In 2026, the results of one of the largest goat milk formula clinical trials ever conducted were published in the peer-reviewed journal Clinical Nutrition. Known as the GIraFFE study — short for Goat Infant Formula Feeding and Eczema — this independent academic research compared whole goat milk formula with standard cow milk formula in over 2,100 infants. This article explains what the study looked at, what it found, and why it matters for parents interested in goat milk.

What Is the GIraFFE Study?

The GIraFFE study is a large, rigorous clinical trial designed to compare whether whole goat milk formula and standard cow milk formula have different effects on the development of eczema (atopic dermatitis) in infants during the first year of life. It also tracked other outcomes including infant growth, digestive comfort, and quality of life.

The study was coordinated and managed by an independent academic institution — Professor Berthold Koletzko’s research team at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) Munich, one of Germany’s leading research universities, in collaboration with 10 research centres across Spain and Poland.

Why Was This Study Conducted?

Eczema is one of the most common skin conditions in infants, affecting around 14% of children in Europe during the first year of life. Earlier research had observed a possible difference in eczema rates between infants fed whole goat milk formula and those fed cow milk formula, but the sample sizes were too small to be conclusive. The GIraFFE study was designed to investigate this properly — at scale, with rigorous scientific controls.

How Was the Study Designed?

The GIraFFE study was a randomised, double-blind, controlled trial — the gold standard in clinical research. Here’s what that means in plain language:

• Randomised. Each infant was randomly assigned to receive either whole goat milk formula or standard cow milk formula, so that the two groups were as similar as possible to begin with.
• Double-blind. Neither the parents nor the researchers knew which formula each infant was receiving during the study, removing the possibility of bias in how outcomes were assessed.
• Controlled. Both formula types were compared directly against each other under identical conditions, with both meeting European Union nutritional standards for infant formula.

A total of 2,132 healthy, full-term infants were enrolled from 6 Spanish and 4 Polish research centres. Infants were enrolled before the age of 3 months, and their parents had already decided to use formula feeding independently of the trial. The study was designed carefully to avoid any interference with breastfeeding intentions or practices.

The formulas used in the study were manufactured in New Zealand by the same dairy goat co-operative that supplies the goat milk used in Karihome products. Infants were followed for their entire first year of life.

What Did the Study Find?

The study measured eczema outcomes in two ways: (1) eczema diagnosed by trained study personnel using strict clinical criteria (the primary outcome), and (2) eczema diagnosed by the children’s own doctors (a secondary outcome). Here is what each showed:

In plain language: across all infants, there was no difference in eczema rates when assessed using the most stringent clinical criteria. However, when looking at eczema diagnosed by the children’s own doctors — among infants who followed the study protocol throughout — the goat milk formula group had a meaningfully lower rate of eczema. This effect was especially pronounced in infants who had a parent with a history of eczema, where doctor-diagnosed eczema was 64% lower in the goat milk formula group.

Both formulas equally supported healthy growth. Infants in both groups showed no difference in weight or length at 12 months.

Note: The study authors note that the strict clinical eczema criteria used for the primary outcome may have missed milder forms of eczema, which could partly explain the difference in results between the two measures. The authors’ own conclusion states that whole goat milk formula “can reduce the incidence of atopic dermatitis in formula-fed infants in the first year of life, especially in the presence of parental history of atopic dermatitis.” Source: Grote V, Schlosser L et al., Clinical Nutrition 63 (2026) 106707.

Why Does Family History of Eczema Matter?

Having at least one parent with a history of eczema increases the risk of eczema in a child by two to three times. The GIraFFE study found that this is also the group where the difference between goat milk formula and cow milk formula was most pronounced. The researchers suggest this may be related to a higher predisposition to allergic sensitisation in these infants, which could make them more responsive to the differences in protein composition between the two formula types.

What Makes Whole Goat Milk Formula Different from Cow Milk Formula?

The GIraFFE researchers noted several structural differences between whole goat milk formula and cow milk formula that may contribute to the findings:

• Lower allergen content. Whole goat milk formula contains lower levels of key milk proteins associated with allergic responses, including alpha-S1-casein and beta-lactoglobulin, compared to standard cow milk formula.
• Softer curd formation. Goat milk formula tends to form a softer curd during digestion, which laboratory studies suggest may allow milk proteins to be broken down more efficiently — potentially reducing their allergenic potential.
• Milk fat and polar lipids. Whole goat milk formula retains milk fat and polar lipids from the milk fat globule membrane, which animal studies suggest may have beneficial effects on inflammatory pathways associated with eczema.

These are plausible mechanisms proposed by the researchers in the published paper — not confirmed as the definitive cause of the observed difference. Ongoing research continues to explore these pathways.

The Connection to Karihome

The formulas used in the GIraFFE study were manufactured in New Zealand by Dairy Goat Co-operative (NZ) Ltd — the same dairy goat co-operative that supplies the goat milk used across Karihome’s range of goat milk products. The New Zealand factory produces goat milk from grass-fed goats on local farms, processed to strict quality standards.

Karihome’s toddler and adult goat milk products — including Growing-Up Formula (Step 3), Pre-School Formula (Step 4), High Calcium Goat Milk Powder, and Gold Adult Goat Milk Powder — are all made from whole goat milk from this same source, retaining the same naturally occurring goat milk protein profile and fat composition that the GIraFFE study investigated.

Published Research Reference

Grote V, Schlosser L, Campoy C, et al. “Whole goat milk versus cow milk formula and atopic dermatitis in infants: A randomized clinical trial.” Clinical Nutrition 63 (2026) 106707.

→  Read the published paper (open access)

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the GIraFFE study?

The GIraFFE study (Goat Infant Formula Feeding and Eczema) is one of the largest randomised controlled trials ever conducted comparing whole goat milk formula and standard cow milk formula in infants. It was led by Professor Berthold Koletzko at LMU Munich and published in Clinical Nutrition in 2026.

How many infants participated in the GIraFFE study?

2,132 healthy, full-term infants were enrolled across 10 research centres in Spain and Poland. Each infant was randomly assigned to receive either whole goat milk formula or standard cow milk formula, and followed for their entire first year of life.

What were the main findings of the GIraFFE study?

Across all infants, there was no difference in eczema rates using the most stringent clinical diagnostic criteria. However, when looking at doctor-diagnosed eczema among infants who completed the study protocol, the goat milk formula group had a 34% lower incidence. Among infants with a family history of eczema, this difference was 64% lower in the goat milk formula group. Both formulas equally supported normal growth and development.

Does this mean goat milk formula treats eczema?

No. The GIraFFE study does not show that goat milk formula treats eczema. What it found is that, in a large well-controlled trial, infants fed whole goat milk formula had lower rates of doctor-diagnosed eczema compared to those fed cow milk formula — particularly among infants with a family history of eczema. This is a research finding, not a medical claim, and the study authors appropriately describe it as evidence that goat milk formula “can reduce the incidence” of eczema, not that it treats it. Parents with specific concerns about eczema or family allergy history should consult their doctor or paediatrician.

Is the GIraFFE study relevant to Karihome?

Yes. The formulas used in the GIraFFE study were manufactured by Dairy Goat Co-operative (NZ) Ltd — the same co-operative that supplies the goat milk used in Karihome’s products. The whole goat milk used in the study retains the same naturally occurring protein and fat composition found in Karihome’s goat milk range.

Where can I read the full GIraFFE study?

The paper is published as open access in Clinical Nutrition (2026) and can be read in full at the link below.

→  Read the GIraFFE study: Grote V et al., Clinical Nutrition 63 (2026) 106707

Should I choose goat milk formula for my child based on this study?

The GIraFFE study is an important contribution to scientific knowledge about goat milk formula. What it doesn’t do is tell individual families what formula to choose — that decision depends on your child’s specific needs, health history, and the advice of your paediatrician or healthcare professional. If your family has a history of eczema, the study findings may be worth discussing with your doctor.

Interested in Karihome’s goat milk range?

→  Explore Karihome’s goat milk range

→  Request a free sample of Karihome Growing-Up Formula