Better Dairy secures US regulatory status for fermented milk protein

London-based startup Better Dairy has achieved self-affirmed Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) status for its precision-fermented lactopontin. This milestone allows the company to introduce the ingredient to the US nutrition and supplements market.

Lactopontin, also known as osteopontin, is a signaling protein found in both human and bovine milk that is linked to biological pathways for tissue growth, repair, and renewal. Better Dairy’s version is produced via precision fermentation and is structurally identical to the native protein found in human milk.

The company intends to position lactopontin as a functional nutrition solution for applications including healthy aging, gut health, immune support, joint and skin health, and sports recovery. Better Dairy plans to notify the FDA of its GRAS determination next year, with the ingredient expected to enter the market through finished products in the first quarter of 2027.