A growing number of UK social media users are protesting against a new feed additive, Bovaer, by pouring milk down sinks and toilets.

The controversy stems from a trial by Arla Foods, a Danish-Swedish company and the UK’s largest dairy cooperative, which is testing the additive on 30 farms nationwide. Bovaer is designed to reduce methane emissions from dairy cows by 30–45%, according to its manufacturer, DSM-Firmenich.

The additive, which is added in small amounts to cow feed, has been approved by UK regulators. Milk produced from cows fed with Bovaer will be sold in supermarkets such as Tesco, Morrisons, and Aldi as part of the trial. However, some social media users have expressed concerns about the safety of the compounds in Bovaer, while others have called for boycotts of supermarkets involved in the trial.

Experts, including those consulted by the BBC, have assured the public that Bovaer poses no food safety risks. The National Farmers Union (NFU) has stated that the additive breaks down completely in the cow’s digestive system and does not appear in milk or meat. Despite these reassurances, misinformation and conspiracy theories have gained traction online, including unfounded claims that Bovaer is part of a “depopulation” plot.

Methane, a potent greenhouse gas, is a major contributor to climate change. Cows produce methane during digestion when breaking down tough fibers like grass. This gas is mostly released through belching. Bovaer works by suppressing the enzymes in a cow’s stomach that generate methane, offering a promising solution to reduce emissions in the agricultural sector. The additive has been extensively tested over many years in various countries and is now available in 68 markets worldwide.

Arla Foods’ trial has sparked a wave of online backlash, with some dairy farmers declaring they will not use the additive. Concerns center around the safety of its ingredients: silicon dioxide, propylene glycol, and 3-nitrooxypropanol (3-NOP).

Critics have cited a 2022 report by the UK’s Food Standards Agency (FSA), which described 3-NOP as corrosive to the eyes, a skin irritant, and potentially harmful if inhaled during handling. However, experts emphasise that these risks apply only to the additive in its pure form, not when it is incorporated into animal feed.

“It has gone through a series of regulatory processes around the world and all are satisfied that it actually does what’s claimed around methane emissions and does not pose any food safety issues,” Professor Chris Elliott said – an expert in food safety and microbiology at Queens University Belfast.

Opponents have also pointed to claims that 3-NOP could cause cancer, but UK regulators have dismissed these concerns after a thorough assessment. he FSA concluded that Bovaer is not carcinogenic when used at the recommended levels.

The FSA said in a statement: “Milk from cows given Bovaer, a feed additive used to reduce methane emissions, is safe to drink.

“Bovaer has undergone rigorous safety assessments and is approved for use in Great Britain.”

Arla Foods has labeled the safety fears circulating online as “completely false.”

A spokesman for DSM-Firmenich said: “We are grateful for independent, third-party experts, farmers and farmers’ organisations who have come out to counter this misinformation.”

Adding to the controversy are baseless claims linking Bovaer to Microsoft founder Bill Gates. Some conspiracy theorists allege Gates is involved in developing the additive, though DSM-Firmenich has firmly denied any connection. In a recent statement, the company clarified that it had fully developed Bovaer independently and has no other investors.

“Bill Gates is not involved in the development of Bovaer,” the statement added.

Gates, however, has invested in a competing methane-reduction start-up called Rumin8, which develops similar products.

These unfounded allegations are part of a broader trend of conspiracy theories targeting Gates, including claims that he is involved in global depopulation efforts. Social media posts have also misinterpreted a US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval letter, which discussed potential risks of handling Bovaer in its pure form, such as effects on male fertility.

Experts, including Jack Bobo from the University of Nottingham Food Systems Institute, have attributed these concerns to misunderstandings of the FDA’s findings.

“The letter highlights precautions related to the handling of Bovaer due to its active ingredient, 3-nitrooxypropanol. However, it’s important to note that this active ingredient does not remain in the final dairy product.”

The backlash began almost immediately after Arla Foods announced its trial on November 26. A post on X (formerly Twitter) about its partnership with Tesco, Aldi, and Morrisons has amassed nearly six million views and thousands of comments. Social media analysis firm Brandwatch reported that mentions of Bovaer on X surged from near zero to over 71,000 in the days following the announcement.

The response has been polarised. While some users appear to share genuine concerns, others with histories of spreading misinformation have amplified the issue. Many of these accounts have previously posted anti-vaccine or climate-change-denial content. On TikTok, videos criticising Bovaer have gone viral, with some clips garnering up to 1.8 million views. Popular posts include users discarding Arla’s Lurpak butter or pouring milk away, accompanied by captions like “Not in my house.”

Arla Foods and DSM-Firmenich have attempted to counter the misinformation with factual statements. DSM-Firmenich described the rumors surrounding Bovaer as “mistruths and misinformation.” T

he company reiterated that the additive is safe, effective, and thoroughly tested. Similarly, the NFU has emphasised that 15 years of trials have shown no risks to consumers or animals, with the additive breaking down entirely within the cow’s digestive system.

Despite the backlash, the environmental benefits of Bovaer are significant. Methane is far more potent than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, and reducing emissions from livestock is crucial for mitigating climate change. Arla Foods and its supermarket partners aim to address consumer concerns while advancing sustainable farming practices.

The debate over Bovaer highlights the challenges of introducing innovative solutions in agriculture, particularly when public perception is influenced by misinformation. While the additive has the potential to make dairy farming more sustainable, its adoption may hinge on better communication about its safety and benefits.

As the trial continues, it remains to be seen whether public opinion will shift in favour of the additive or if protests will persist. For now, the controversy underscores the need for clear, evidence-based dialogue about emerging technologies and their role in addressing global challenges like climate change.