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, lactopontin provides the additional opportunity to stack ingredients, capitalize on synergies and create differentiated products leveraging ingredients consumers already know and trust.

Although lactopontin occurs naturally in milk, its use as a functional ingredient in nutrition and supplements has historically not been possible. 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.