what is a2 protein milk

2 minute read

  • Nutrition

Have You Heard of A2 Protein Milk?

Once upon a time, all cows naturally produced milk with only A2 protein. Since, things have changed but the trend back to A2 milk is growing fast, and we’ve introduced our Karicare Gold+ A2 Toddler Milk. Over the past thousands of years, cows have developed genetically and now produce up to 12 varieties of proteins, 95% of which are constituted of whey and casein proteins, like A1 and A2, which are the primary types of beta-casein proteins^.

 

These days, it’s more difficult to find cows that produce milk containing only A2 protein, so we’ve specially sourced our milk from select New Zealand farms. Karicare Gold+ A2 Protein Toddler Milk contains milk that is produced by cows that only produce A2 beta-casein protein in their milk, just like it used to be.

Made for Little Tummies

Our Karicare Gold Plus+ A2 Protein Toddler Milk is simply made for little tummies! It contains Omega-3 DHA, prebiotics and 16 key vitamins and minerals, including iron, calcium and vitamin D. Calcium and vitamin D help support normal bone development, and iron helps support normal cognitive development, as part of a varied, balanced diet. Plus, there are no added preservatives, artificial colours, or table sugar.

^Sodhi, M., et al., Milk Proteins and Human Health: A1/A2 Milk Hypothesis. Indian Journal of Endocrinol Metabolism, 2012.

Cows that only produce A2 protein in their milk

Freqently Asked Questions

The key ingredient of Karicare Gold+ A2 Protein Milk for Toddlers is a very simple one, fresh dairy milk. Five farms located in the cool, green Otago region of New Zealand’s South Island are the primary suppliers. These farms exclusively milk cows that have a special gene, meaning they produce milk that contains the A2 beta-casein protein variant. The farms are independently audited three times a year to ensure regulatory compliance and Karicare’s high standards are met. The cows themselves roam the lush pastures, grazing primarily on grass. They’re milked twice daily, and the raw milk is tested every day for purity and quality. Read more about how our product is made.

Milk contains both whey and casein proteins. Casein proteins come in different varieties including a specific type called beta-casein. Cows’ milk can contain up to 12 types of beta-casein! The relevant types of beta-casein in cows’ milk are A1 and A2.   The breed of the cow determines what types of beta-casein are contained in cows’ milk. Cows can produce purely A2, A1, or A1/A2 hybrids of beta-casein protein. A2 protein milk and A2 protein formula contain only A2 beta-casein protein because they come from cows producing only this type. Some people say they feel more comfortable after drinking the A2 protein only milk compared to standard cows’ milk(1,2).


  1. Jianqin, S., Leiming, X., Lu, X., Yelland, G. W., Ni, J., & Clarke, A. J. (2015). Effects of milk containing only A2 beta casein versus milk containing both A1 and A2 beta casein proteins on gastrointestinal physiology, symptoms of discomfort, and cognitive behavior of people with self-reported intolerance to traditional cows’ milk. Nutrition journal, 15(1), 35.
  2. Milan, Amber M., Aahana Shrestha, Helga J. Karlström, Jakob A. Martinsson, Nils J. Nilsson, Jo K. Perry, Li Day, Matthew PG Barnett, and David Cameron-Smith. "Comparison of the impact of bovine milk β-casein variants on digestive comfort in females self-reporting dairy intolerance: a randomized controlled trial." The American journal of clinical nutrition 111, no. 1 (2020): 149-160.

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