Nutricia history

Mothers who could no longer breastfeed still used a wet nurse at the end of the 19th century. They hired other mothers to also breastfeed their children. If a wet nurse was (or at least) too expensive or not possible, a baby was given regular cow’s milk, diluted with water or not. However, cow’s milk differs greatly in composition from breast milk and was not yet pasteurized at that time. Partly because of this, 1 in 5 babies died before the first year of life.

Our long history

In 1894, Professor Alexander Backhaus from Germany succeeded in developing a food in his laboratory with a composition that was suitable for babies. This meant that newborn babies who were not breastfed could still be well nourished.

Backhaus spoke about his invention at an international conference in Berlin in 1896. Dr. Johannes van der Hagen was in the audience. He was a doctor and inspector of the Dutch Public Health Service. Together with his brother Martinus van der Hagen, an entrepreneur and owner of a margarine and dairy factory, he saw a new future for the dairy factory.
Johannes and Martinus contacted Professor Backhaus and he granted the brothers the rights to produce the first bottle feeding. In 1901 the company was named Nutricia. It quickly became popular as “The Minus of the Netherlands”.
Building on this success, Nutricia developed and continues to develop baby food and medical food for people from young to old. Customized nutrition for people who need an adapted diet for one reason or another.

1896 first patent on bottle feeding

Professor Backhaus’ patent for the world’s first bottle feeding was filed in July 1896.

1901 Nutricia founded

The name Nutricia comes from the name of Professor Backhuis’ laboratory: ‘Die Nutricia Zentrale’. The word Nutricia is derived from the Latin word for nourishment: ‘nutrire’.
Professor Backhaus’ expertise allowed the company to quickly build trust. Nutricia supported mothers and their children.

1902 Culture of care and service

Van der Hagen wanted to bring Nutricia’s nutrition closer to the people. He therefore opened stores in large cities and provincial towns.
Partners were also sought for smaller municipalities. All these partners received careful guidance in running their businesses.

1906 Nutricia will supply more

Due to the unique combination of medical know-how and knowledge about dairy, Nutricia also engaged in other innovations. For example, a “sugar-free” (low-lactose) milk was developed for diabetes patients and the first food product for people with goiter (a thyroid disorder, often due to a lack of iodine in the diet). These were the first medical nutritional products on the Dutch market.

1924 Takeover dairy factory in Cuijk

Due to the success and demand for specialized nutritional products, Nutricia moved its main (powder) production facilities. The Zuivelfabriek NV in Cuijk was taken over. This created space for the latest production technology. For almost 100 years, this factory has continued to produce specialized products for infants and young children with special nutritional needs for Nutricia.

1946 Own research center at Nutricia

It became increasingly clear that scientific research is an important basis for nutrition. Nutricia is therefore setting up the first research team with baby food laboratories. The research center was located in Zoetermeer

1950 Sharing knowledge

Nutricia’s knowledge of specialized nutrition has logically increased enormously over the years. There is currently a wealth of information about the importance of specific nutrition in (sick) children. Nutricia wanted to share this knowledge.

That’s why a team of Nutricia dietitians was introduced in 1950. They traveled – with all the knowledge about the latest research – throughout the Netherlands and to other countries to inform healthcare workers about the role of special nutrition.

1956 Medical nutrition

Initial nutrition for patients with phenylketonuria (PKU)

1970 First ready-made tube feeding

Nutricia produces the first ready-to-use tube feeding based on vegetables.

1986 Nutricia Consumer Service

Nutricia is starting a telephone service line where parents can go with questions about nutrition for children and pregnant women. This service line includes qualified dietitians.

1989 Nutricia Medical food service

A service line has also been started for questions about medical nutrition – The Enteral Nutrition Line.

This free Nutricia Child Nutrition Service & Nutricia Medical Nutrition Service can be reached by telephone, chat and email to answer questions.

1995 First prototype intestinal simulation model

Our scientists are always looking for ways to better understand how the nutrients that enter the body through food are digested by the body.
To understand digestion as best as possible, a model has been developed that simulates an intestine. This was developed together with academic and scientific partners. This model was a breakthrough in nutritional sciences and the first of its kind.

2013 Opening of the Nutricia Research Center in Utrecht

This ‘state of the art’ center is the center of scientific research into the impact of nutrition throughout life. Many universities and hospitals worldwide work together with Nutricia Research scientists.

2007 Danone acquires Nutricia

2007 was an important year for Nutricia: it became part of Danone. Danone became a world leader in health and nutrition at all stages of life. Nutricia strengthened Danone’s mission to support as many people as possible in their health through nutrition.

2019: New Nutricia factory

In 2019, Nutricia opened a new factory in Haps. An important step to continue to meet the demand for specialized infant nutrition. This modern Nutricia factory runs on 100% reusable electricity and 100% of the facility’s waste is reused, including all packaging waste. With a team full of passionate people, we are committed to our mission: bringing health through nutrition to as many people as possible.