Opalia, a Canadian cell-based dairy producer, announced the replacement of its cell growth substrate, ‘fetal bovine serum’ (FBS) with an animal-free alternative, bringing it closer to commercialisation. 

While FBS is derived from the placenta of pregnant cows which could be expensive, contaminating, and variable between batches, the replacement substrate (which is FDA-approved) should help to ethically cultivate mammary cell lines while reducing the cost and risk of production. The startup claims that its animal-free milk contains all the functional components of conventional milk including the six main proteins (two whey proteins and four casein proteins) and milk fats. 

Founded in 2020, Opalia (formerly Bettermilk) is the first Canadian company to produce whole milk using mammary epithelial cells. The company claims that it can customize protein concentrations and fat percentages to produce the desired specification of milk. Opalia plans to collaborate with companies using milk as an ingredient to expand its product range from food to cosmetics and pharmaceuticals.