Outrage builds as 'Franken-milk' made in labs prepares to hit stores

"Dubbed UnReal Milk, the new beverage is not produced by real animals, but comes from large lab tanks called bioreactors that use special animal cells which produce the same proteins, fats, and carbs found in regular cow's milk. The makers of the milk alternative, Brown Foods, plan to start selling UnReal Milk in US stores in 2026, with public taste tests happening now."

"The company revealed it has a green light to sell their milk because it is using 'generally recognized as safe' (GRAS) ingredients and self-affirming its own safety data. It's a common path many new food companies use instead of waiting years for full FDA approval. Co-founder of Brown Foods Sohail Gupta even told Forbes: 'Though we are starting with cow milk, using our technology we can produce milk of any mammalian species, including human milk.'"

"Brown Foods and scientists testing UnReal Milk at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) said the product is better for the planet than cow's milk because it cuts greenhouse gases, uses less water to produce, and needs less land than traditional dairy farming. Advocates of the lab-grown drink also claimed it was more reliable, not being affected by droughts, illnesses within cows, or major price swings because of supply issues, adding it could help feed people in places where real cows can't live."

UnReal Milk is a cell-cultured beverage produced in bioreactors using animal cells that generate the same proteins, fats, and carbohydrates as cow's milk. Brown Foods plans retail rollout in the U.S. in 2026 and is conducting public taste tests now. The company self-affirmed safety using GRAS ingredients rather than waiting for full FDA approval. The technology can reportedly produce milk from any mammalian species, including human milk. Advocates claim environmental and supply-chain benefits such as lower greenhouse gases, reduced water and land use, and greater reliability. Critics, including dairy farmers and some nutrition experts, have raised concerns.

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