product according to the first aspect is provided for treating and / or preventing cow's milk allergy in a subject. In some embodiments, the subject may have a higher risk of cow's milk allergy.

[0016] The subject can be any suitable subject. Suitably, the subject can be human. In a preferred embodiment, the subject is an infant, toddler, or young child. In this invention, the term "infant" can refer to a subject aged from about 6 months to about 1 year. The term "toddler" can refer to a subject aged from about 1 year to about 3 years. The term "young child" can refer to a subject aged from about 3 years to about 10 years, about 3 years to about 9 years, about 3 years to about 8 years, about 3 years to about 7 years, about 3 years to about 6 years, or about 3 years to about 5 years. The subject is preferably an infant or toddler at least 6 months old. Detailed Implementation

[0017] Definition of terminology

[0018] The term "infant cereal products" refers to food for infants and young children. According to Codex STAN 074-1981 and EU Directive 2006 / 125 / EC, "whole infant cereal" is defined as "cereals fortified with high-protein foods that are to be or must be prepared for consumption with water or other suitable protein-free liquids," which differs from "standard infant cereal," which is "to be or must be prepared for consumption with milk or other suitable nutritional liquids."

[0019] Table 1: Definitions of two groups of processed cereal-based products for infants and young children and their reconstitution into semi-liquid foods

[0020]

[0021] In one embodiment of the invention, the finished product may be based on a whole or standard infant cereal product as described above. In one embodiment, the finished product is a powder or (as defined above) a reconstituted (semi-liquid) food. Preferably, the infant cereal product is in powder form. More preferably, the infant cereal product of the present invention is a whole infant cereal powder, wherein only water is required to reconstitute it.

[0022] The infant cereal product of the present invention preferably also contains less than about 6% by weight of water, more preferably less than about 5% by weight of water, and more preferably less than about 3% by weight of water.

[0023] The "infant cereal product" of this invention typically contains carbohydrate sources, protein sources, and lipid sources. This infant cereal product may further contain many other ingredients, including fortified vitamins and minerals, probiotics, and enzymes.

[0024] The term "degree of hydrolysis" or "DH" for proteins refers to the percentage of peptide bonds in a intact protein that have been broken during hydrolysis, divided by the total number of peptide bonds in the intact protein. The degree of hydrolysis can be measured according to the Adler-Nissen TNBS method (J. Agric. Food. Chem. 27:1256-1262, 1979).

[0025] As used herein, the term "amylase" refers to any enzyme capable of converting starch into dextrins and sugars (monosaccharides or disaccharides). Examples of starch-degrading enzymes include amylases, glucosylamylases, and amylopectinases. Preferred examples of amylases include α-amylases, β-amylases, and γ-amylases.

[0026] For the purposes of this invention, the term "probiotics" is defined as "a microbial cell preparation or microbial cell component that has a beneficial effect on the health or comfort of the host" (Salminen S, Ouwehand A. Benno Y. et al. "Probiotics: howshould they be defined" Trends Food Sci. Technol. 1999: 10 107-10).

[0027] The term "non-replicating" as used in this invention refers to the absence of detectable live cells and / or colony-forming units by classic plate inoculation methods. Such classic plate inoculation methods are summarized in the microbiology book: James Monroe Jay, Martin J. Loessner, David A. Golden. 2005. Modern food microbiology. 7th edition, Springer Science, New York, NY 790p. Typically, the absence of live cells can be described as follows: no visible colonies on agar plates or no increase in turbidity in liquid growth media after inoculation with different concentrations of bacterial preparations ("non-replicating" samples) and incubation under appropriate conditions (aerobic and / or anaerobic atmosphere for at least 24 hours).

[0028] Various preferred features and embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting examples. Those skilled in the art will understand that they can combine all the features of the invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope of the disclosed invention.

[0029] Any reference to prior art literature in this specification should not be construed as an admission that such prior art is widely known or constitutes part of common general knowledge in the art. All publications mentioned in this specification are incorporated herein by reference.

[0030] As used in this specification, the word "comprising" and similar terms should not be interpreted in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean "including but not limited to". The term "comprising" and similar terms also include the term "consisting of".

[0031] Unless otherwise stated, the practice of this invention will employ conventional techniques within the capabilities of those skilled in the art. These techniques are explained in the literature. Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by those skilled in the art.

[0032] Unless otherwise stated, numerical ranges include the values ​​that define the range, and all percentages disclosed herein are on a w / w basis. When the components of an infant cereal product are given as weight % values ​​on a dry weight basis, these are relative to the dry weight of the infant cereal product, i.e., without taking into account any water or moisture that may be present in the product.

[0033] As used herein, the term "approximately" means approximately, around, roughly, or nearby. When the term "approximately" is used in conjunction with a numerical value or range, it modifies that value or range by extending the boundaries above and below the given numerical value. Generally, the terms "approximately" and "approximately" are used herein to modify numerical values ​​to be 10% above and below the specified value.

[0034] In another particularly preferred embodiment, the infant cereal product comprises:

[0035] - On a dry weight basis, rice cereal is approximately 75% to 85% by weight of the infant cereal product.

[0036] - On a dry weight basis, corn oil in an amount between approximately 5% and approximately 10% by weight, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; and

[0037] - Partially hydrolyzed whey protein in an amount between approximately 5% and approximately 10% by weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis;

[0038] and one or more of the following:

[0039] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 0.05% to 0.1% by weight of the infant cereal product contains Bifidobacterium lactis.

[0040] - On a dry weight basis, the amount of glucosyl amylase is between approximately 0.010% by weight and approximately 0.015% by weight based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0041] - On a dry weight basis, the amount of α-amylase is between approximately 0.005% and 0.010% by weight of the infant cereal product.

[0042] -Calcium carbonate in an amount between 1% and 2% by weight based on the dry weight of the infant cereal product;

[0043] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 0.5% to 1.5% by weight of dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K₂HPO₄) based on the weight of the infant cereal product; and / or

[0044] - On a dry weight basis, the amount of ferrous fumarate (II) is between approximately 0.01% and 0.03% by weight of the infant cereal product.

[0045] In a further preferred embodiment, the infant cereal product comprises:

[0046] - On a dry weight basis, rice cereal is approximately 75% to 85% by weight of the infant cereal product.

[0047] - On a dry weight basis, corn oil in an amount between approximately 5% and approximately 10% by weight, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; and

[0048] - Partially hydrolyzed whey protein in an amount between approximately 5% and approximately 10% by weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis;

[0049] - On a dry weight basis, Bifidobacterium lactis is present in an amount between approximately 0.05% and 0.1% by weight of the infant cereal product;

[0050] - On a dry weight basis, the amount of glucosyl amylase is between approximately 0.010% by weight and approximately 0.015% by weight based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0051] - On a dry weight basis, the amount of α-amylase is between approximately 0.005% and 0.010% by weight of the infant cereal product.

[0052] -Calcium carbonate in an amount between 1% and 2% by weight based on the dry weight of the infant cereal product;

[0053] - On a dry weight basis, dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K₂HPO₄) in amounts between approximately 0.5% and approximately 1.5% by weight of the infant cereal product; and

[0054] - On a dry weight basis, the amount of ferrous fumarate (II) is between approximately 0.01% and 0.03% by weight of the infant cereal product.

[0055] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the infant cereal product comprises:

[0056] - On a dry weight basis, the amount of rice cereal is approximately 80.7% by weight based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0057] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 8.1% by weight of corn oil is included based on the weight of the infant cereal product; and

[0058] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 7.6% by weight of partially hydrolyzed whey protein based on the weight of the infant cereal product.

[0059] In a further particularly preferred embodiment, the infant cereal product comprises:

[0060] - On a dry weight basis, the amount of rice cereal is approximately 80.7% by weight based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0061] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 8.1% by weight of corn oil is included based on the weight of the infant cereal product; and

[0062] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 7.6% by weight of partially hydrolyzed whey protein based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0063] and one or more of the following:

[0064] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 0.08% by weight of Bifidobacterium lactis based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0065] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 0.013% by weight of glucoamylase based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0066] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 0.007% by weight of α-amylase based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0067] - On a dry weight basis, calcium carbonate is approximately 1.7% by weight based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0068] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 1.2% by weight of dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K₂HPO₄) based on the weight of the infant cereal product; and / or

[0069] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 0.02% by weight of ferrous fumarate (II) is added based on the weight of the infant cereal product.

[0070] In another particularly preferred embodiment, the infant cereal product comprises:

[0071] - On a dry weight basis, the amount of rice cereal is approximately 80.7% by weight based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0072] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 8.1% by weight of corn oil is included based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0073] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 7.6% by weight of partially hydrolyzed whey protein based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0074] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 0.08% by weight of Bifidobacterium lactis based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0075] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 0.013% by weight of glucoamylase based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0076] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 0.007% by weight of α-amylase based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0077] - On a dry weight basis, calcium carbonate is approximately 1.7% by weight based on the weight of the infant cereal product;

[0078] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 1.2% by weight of dipotassium hydrogen phosphate (K₂HPO₄) is contained in the infant cereal product; and

[0079] - On a dry weight basis, approximately 0.02% by weight of ferrous fumarate (II) is added based on the weight of the infant cereal product.

[0080] Hydrolyzed milk protein source

[0081] The infant cereal product according to the present invention contains partially hydrolyzed whey protein as a source of hydrolyzed milk protein.

[0082] While not bound by theory, it is believed that using hydrolyzed milk protein in infant cereal products reduces the antigenicity of the cereal product compared to an equivalent non-hydrolyzed protein source. Therefore, it is believed that this infant cereal product is unlikely to cause symptoms in infants with cow's milk allergy. It is also believed that such an infant cereal product may help promote infant tolerance to milk proteins.

[0083] Regarding whey protein, the protein source can be based on acidic whey or sweet whey or a mixture thereof, and can include any desired proportions of α-lactalbumin and β-lactoglobulin. In some embodiments, the protein source is whey-based (i.e., more than 50% of the protein is derived from whey protein, such as more than 60% or more than 70%).

[0084] Hydrolyzed proteins can be obtained through a hydrolysis process, which can be carried out as needed as is known in the art. Protein hydrolysis is well known and can be carried out by many different methods, such as enzymatic hydrolysis by stimulating the naturally occurring hydrolysis process with an enzyme such as trypsin. Hydrolysis can also be achieved by prolonged boiling in strong acids or bases. In this invention, partially hydrolyzed proteins can be produced by any suitable method known in the art. For example, whey protein hydrolysates can be prepared by enzymatic hydrolysis of whey fractions in two steps as described in EP 0322589 A1. For a wide range of hydrolyzed proteins, a triple hydrolysis of whey protein can be performed first using 2.4 L of the enzyme Alcalase (alkaline protease) (EC 940459), then using 0.5 L of Neutrase (neutral enzyme), followed by trypsin at a temperature of approximately 55°C.

[0085] If the whey fraction used as a starting material is essentially lactose-free, the protein is found to undergo significantly less lysine blockage during hydrolysis. This allows the lysine blockage to be reduced from approximately 15% by weight of total lysine to less than approximately 10% by weight of lysine; for example, approximately 7% by weight of lysine, which greatly improves the nutritional quality of the protein source.

[0086] Specifically, the degree of hydrolysis (DH) of the protein can be between about 2% and about 80%, preferably between about 8% and about 60%, more preferably between about 10% and 40%, and even more preferably between about 15% and 25%. Particularly preferred is a degree of hydrolysis between 15% and 21%.

[0087] While not bound by theory, it is believed that the degree of hydrolysis of milk protein sources may affect the antigenicity of the protein source and its ability to induce tolerance to bovine milk proteins. Preferably, the residual allergenicity of partially hydrolyzed milk proteins is at most 1 / 100 that of intact (i.e., unhydrolyzed) proteins. The residual allergenicity of partially hydrolyzed milk proteins can be measured using a technique described by Fritsche et al. (Int. Arch. Aller and Appl Imm., 93, 289-293, 1990). Such partially hydrolyzed milk proteins and products containing them can be described as hypoallergenic according to EU Directive 96 / 4 / EC.

[0088] In one embodiment of the invention, the infant cereal product may contain both a partially hydrolyzed milk protein source and another protein source containing complete proteins. For example, the protein source may contain both complete proteins and partially hydrolyzed proteins, such as whey protein isolate. Furthermore, the composition or infant formula according to the invention may contain a partially hydrolyzed protein hydrolysate and another protein source containing complete proteins. For example, partially hydrolyzed whey protein isolate and skim milk protein.

[0089] carbohydrate sources

[0090] The infant cereal products according to the present invention also contain rice flour as a carbohydrate source.

[0091] In this invention, the carbohydrate source can be whole grains or refined rice flour derived from rice or rice starch.

[0092] lipid source

[0093] The infant cereal product according to the present invention contains corn oil as a lipid source.

[0094] Other components

[0095] As described above, the infant cereal product of the present invention contains a carbohydrate source, a lipid source, and a hydrolyzed protein source. This infant cereal composition may contain other ingredients, such as one or more vitamins and minerals, one or more probiotics, and one or more starch-degrading enzymes.

[0096] The infant cereal products of this invention may also contain all vitamins and minerals considered essential for a daily diet and of nutritional value. Minimum requirements have been established for certain vitamins and minerals. Examples of minerals, vitamins, and other nutrients optionally present in the infant cereal products of this invention include vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin B3, vitamin B6, vitamin B12, vitamin E, vitamin K1, vitamin K2, vitamin C, vitamin D, folic acid, inositol, niacin, biotin, pantothenic acid, choline, calcium, phosphorus, iodine, iron, magnesium, copper, zinc, manganese, chlorine, potassium, sodium, selenium, chromium, molybdenum, taurine, and L-carnitine. Minerals are typically added in the form of salts. The presence and amount of specific minerals and other vitamins will vary depending on the intended population.

[0097] This baby cereal product may also contain one or more probiotics. Such probiotics can help maintain a healthy gut microbiota, support a baby's immune system, and generally support healthy growth and development.

[0098] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the infant cereal product contains Bifidobacterium lactis. Various traits of Bifidobacterium lactis HN019 important for its ability to exert probiotic effects have been investigated (see, for example, Sanders, ME, 2006. Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology, 40(9), pp. 776-783). In particular, administration of Bifidobacterium lactis has been recognized for numerous beneficial effects, including infection prevention; promotion of a healthy gut microbiota; reduction of whole gut transit time; and enhanced immune function.

[0099] The use of non-replicating microorganisms offers several advantages, including the potential for use in immunocompromised infants, where the use of live probiotics may be inappropriate. Furthermore, the use of non-replicating microorganisms allows the infant cereal product to be heat-reconstituted while retaining its health benefits for the infant. Probiotics can be made non-replicating by any method known in the art, such as by heat treatment, gamma irradiation, ultraviolet light, or the use of chemical agents (formalin, paraformaldehyde).

[0100] The infant cereal composition may also contain one or more starch-degrading enzymes. Such enzymes break down starch and can help reduce product viscosity. The one or more starch-degrading enzymes may be selected from glucosylamylase, α-amylase, and mixtures thereof.

[0101] On a dry weight basis, the infant cereal product may contain between about 0.005% by weight and about 1% by weight, preferably between about 0.01% by weight and about 0.1% by weight, and most preferably about 0.02% by weight of one or more of the starch-degrading enzymes.

[0102] Preparation of the composition

[0103] The infant cereal products according to the present invention can be prepared by any known or other suitable means.

[0104] For example, this infant cereal product can be manufactured by blending carbohydrate sources, lipid sources, and hydrolyzed milk protein sources together in appropriate proportions. Vitamins and minerals (and any other ingredients) can be added at this stage, but may also be added later to avoid thermal degradation.

[0105] Treatment and / or prevention of cow's milk allergy

[0106] The infant cereal product of the present invention can be used to treat and / or prevent cow's milk allergy in subjects. In one embodiment, the infant cereal product is used to prevent cow's milk allergy. In another embodiment, the infant cereal product is used to prevent cow's milk allergy.

[0107] Preferably, the infant cereal product of the present invention is used to treat and / or prevent cow's milk allergy. Cow's milk protein (CMP) is a major cause of food allergies in infants, affecting 2-3% of children worldwide. Most children with CMP allergy (CMPA) have two or more symptoms: 50-70% have skin symptoms, 50-60% have gastrointestinal symptoms, and 20-30% have airway symptoms. 10% of children may develop severe and life-threatening symptoms. (Nutten, 2018. EMJ Allergy lmmunol, 3(1), pp. 50-59).

[0108] Skin symptoms may include urticaria, atopic eczema, and angioedema. Gastrointestinal symptoms may include dysphagia, frequent regurgitation, abdominal cramps, abdominal pain, vomiting, anorexia, refusal to eat, diarrhea (with or without intestinal protein loss or blood loss), constipation (with or without perianal rash), growth retardation, occult blood loss, and iron deficiency anemia. Respiratory symptoms may include runny nose, wheezing, and chronic cough. Other systemic symptoms include anaphylactic reactions and shock-like symptoms, accompanied by severe metabolic acidosis, vomiting, and diarrhea (food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome). These symptoms are usually unrelated to infection, drug intake, or other causes (Koletzko, S. et al., 2012. Journal of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition, 55(2), pp. 221-229).

[0109] As discussed above, the infant cereal products of the present invention, which contain at least partially hydrolyzed milk proteins, are believed to be: (a) suitable for intake by subjects with cow's milk allergy; and (b) suitable for promoting milk protein tolerance in subjects, thereby helping to prevent cow's milk allergy in subjects.

[0110] The subject can be any suitable subject. Suitably, the subject can be a human. In a preferred embodiment, the subject is an infant, toddler, or young child. The term "infant" can refer to a subject aged from about 6 months to about 1 year. The term "toddler" can refer to a subject aged from about 1 year to about 3 years. The term "young child" can refer to a subject aged from about 3 years to about 10 years, about 3 years to about 9 years, about 3 years to about 8 years, about 3 years to about 7 years, about 3 years to about 6 years, or about 3 years to about 5 years. The subject is preferably an infant or toddler at least 6 months old.

[0111] In the preferred embodiment, the subject has a higher risk of milk allergy. This is in cases where, for example, other family members of the subject have food allergies or other allergic diseases.

[0112] Example

[0113] The invention is further described with reference to the following embodiments. It should be understood that the claimed invention is not intended to be limited in any way by these embodiments.

[0114] Example 1

[0115] An example of an infant cereal product according to the invention to be reconstituted in water, prepared according to the following formula:

[0116]

Claims

1. An infant cereal product comprising: - rice flour in an amount of between about 75 wt% to 85 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; - corn oil in an amount of between about 5 wt% to about 10 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; and - partially hydrolyzed whey protein in an amount of between about 5 wt% to about 10 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis.

2. The infant cereal product of claim 1, wherein the infant cereal product comprises: - rice flour in an amount of between about 75 wt% to 85 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; - corn oil in an amount of between about 5 wt.% and about 10 wt.% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; and - partially hydrolyzed whey protein in an amount of between about 5 wt% to about 10 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; and one or more of: - Bifidobacterium lactis in an amount of between about 0.05 wt% to 0.1 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; - glucoamylase in an amount of between about 0.010 wt% to about 0.015 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; - alpha amylase in an amount of between about 0.005 wt% to 0.010 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; - calcium carbonate in an amount of between about 1 wt% to 2 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; - dibasic potassium phosphate (K2HPO4) in an amount of between about 0.5 wt% to about 1.5 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; and / or - iron (II) fumarate in an amount of between about 0.01 wt% to 0.03 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis.

3. The infant cereal product of claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the infant cereal product comprises: - rice flour in an amount of between about 75 wt% to 85 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; - corn oil in an amount of between about 5 wt.% and about 10 wt.% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; and - partially hydrolyzed whey protein in an amount of between about 5 wt% to about 10 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; - Bifidobacterium lactis in an amount of between about 0.05 wt% to 0.1 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; - glucoamylase in an amount of between about 0.010 wt% to about 0.015 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; - alpha amylase in an amount of between about 0.005 wt% to 0.010 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; - calcium carbonate in an amount of between about 1 wt% to 2 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; - dibasic potassium phosphate (K2HPO4) in an amount of between about 0.5 wt% to about 1.5 wt% based on the weight of the infant cereal product on a dry weight basis; and - iron (II) fumarate in an amount of between about 0.01 and 0.03 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product.

4. The infant cereal product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the infant cereal product comprises: - rice flour in an amount of about 80.7 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - corn oil in an amount of about 8.1 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; and - partially hydrolysed whey protein in an amount of about 7.6 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product.

5. The infant cereal product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the infant cereal product comprises: - rice flour in an amount of about 80.7 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - corn oil in an amount of about 8.1 wt.%, based on the weight of the infant cereal product, on a dry weight basis; - corn oil in an amount of about 8.1 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; and - partially hydrolysed whey protein in an amount of about 7.6 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; and one or more of: - Bifidobacterium lactis in an amount of about 0.08 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - glucoamylase in an amount of about 0.013 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - alpha amylase in an amount of about 0.007 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - calcium carbonate in an amount of about 1.7 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - di-potassium hydrogen phosphate (K2HP04) in an amount of about 1.2 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; and / or - iron (II) fumarate in an amount of about 0.02 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product.

6. The infant cereal product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the infant cereal product comprises: - rice flour in an amount of about 80.7 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - corn oil in an amount of about 8.1 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - partially hydrolysed whey protein in an amount of about 7.6 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - Bifidobacterium lactis in an amount of about 0.08 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - glucoamylase in an amount of about 0.013 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - alpha amylase in an amount of about 0.007 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - calcium carbonate in an amount of about 1.7 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; - di-potassium hydrogen phosphate (K2HP04) in an amount of about 1.2 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product; and - iron (II) fumarate in an amount of about 0.02 wt.%, on a dry weight basis, based on the weight of the infant cereal product.

7. The infant cereal product according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the infant cereal product comprises less than about 6 wt.% water, preferably less than about 5 wt.% water, more preferably less than about 3 wt.% water, by weight of the total infant cereal product.

8. The infant cereal product according to any one of the preceding claims, for use in the treatment and / or prevention of cow's milk allergy in a subject.

9. The infant cereal product according to claim 8, wherein the subject is at higher risk of cow's milk allergy.

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