Expert's verdict on Arla Foods' 'Bovaer' following alarming claims that milk from Tesco, Morrisons...

Experts have commented on claims that milk available in the UK's leading grocery stores may soon contain an additive that is allegedly associated with health problems, such as cancer.

Consumers have warned they might stop buying dairy items such as milk and butter from the Danish company Arla, available at stores like Tesco, Morrisons, and Lidl. This comes after Arla revealed plans to test a feed supplement named Bovaer for their cows.

The substance that will be added to cattle feed aims to decrease the methane emissions generated during their digestion, a gas that plays a role in climate change.

Both European and UK regulators have classified it as a safe additive, as it does not end up in milk.

Nevertheless, social media is filled with assertions that the additive may lead to fertility problems and cancer.

Many people in the UK have turned to TikTok to post videos of themselves pouring dairy products down the toilet or tossing them in the trash.

Reform MP for Great Yarmouth and wealthy businessman Rupert Lowe also joined the conversation today, posting on Twitter that he plans to avoid any products that include Bovaer.

So, what’s the reality?

TikTok users have suggested that the additive may be cancer-causing, but specialists assert that this is not true.

TikTok users have posted videos showing their protest by tossing food items into the trash.

In an interview with MailOnline, specialists have reassured consumers that there's probably no cause for concern.

"According to Professor Gunter Kuhnle, a nutrition expert from the University of Reading, any additives used in agriculture must pass extensive evaluations by food safety agencies in both the UK and Europe before they can be approved for use."

Rob Hobson, a registered nutritionist, mentioned that since Bovaer has received approval from regulatory bodies in the UK and Europe, it is reasonable to conclude that milk from cows that have been given this product is safe for consumption.

"They won't permit anything to be used unless it meets safety regulations," he stated.

Bovaer is a mixture that includes silicon dioxide, propylene glycol, and an organic substance called 3-nitrooxypropanol, often abbreviated to 3-NOP.

Worries circulating on the internet about the additive mainly refer to official documents from regulatory bodies that discuss the safe management of the substance in large-scale industrial operations.

One statement from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) indicates that the product is not intended for human consumption.

It warns: "Be careful when using this product. 3-nitrooxypropanol can harm male fertility and reproductive health, may cause problems if inhaled, and can irritate the skin and eyes."

A man recorded a video of himself using Arla products, while informing his audience that they would be "headed right down the drain."

In a TikTok clip, a user who has more than 4,000 followers can be seen pouring out her bottle in the sink while saying, "goodbye Arla."

It suggests that anyone working with it should wear safety equipment, including eye protection, face masks, and gloves.

Concerns about its potential link to cancer stem from safety studies conducted on rats, which were evaluated by the UK's Food Standards Agency.

This section outlines findings from studies that indicate high doses of the product may raise the likelihood of cancer in female rodents.

Nonetheless, a subsequent analysis revealed that the disease rates were not significantly greater than those in the control group.

To sum up, the FSA determined: "Since there are no harmful tumors or genetic mutations present, we have concluded that the additive is not cancer-causing at the suggested usage level."

The assertions connecting the product to Bill Gates seem to stem from a misunderstanding. In early 2023, the Microsoft co-founder invested millions in Rumin8, which is a different company focused on creating similar supplements to reduce methane emissions.

Conspiracy theorists have inaccurately connected the two companies without any proof.

This seems to have resulted in a general skepticism regarding the ingredient, as people on social media are selectively sharing information that seems to connect Bovaer to health issues.

This afternoon, Rupert Lowe, the Reform MP for Great Yarmouth, joined the discussion and pledged to boycott those products.

Arla has strongly responded to what it calls 'totally untrue' 'misinformation' circulating on social media, especially regarding the mix-up between Bovaer and the Rumin 8 company, which received funding from Gates.

In response to the uproar on social media, a spokesperson for Arla stated, "The claims circulating online about our connection to Bill Gates are entirely untrue, and any assertions regarding his involvement with our products are incorrect."

The company that produces Bovaer, Dsm-firmenich, has also cautioned that the testing has resulted in 'falsehoods and misleading information' regarding the feed.

In a statement, they reassured the public that as long as Bovaer is used as directed, it does not get into milk and thus does not make its way to consumers.

The supplement is uniquely formulated to dissolve in a cow's digestive system and rapidly breaks down into naturally occurring substances that are already found in the rumen of a cow, the Dutch-Swiss multinational company explained.

Bovaer's safety guidelines recommend that individuals use masks and gloves while working with the additive to minimize potential hazards from tiny dust particles.

However, this is a 'standard document' created for employees in processing plants, as Dsm-firmenich pointed out.

This simply guarantees safe usage, and these kinds of practices are quite typical in the feed industry.

In a TikTok video that has gone viral, a user can be seen dumping her Arla milk down the sink while declaring, "No Arla in my home."

In a recent TikTok video released yesterday, a woman was seen pouring her bottle of Arla down the toilet and then flushing it.

In a TikTok clip that has garnered more than 207,000 views, a man highlights his bottle of semi-skimmed milk from Asda, which features the label 'sourced from Arla farms'.

He says, "This is going to waste, and I won't purchase Asda milk anymore."

In another instance, a woman is observed pouring the contents of her Arla bottle into the toilet and then flushing it away.

"That's about as near as it will be," she comments. "From now on, we’ll be using milk sourced from our area."

In a different TikTok video, a user who has more than 4,000 followers is seen pouring out her bottle into the sink and saying, "Goodbye, Arla."

In discussing the product's safety, an Arla representative emphasized, "Ensuring the health and safety of our consumers and animals is our top priority."

Bovaer has been widely and safely utilized throughout Europe, and throughout the entire trial, there will be no effect on the milk we produce, as it does not transfer from the cow to the milk.

Regulatory organizations like the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the UK Food Standards Agency have given their approval for its use. This decision is based on data showing that it doesn't harm animals or adversely affect their health, productivity, or the quality of milk they produce.

A representative from the FSA stated, "Milk from cows treated with Bovaer, a feed additive designed to lower methane emissions, is safe for consumption. Bovaer has been thoroughly evaluated for safety and is authorized for use in Great Britain."

A representative from Bovaer mentioned, "This has been created to address the necessity of lowering methane emissions."

It's a type of feed supplement that cows digest, which means it doesn't end up in the milk.

It has undergone extensive testing for several years across various countries. It is completely safe and has received approval from regulatory authorities in the UK, the US, and numerous other nations.