Cow feed additive query spotlighted at December’s Green Café. Following recent media reports that Arla Foods, a Danish-Swedish company based in Viby, Denmark, which owns the UK’s biggest dairy cooperative (with a site located in Settle) had announced that 30 of its farms across the country would test the additive, named Bovaer.
The company behind Bovaer – which is added in small quantities to cow feed – says it could reduce cow methane emissions by between 30-45%. The additive has been approved by UK regulators, and several major supermarkets will stock milk produced by cattle eating feed with the additive.
However, concerns have been raised by thousands of people on social media about the use of Bovaer, citing issues around the safety of certain compounds used in it. The BBC News web site reports that some consumers have threatened to boycott products from leading supermarkets in anger over the trial, while some farmers have taken to social media to inform consumers that they don’t use Bovaer.
Writing in the Country section of Yorkshire Post on 14 December, editor, Stuart Minting points out that the additive has been approved by the UK regulators and goes on to say that opponents have highlighted Food Standards Agency Report last year ‘that one of the compounds, 3-NOP, “should be considered corrosive to the eyes, a skin irritant and potentially harmful by inhalation” to humans who come into contact with it. He continues: ”Scientists have also outlined how the concerns were due to a misunderstanding of a letter from the UK regulators which advised people to take precautions when handling Bovaer’s active ingredient.
“UK regulators have also highlighted a study which found ‘that the additive is not carcinogenic at the recommended inclusion rate’. The SFA added: ’Milk from cows given Bovaer, a feed additive used to reduce methane emissions, is safe to drink’. Experts say no trace of the compounds would be found in dairy produce, as it is broken down in the cow’s stomach. Analysts have found people with a history of spreading conspiracy theories and had previously shared anti-vaccine and climate change denying comment had also shared concerns over Bovaer.”
The BBC reports that the National Farmers Union says 15 years of trials have proved there is no risk to consumers or animals – that Bovaer breaks down in a cow’s digestive system and is not present in milk or meat.