Better Dairy has achieved Self-Affirmed GRAS (Generally Recognized as Safe) status for its precision-fermented lactopontin ingredient, marking a major step towards the commercialization of a new generation of nutrition products in the US.
Better Dairy now offers both the world’s first supply of precision-fermented lactopontin and the only commercially available source of lactopontin in the US, giving brands and consumers the first opportunity to access this exciting ingredient.
Lactopontin is a protein that occurs naturally in human and bovine milk and plays a key role in biological signaling pathways associated with tissue growth, repair and renewal. Rather than simply providing another source of nutrition, lactopontin works alongside the body's own biological processes, creating a wide range of new opportunities for the development of products targeting healthy aging, gut health, immunity building, joint health, skin health and sports recovery.
Lactopontin is highly synergistic with other, more established, functional ingredients such as collagen, lactoferrin and probiotics. Rather than replace them, lactopontin offers an additional opportunity to stack ingredients, capitalize on synergies, and create differentiated products that leverage ingredients consumers already know and trust.
Although lactopontin occurs naturally in milk, it has historically not been used as a functional ingredient in nutrition and supplements. This is set to change now that Better Dairy has developed a high-quality supply of lactopontin, with the Self GRAS determination establishing a safety basis and a cleared path to launch in the US. It follows the development of an extensive safety dossier covering the ingredient's composition, manufacturing process, purity, specifications and safety.
Based on the evidence presented, an independent panel of qualified experts unanimously concluded that Better Dairy’s lactopontin is safe under its intended conditions of use. Better Dairy is now working with customers to launch new products containing lactopontin in the coming months.
Jevan Nagarajah, Founder and CEO of Better Dairy, said: "For decades, nutrition has largely been about giving the body more of something – more protein, more vitamins, more minerals. We believe the next big opportunity is different – it's about understanding how nutrition can help the body make better use of its own biology. Lactopontin represents that opportunity. We're bringing a naturally occurring signaling protein into nutrition and supplements, with the potential to create an entirely new generation of functional products. Achieving Self-Affirmed GRAS is a key step for us. It means we're moving beyond our foundations, developing world-leading science, and opening the door to real commercial applications. We're now ready to work with customers who are equally excited to bring this new functionality and next-generation products to consumers."
