DuPont Nutrition & Health has announced that all dairy components for producing cultures will be obtained from recombinant bovine somatotropin (rBST)-free sources moving forward.

The company said it has identified reliable local sources and a backup supply for rBST-free ingredients as well as ensured certification from all suppliers. The move is in response to consumer preference.

“As transparency becomes the norm, dairy producers can have the confidence in DuPont sourcing for all ingredients used to make cultures,” said Jeff Lambeseder, regional product manager/cultures. “Requests for rBST-free have increased, so we set our sights on all of the necessary certified dairy sources and were able to accomplish this next milestone in our cultures offerings.”

Consumers are becoming more demanding regarding ingredients, and the desire for rBST-free dairy products is part of a broader trend toward "clean" label food and fewer artificial ingredients. While rBST-free had been widely available in Europe, the company has now made this possible for North America through local options.

“We have been working diligently on local dairy sources,” Lambeseder said. “Making sure all the proper documentation and certification was in place has taken a while, but we can now give our customers the assurance they desire.”

While the U.S. Food & Drug Administration has ruled that there is no significant difference between milk from cows treated with rBST and cows that were not treated, the decision to remove rBST was made in response to global consumer preference. This change complements other DuPont Nutrition & Health offerings for the dairy industry, the company said.