Calls to boycott dairy company over methane-reducing food additive used to tackle burping cows

4 December 2024, 12:23 | Updated: 4 December 2024, 12:41

One the UK's biggest dairy companies is facing a public backlash after including a new controversial additive in its animal feed in a bid to tackle burping cows.

Arla Foods, a Danish-Swedish company which owns the UK’s biggest dairy cooperative and supplies three major high street supermarkets, is facing calls to backtrack over the trialling of the ingredient.

Bovaer, an additive that reduces the production of methane, is being added to the feed used by farms as part of a limited trial.

The additive reduces the amount of methane expelled by the animals - something the company marketed as being good for the planet.

Arla Foods announced the trial of the supplement last Tuesday in a bid to reduce the emissions of production lines.

However, the new ingredient has since caused widespread uproar across social media, with many customers threatening to boycott the brand and their products altogether.

Making the announcement on social media, Arla Foods noted the additive will be trialled across 30 British farms.

It's claimed the additive could reduce cow methane emissions by between 30-45%.

Among those raising concerns about the additive is Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe, who posted to X saying that he had asked the Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs to carry out an urgent review of the additive.

The original post by Arla, which has since been viewed nearly six million times, introduces the additive as something that “represents an amazing chance to reduce emissions on farm”.

However, many users were quick to criticise the move, taking a dislike to "untested" ingredients being added to the food chain.

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One X user by the name of June Slater responded: "We don't want this stuff you never asked us! Stop private jets Cop 29 saw 65,000 people meet up to talk rubbish . That's more emissions than any cows ! Shame on you all."

Another replied: "We will not be buying milk or dairy at Morrisons, Aldi or Tesco any longer. Ta ta."

A third added: "@ArlaFoodsUK you are making a huge mistake. Once word gets around people will avoid your products. We do not want that poison in our food. Change your plans or go bankrupt."

It comes despite the additive's approval for use by UK regulators.

Several major supermarkets will also stock milk produced by cattle consuming the additive.

Some users also posted baseless claims of a link to a “depopulation” plot - part of widespread misinformation campaign circulating online connecting various theories to US-billionaire Bill Gates.