U.S. dairy targets aging and obesity with smart nutrition

The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) is a non-profit membership organization representing U.S. dairy farmers, processors, and exporters, dedicated to expanding international market access and fostering nutrition-driven innovation. With a strong presence in Southeast Asia through its Singapore office, USDEC actively supports local food and beverage manufacturers with technical expertise, market insights, and product development.

At Fi Asia 2025 in Bangkok, USDEC showcased a diverse range of dairy-based prototypes—from protein-enriched beverages to functional snacks—designed to address health priorities such as weight management, fitness recovery, and healthy aging.

In this interview, FoodPacific Manufacturing Journal spoke with Martin Teo, Senior Director of Food Applications and Innovation, a veteran with over 30 years’ experience in food innovation, R&D, and quality assurance, and Joanne Tey, Senior Manager of Food Applications and Innovation, who brings more than 25 years of expertise in food manufacturing, product development, and food safety. Together, they lead USDEC’s technical team in Southeast Asia, helping manufacturers unlock the potential of U.S. dairy ingredients through innovation, training, and collaboration.

How can U.S. dairy support healthy aging in areas such as muscle, bone, and cognitive health?

Southeast Asia’s aging population is growing rapidly.  As people live longer, many are increasingly concerned about maintaining mobility, independence, and quality of life. One key challenge is sarcopenia, the gradual loss of muscle mass and strength. High-quality proteins are critical in addressing this, and U.S. dairy ingredients such as whey, milk, and casein proteins provide all essential amino acids. Whey protein, in particular, is rich in leucine, which plays a pivotal role in stimulating muscle protein synthesis.

Beyond protein, U.S. dairy ingredients also deliver essential vitamins and minerals. Skim milk powder is a valuable source of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium for bone health, while using permeate can help reduce sodium in food and beverage formulations.

The versatility of U.S. dairy ingredients makes it suitable for culturally relevant products such as ready-to-drink beverages, functional powders, fortified yogurts, desserts, and on-the-go snacks. These applications allow manufacturers to create tailored solutions that support healthy aging while aligning with Asia’s senior consumer preferences.

With obesity on the rise in Southeast Asia, how can dairy proteins, reduced-fat formulations, and functional ingredients contribute to effective weight management?

Dairy proteins play an important role in supporting weight management goals by promoting satiety, preserving lean muscle mass during calorie restriction, and supporting long-term metabolic health. Whey and milk protein concentrates and isolates are especially effective in these areas.

When developing weight management products, reduced fat and sugar with protein fortification is essential to manage calorie intake. U.S. dairy ingredients can be easily incorporated into appealing formats such as high-protein beverages or snacks.

A good example is USDEC’s Protein Matcha Latte prototype, showcased at Fi Asia. Each serving delivers 19 grams of protein, with only 4.3 grams of sugar and 1.6 grams of fat. This demonstrates how U.S. dairy ingredients like whey protein, permeate, and skim milk powder can create targeted, appealing options for weight-conscious consumers in Southeast Asia.

Product concepts showcased at Fi Asia held from September 17-19, 2025 

Which dairy-based product formats hold the greatest potential in Asia’s efforts to address obesity and age-related health issues?

Dairy-based innovation holds strong potential to play a central role in Southeast Asia’s evolving health landscape, particularly in supporting weight management, overall wellness, and the prevention of age-related muscle loss. Two product categories show especially strong promise:

  Protein-added snacks: With rising interest in protein for satiety and muscle health, snacks fortified with dairy proteins are becoming increasingly popular. By adapting flavours Aand textures in format beyond the traditional sports nutrition segment to regional tastes, these products appeal not only to active consumers but also to older adults seeking convenient, protein-rich options, while helping manage portion sizes and reducing overeating.

  Fermented dairy beverages: Products such as yogurt drinks and kefir are gaining traction for their probiotic and digestive health benefits. Their light, refreshing formats, combined with adaptability to local preferences, make them suitable for daily consumption.

Together, these categories showcase the versatility of U.S. dairy in creating health-focused innovations that resonate with Asian consumers while addressing key challenges of obesity and aging.

Is there new scientific evidence highlighting the role of U.S. dairy in promoting healthy aging and weight management?

In a recent U.S. Dairy Nutrition Conference in Bangkok, more than 130 regional experts, including nutrition scientists, dietitians, and healthcare professionals, discussed the growing body of scientific research and examined the expanding and growing evidence of how nutritionally high-quality U.S. dairy proteins can support regional nutrition strategies.

The key insights included:

• Protein quality matters: Dairy proteins such as whey, milk, and casein are complete, highly digestible, and rich in essential amino acids—making them valuable for muscle preservation, metabolic health, and functional independence in older adults.
• Protein needs unmet: Many Southeast Asians, particularly older adults, fall short on both protein quality and quantity. Experts emphasized distributing protein more evenly across meals and prioritizing leucine-rich dairy proteins to reduce sarcopenia risk.
• Role in weight management: Dairy proteins were highlighted for supporting satiety, preserving lean mass, and improving body composition during weight loss—all critical factors in tackling obesity.

The USDEC team Southeast Asia at Fi Asia 2025

How does the USDEC’s new ideation hub help brands in Southeast Asia?

The U.S. Center for Dairy Excellence (CDE) in Singapore serves as a regional hub across Southeast Asia for collaboration, innovation, and training. Its purpose is to demonstrate how U.S. dairy ingredients can be seamlessly applied to local food and beverage products that deliver both taste and nutrition.

Our center regularly hosts thematic workshops, technical training, and customer engagement sessions. For example, a recent workshop on healthy aging provided practical tools for translating the functionality of U.S. dairy ingredients into practical applications in regionally relevant product innovation.

Beyond workshops, USDEC’s technical team works directly with the regional customers to understand their formulation challenges and product development goals. This allows us to provide targeted support, from optimizing taste and texture to optimizing nutritional impact, all while maintaining cultural relevance.

Ultimately, the U.S. CDE is more than a physical space; it is a collaborative platform that enables U.S. dairy ingredients to be applied that address real consumer health needs across Southeast Asia.

What are some of these collaborations?

USDEC works closely with Southeast Asian academic institutions to co-develop the targeted nutrition solutions and prototypes using U.S. dairy ingredients that address nutritional needs at various life stages. Some of these innovations are designed for older adults, combining U.S. dairy proteins such as whey protein isolate and milk protein concentrate to support muscle health, satiety, and blood glucose control.

Examples include low-glycemic, high-protein snacks like black sesame protein spread and gluten-free protein cookies, developed to help manage diabetes and reduce the risk of sarcopenia. Another innovation is a higher-protein, dysphagia-friendly pudding tailored for seniors with swallowing difficulties. It maintains smooth textures and familiar flavours, ensuring both safety and cultural relevance.

These prototypes show how U.S. dairy ingredients can be adapted to local dietary preferences while addressing aging and obesity-related concerns and opportunities.