Better Dairy Clears US Safety Hurdle for Human-Sequence Osteopontin Ahead of Supplement Launches

London-based precision fermentation company Better Dairy has received self-affirmed GRAS status in the US for its yeast-derived version of the milk protein osteopontin, known as lactopontin. This determination allows the ingredient to be used in food and supplement products, with launches planned for the near future. The company's independent expert panel unanimously concluded that lactopontin is safe for its intended uses based on a safety dossier covering the ingredient's composition, manufacturing process, and purity.

Better Dairy describes itself as the first supplier of precision-fermented lactopontin, made from the human osteopontin sequence. CEO Jevan Nagarajah sees lactopontin as an opportunity to bring a naturally occurring signaling protein into nutrition and supplements, potentially creating a new generation of functional products. The company, which originally focused on animal-free casein for aged cheeses, is now targeting adult nutrition categories such as healthy aging, gut health, immunity, and sports recovery with lactopontin, with plans for expansion into early life nutrition and regulatory filings in other regions.