Brown Foods, a Y Combinator-backed start-up based in Boston, has introduced UnReal Milk, a lab-made whole cow milk.

This product is engineered to replicate the taste and nutritional profile of traditional cow milk while significantly reducing environmental impact.

Brown Foods uses mammalian cell culture technology to produce UnReal Milk, which contains the essential proteins, fats and carbohydrates that constitute 99% of conventional dairy milk. This approach distinguishes it from existing plant-based alternatives, offering a product that aims to deliver the same sensory and functional attributes as traditional dairy.

Dr Bhavna Tandon, chief scientific officer at Brown Foods, showcased the product at the company's laboratory, noting its potential to be transformed into various dairy products such as butter, cheese and ice cream. “Our technology allows us to produce all components of milk together, which is a significant advancement in the field,” she stated.

An independent analysis conducted by the Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research confirmed the presence of key dairy proteins in UnReal Milk, including various caseins and whey proteins, further validating the scientific foundation of Brown Foods' innovation.

This validation represents a critical step towards commercial viability, as the company aims to refine its product for consumer testing by late 2025.

The production of UnReal Milk is designed to be markedly more sustainable than conventional dairy farming, boasting an estimated 82% reduction in carbon emissions, 90% less water usage and 95% less land requirement.

With growing concerns about climate change and resource scarcity, the introduction of lab-grown dairy products may offer a viable solution to meet the increasing global demand for sustainable food sources.

Sohail Gupta, co-founder and CEO of Brown Foods, added: “Our goal is to create dairy products that consumers love while addressing significant environmental challenges”.

The potential applications of UnReal Milk extend beyond Earth, with implications for food supply in space exploration and remote areas lacking traditional dairy farming infrastructure.

While Brown Foods positions itself as a pioneer in lab-grown milk, it enters a competitive landscape where other start-ups have also sought to produce similar products.

The company has made rapid progress since its founding in 2021, leveraging a team with extensive expertise in synthetic biology and bioprocess engineering. To date, Brown Foods has raised $2.3 million from notable investors, including AgFunder and Collaborative Fund.

Looking ahead, Brown Foods plans to launch version 2.0 of UnReal Milk, which will aim to enhance the product's quality by removing residual components from the production process. The company is also employing artificial intelligence to optimise bioprocessing, which could expedite its path to market readiness.

Other companies working in the dairy milk space

Several companies have ventured into the production of lab-grown milk, each using different technologies and approaches.

Here are some notable players in the field:

1. Perfect Day

One of the most recognised names in lab-grown dairy, Perfect Day uses fermentation technology to create dairy proteins without animals. Their products include ice cream and cream cheese made with these proteins.

5. Soma

Soma is working on producing lab-grown milk through cell culture techniques, focusing on creating a product that mimics the taste and nutritional profile of traditional dairy.

2. New Culture

Focused on cheese production, New Culture employs precision fermentation to create casein proteins, which are essential for cheese-making. Their goal is to produce mozzarella without the use of cows.

3. Mammoth Creamery

This company specialises in creating high-fat ice cream using fermentation technology. They aim to replicate the creamy texture and flavour of traditional ice cream while being animal-free.

4. Dairy Farmers of America (DFA)

The DFA has invested in lab-grown dairy technologies and is exploring ways to integrate these innovations into their product lines.

6. Elysium

Elysium aims to produce lab-grown milk using cellular agriculture methods, with a focus on sustainability and environmental impact.