Bovaer: What is the cattle feed additive and why is it leading to shoppers pouring milk down the toilet?

Customers are considering a boycott of three large supermarket chains due to their involvement in a new experiment aimed at incorporating a supplement that reduces methane emissions into cattle feed.

On November 26, Arla Foods, the owner of the largest dairy cooperative in the UK, revealed that it plans to begin utilizing the supplement.

The initiative seeks to address the methane emissions generated by cows during their digestive process, which contribute to climate change.

Arla announced that it will collaborate with Aldi, Morrisons, and Tesco to test a feed additive called Bovaer on 30 farms across the UK.

However, the announcement has faced significant backlash, with many British consumers expressing their intention to avoid shopping at all three supermarkets, as well as Arla products, particularly Lurpak butter.

Arla's post on X about the trial has received over five million views and attracted 13,000 comments.

Clips on TikTok featured some individuals tossing containers of Lurpak into the trash, while others disposed of cartons of Arla Cravendale milk by pouring them down the sink and into the toilet.

Bovaer is a feed additive for cattle, produced by DSM Firmenich, a company based in Switzerland and the Netherlands.

It is made to be broken down in the cow’s digestive system and swiftly transforms into natural substances that are already found in the cow's rumen, which is a part of its stomach.

Cows produce methane when they burp. Studies indicate that an additive can lower methane emissions from their digestive process by about 27% on average.

Cutting down on methane is crucial since it acts as a greenhouse gas that fuels global warming. According to government statistics, agriculture, particularly cattle farming, was responsible for 49% of the UK's methane emissions in 2021, the most recent year for which data is available.

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Nevertheless, there are still concerns regarding the lasting effectiveness and effects of additives like Bovaer on the health and well-being of animals.

According to DSM, Bovaer received approval in the UK in December 2023 and is now sold in 68 countries.

The company revealed that in the last ten years, the additive has been involved in over 150 global trials, with results featured in more than 85 articles in respected academic journals.

What has led to the criticism?

Some critics claim that Bovaer has "hazardous substances" that might harm cows and farmers, potentially leading to issues with fertility. Others contend that it hasn't undergone sufficient testing to ensure its safety.

"We'll no longer be purchasing milk or dairy products from Morrisons, Aldi, or Tesco. Goodbye," one user on X commented on the Arla Foods post.

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Another person commented, "I used to purchase your products frequently, especially protein shakes and yogurts. However, I won’t be doing so anymore until you stop using Bovaer. I will also be refusing to shop at Tesco, Morrisons, and Aldi as long as they remain involved in this matter."

Some people appeared to suggest that tech billionaire Bill Gates is tied to the trial.

One individual expressed their frustration by saying, "We don’t want our food to be tampered with. Pay attention to the situation. Stop supporting Bill Gates and allowing him to become even richer and more influential while treating us, the consumers, like guinea pigs."

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Even though he has faced criticism, the Microsoft co-founder is not participating in the Arla trial or the broader Bovaer project. However, last year he invested millions in a competing start-up called Rumin 8, which creates similar supplements.

Is Bovaer safe for use?

In response to the criticism, Arla issued a statement noting that a lot of false information has been spreading online. They expressed the need to clarify the situation by openly presenting the facts.

According to information from DSM Firmenich, Arla stated that Bovaer "does not transfer to humans when they consume dairy products."

It emphasized that Bovaer has received approval from both the European Food Safety Authority and the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA).

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"We are firmly dedicated to lessening our impact on the environment, but we will never compromise the health of our customers or the well-being of our animals in the process," the company stated.

A representative from the FSA stated, "Milk produced by cows that have been administered Bovaer, a feed supplement designed to lower methane emissions, is safe for consumption. Bovaer has been thoroughly evaluated for safety and has received approval for use in Great Britain."

An independent announcement on the DSM Firmenich website clarified that consumers do not come into contact with Bovaer, as it is not present in the milk or meat produced by the cow.

In response to the safety information provided for the product, which recommends that users wear masks and gloves while handling the additive, DSM explained that these practices are "fairly standard for feed supplements" to "make sure that workers are taking the necessary precautions."

The company expressed: "We trust in science and the importance of progress backed by solid evidence. This is why we have conducted thorough research on our product to guarantee its health benefits, safety, and effectiveness, as verified by comprehensive evaluations from Food Safety Authorities in the UK and EU."

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Paul Tompkins, the chair of the National Farmers' Union dairy board, mentioned that although products approved by the FSA may be beneficial for lowering methane emissions, there are still concerns regarding their long-term effectiveness, practical application on farms, and potential effects on animal health and welfare.

He emphasized the importance of having a solid foundation of evidence to ensure farmers feel confident in using these products. He also mentioned that the trial involving Arla, Morrisons, Aldi, and Tesco could play a key role in generating this evidence.

Sky News has reached out to Morrisons, Tesco, and Aldi for their responses.