Popular dairy company, Arla, is being boycotted by customers and farmers over their new products.
These products are everyday items, such as milk and butter.
But it’s how they’re made which is the subject of controversy.
They’re made from cows that have been fed with Bovaer.
Bovaer is an additive that aims to reduce methane gas emission in dairy cows – with reports saying it could reduce these emissions by between 30-45%.
It’s been approved by UK regulators and these products are being trial sold in major UK supermarkets such as Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi.
However, social media users have been boycotting this trial, with worries about what Bovaer is made out of it and the impact it could have on people.
With videos being posted of people throwing milk down the sink, and questioning compounds found within Bovaer and if products made from cows raised on it are safe for human consumption.
Farmers have even raised concerns, with some saying they will not use the feed because of what’s in it.
Rebecca Mayhew, a Norfolk dairy farmer and owner of Old Hall Farm, Woodton in South Norfolk has expressed that using Bovaer is not the right thing to do.
She says that using methane treating additives, like Bovaer, is not the correct method to address climate problems.
“We’re treating cows like they’re the problem with all our climate change problems.”
And that research into Bovaer and other similar products will not provide the results we want to help the planet.
“It’s a waste of time and money.” and that we’re “throwing money at a problem that isn’t there.”
At Old Hall Farm they produce ‘RAW Milk’, which is milk that “has not been processed in any way – just filtered, cooled and bottled.” – Old Hall Farm.
The dairy farm has now put a statement on their website stating they do not use Bovaer in their animal feed.
Following the backlash, Arla have released a statement regarding Bovaer and claims made online about it.
Key things from their statement include, “Bovaer does not filter through to humans when they consume dairy products.”, “Bovaer has undergone extensive testing to ensure it is safe for cows and humans,” and that in “December 2023, Bovaer was approved in the United Kingdom – it is currently approved for use in 68 countries.”