A New Seal for a New Standard: Brian Burgett’s ‘NonBCM7 Certified’ Vision for A2 Dairy
- Dave Price
- 5 hours ago
- 4 min read
When lifelong dairy enthusiast and former IT professional Brian Burgett began researching milk digestion, it wasn’t for a new business venture. It was for his daughter. What began as a personal mission to help her navigate dairy sensitivities has evolved into a potentially industry-shifting proposal: a new certification seal for A2 milk products, called “NonBCM7 Certified.”
BCM-7 – “beta-casomorphin-7, is a peptide derived from the digestion of the milk protein beta-casein, particularly from the A1 variant commonly found in cow’s milk. When A1 beta-casein breaks down in the digestive tract, it can release BCM-7, which has opioid-like effects in the body, meaning it can bind to opioid receptors and influence physiological processes.
“She was experiencing some health issues,” Burgett told American Farmland Owner from his office in Columbus, Ohio. “… allergy testing, functional testing. They (doctors) told her, ‘You need to go gluten-free, dairy-free.’ And I started asking questions, because dairy’s in my blood… I couldn’t just let it drop.”
Brian Burgett bio:
www.nonbcm7.com – President/Founder
Farmland owner – Nebraska
University of Nebraska – B.S. Animal Science
Dairy industry worker -- Nebraska
Burgett’s curiosity, grounded in his background in animal science and dairy studies at the University of Nebraska, led him to dig into the differences between traditional A1 milk and the increasingly popular A2 milk, which is produced by cows that only produce the A2 beta-casein protein.
“A2… is a certain type of protein within cow’s milk that doesn’t cause discomfort and digestion problems,” Burgett said. “So that was always in my mind. And when my daughter went through this, I started looking at A2 milk and had her try it. That seemed to help.”
Over time, Burgett’s scientific curiosity turned into a new mission: helping consumers easily identify dairy products that don’t cause the digestive distress many associate with traditional milk.
His solution? A standardized seal of certification that clearly marks products made from milk free of the problematic BCM-7 peptide, a byproduct of A1 beta-casein digestion.
Creation of NonBCM7 Certified
“I created the term ‘NonBCM7,’ and I’ve got a trademark on that,” Burgett explained. “What my seal would be is ‘NonBCM7 Certified.’”
At this stage, Burgett says education is key. “My primary goal right at the moment is starting to educate people,” he said. “And my daughter… she’s kind of joining me with it. Since she’s younger, she knows social media, so she’s gonna help me on that side of things.”
His website aims to provide straightforward, data-driven comparisons between true dairy and plant-based alternatives. “I’ve pulled the USDA nutrition value for milk, and side-by-side I have the plant-based—almond, oat, soy—all that,” he explained. “Just comparing, showing how nutritious, naturally nutritious, milk is.”
For Burgett, the problem isn’t milk itself. He believes that it is misunderstanding about it.
“Everyone thinks it’s cool to be dairy-free,” he said. “And some people truly need to be. But for the most part, I’m trying to create a premium dairy classification. If you want to think about like NonGMO or gluten-free—kind of that same thing.”
Purpose of NonBCM7 Certified
Burgett’s “NonBCM7 Certified” seal would communicate functional benefits, including what the product does for the consumer, not just its genetic origin. “A2 is kind of the genetic, ‘What is it?’ Mine is, ‘What’s it do for you?,’” he explained.
He envisions a future where consumers walking down the dairy aisle will recognize a familiar, trustworthy seal indicating that the milk, cheese, or ice cream in their cart is easier on digestion and free from BCM-7 reactions.
The Science Behind the NonBCM7 Seal
The “NonBCM7” concept stems from growing evidence that BCM-7, a peptide released during A1 milk digestion, may cause digestive discomfort in some consumers. “If you have A1 milk, it’ll cause the digestive issues,” Burgett said.
While A2 milk avoids this issue, many consumers remain unaware of why it matters. Burgett’s seal would simplify that communication.
He’s aware, though, that scientific validation and industry partnerships will be critical.
“That would probably be helpful,” he acknowledged when asked about endorsements from scientific or health organizations. “There’s a lot of studies out there around this, especially pointing toward digestion. I’m just focused on, you know, I want to drink milk—or somebody may want to drink milk—and not have that reaction,” Burgett said.
The Future of NonBCM7 Certified
Burgett envisions his seal helping rejuvenate confidence in traditional dairy. “I’m hoping that it can become a revolution within the dairy industry,” Burgett said. “Plant-based products have made it hard for true dairy. Maybe this’ll help promote clean dairy for people.”
What began as a father’s effort to help his daughter enjoy milk again has evolved into a proposal that could reshape how consumers think about dairy quality and digestion. Burgett’s “NonBCM7 Certified” seal could soon stand alongside “gluten-free” and “NonGMO” labels as a trusted mark of transparency and health awareness.
“Ultimately,” he said, “I’m just trying to make it easy for consumers to know which dairy is good for them.”
