For that to happen, Ms. O'Palka says a celebrity spokesperson would first have to soften public perception.

WSJ: Can a Food for Cows Make Healthier Snickerdoodles?

Ms. O'Palka studied the material years ago at a distillery, since it also gets spat out from making vodka or bourbon.

WSJ: Can a Food for Cows Make Healthier Snickerdoodles?

"It can be really tricky if it's something with a background that's associated with livestock, " says Jacquelynn O'Palka, chair of the department of nutrition and dietetics at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

WSJ: Can a Food for Cows Make Healthier Snickerdoodles?