A nutritional composition for use in enhancing an individual's mucosal innate immune response to pathogens is disclosed. The nutritional composition includes about 0.05 to about 0.5 mg/mL 2'-FL, about 0.05 to about 0.5 mg/mL LNnT, or a combination of both. The enhancing of the individual's mucosal innate immune response to pathogens comprises at least one of increased expression of innate immune receptors, increased expression of innate immune cytokines, and increased expression of innate immune defense proteins.Also disclosed is a method for enhancing an individual's mucosal innate immune detection of pathogens. The method includes a step of administering a nutritional composition to the individual.
