USA – Tamarack Biotics, a food technology company based in Fresno, California, has received approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its non-thermal UV light-based milk treatment process.
The company’s TruActive technology is designed to eliminate pathogens in milk without the use of heat, enabling products that retain the enzymes, proteins, and immunity-supporting compounds often degraded during pasteurization.
According to Tamarack, the TruActive process produces a safe milk equivalent with the taste and creaminess of raw milk. The company noted that its method achieves a higher level of safety compared to traditional thermal pasteurization while using less energy.
“Safe treatment of milk hasn’t fundamentally changed in over 150 years,” said Bob Comstock, CEO of Tamarack Biotics.
“Our UV process brings milk safety into the 21st century without sacrificing its nutritional value.”
The FDA’s determination confirms that the TruActive process meets efficacy criteria for pasteurization.
Its initial application will focus on powdered dairy ingredients such as whey protein concentrate, milk protein concentrate, and lactoferrin, a bioactive compound supporting immune health.
Tamarack has begun expanding the process to other dairy products including cheese, yogurt, kefir, and colostrum, and anticipates regulatory acceptance for treating liquid raw milk as early as 2027.
The TruActive process was developed to address growing consumer demand for raw and minimally processed foods while mitigating the food safety risks associated with unpasteurized milk.
Recent studies in Europe have shown that raw milk consumption may protect children from allergies such as asthma, eczema, and food sensitivities. However, concerns over harmful bacteria and parasites remain a barrier to raw milk sales in many jurisdictions.
In a clinical trial at the University of California, Davis, milk protein concentrate treated with TruActive restored immune function in aging populations. Tamarack Biotics stated that its technology delivers the compounds believed to support allergy protection, without the safety risks linked to traditional raw milk consumption.
Last year, West Virginia passed legislation easing restrictions on raw milk sales. Following celebrations with unpasteurized milk, several state politicians reported illness, although health officials later investigated the cause.
Tamarack Biotics emphasized that its TruActive process is not another form of pasteurization, but a non-thermal alternative that preserves milk’s nutritional properties while ensuring pathogen elimination.