Underneath the Flavor: rBST-Free Butter

When you think of Epicurean Butter, the first thing that comes to mind may be the flavor it brings to the food that you cook at home. But underneath all the flavor is our all-natural, rBST-free butter, pure and simple. But what is rBST, and why is rBST-free butter important to our compound butter recipes?

What is rBST?

Bovine somatotropin (BST), also known as bovine growth hormone (BGH), is a hormone naturally produced by cows. It’s released in small quantities and helps regulate metabolic processes. When given to lactating cows in large quantities, it helps boost milk production. The gene for BST was discovered and patented in the 1970s, making it possible for biotech companies to synthesize the hormone and make recombinant bovine somatotropin, or rBST/rBGH.

What’s the big deal?

On average, a cow given rBST produces 11-16% more milk, but there are health issues associated with it. The cows are treated with antibiotics as a result. There is debate about whether rBST and antibiotics are harmful to humans.

Here at Epicurean Butter, we believe in making the best flavored butter from start to finish. The simpler, the better. We hope you agree.

Learn more about Epicurean Butter in our blog, What Is Compound Butter?