French food company Danone has opened a €240m Nutricia facility in Cuijk, the Netherlands, to meet the demand for specialised infant formula.

The facility will produce standard infant formula, as well highly specialised formula for children with specific medical conditions such as a cow’s milk protein allergy.

The plant will employ a specific manufacturing process called hydrolysation, which breaks down milk protein into smaller fragments.

Danone claims that infant formula produced through this process is less likely to trigger an allergic reaction in infants.

Danone Specialised Nutrition executive vice-president Veronique Penchienati-Bosetta said: “Our new Nutricia Cuijk facility is a significant investment towards achieving that vision.

“At this facility, we’ll be producing food for vulnerable babies, and we’re also doing everything we can to preserve a healthy and clean environment for future generations.

“Producing such highly specialised infant formula, our new facility builds on the scientific heritage of Nutricia, coupled with the latest green technologies,” Penchienati-Bosetta added.

Nutricia Cuijk’s facility will employ nearly 500 people once fully operational. It will produce more than 600 different products, including brands such as Aptamil and Nutrilon, for clients in more than 90 countries.

The French food company added that the Cuijk facility will have twice the production capacity of its local legacy plant.

Powered by 100% renewable electricity, the plant will consume 60% less water, 25% less energy and emit 50% less CO_2.