Shoppers boycott three major supermarkets over controversial new additive

Shoppers are boycotting three major UK supermarkets after a leading dairy company announced the introduction of a controversial new additive - with some even pouring milk down the toilet in protest.

Arla Foods, the Danish-Swedish company behind a number of popular dairy products on UK shelves, said it had launched a new project to trial the use of feed additive Bovaer on around 30 of its farms.

The supplement is being added to cattle feed to help reduce cows’ methane emissions.

According to Bovaer manufacturer DSM Firmenich, it is designed to break down in the animal’s digestive system, decomposing rapidly into ‘naturally occurring compounds already present in the rumen [part of the stomach] of a cow’.

Announcing the trial on Twitter, Arla said: “We have just announced a new project with @Morrisons, @Tesco and @AldiUK to trial the use of feed additive, Bovaer® on ~30 Arla farms.

“Bovaer® can reduce emissions from cows by 27%, and this represents an amazing chance to reduce emissions on farm.”

Arla announced a trial of the additive Bovaer (Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite being authorised in the UK back in December 2023, and being available in 68 countries, many have remained skeptical over its long-term effectiveness and potential impacts on animal health and welfare.

Critics claim it contains 'toxic chemicals' that might harm cows and farmers, possibly causing issues like fertility problems. Additionally, some argue that Bovaer has not undergone sufficient testing to ensure its safety and efficacy.

Many people have since vowed to stop shopping at Morrisons, Tesco and Aldi, while others have been ditching specific Arla products, such as Lurpak butter and Cravendale milk.

One tweeted: “No thanks, I will be boycotting Arla products and the supermarkets mentioned going forward.”

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

A third wrote: “We have always bought Cravendale milk at a premium price because you said you treat the cows well and the quality and longevity of the milk was great. We have been buying this milk for over a decade. Not anymore, we will stop buying as long as you continue this practice. This is unacceptable.”

A fourth added: “I used to regularly buy your products (mostly protein shakes and yoghurts), but won't be any longer until you stop using Bovaer. I will also be boycotting Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi while they continue to play a part in this."

Many shoppers are boycotting several supermarkets and products (Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)

TikTok videos have also shown some people pouring Cravendale milk down the sink or tubs of Lurpak in the bin.

Some have also claimed that the additive could have harmful side effects, although an FSA spokesperson stressed: "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."

Citing information from DSM Firmenich, Arla said Bovaer ‘does not filter through to humans when they consumer dairy products’, reiterating that it had been approved by both the European Food Safety Authority and the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA).

"Our commitment to reducing our climate impact is unwavering but we would never do so in a way that jeopardises the health of our consumers or the welfare of our animals,” Arla added.

A Bovaer spokesperson said: “This has been developed in response to the need to reduce methane emissions. It is a feed supplement the cow metabolises - that means it is not in milk. It has been tested over many years in many countries; it is safe and has been approved by regulators in Britain, America and many other countries.”

“There is no justification for the spread and amplification of this fake news. We are scientists, we deal in facts and we would never market a product that was not safe. We are grateful for independent, third-party experts, farmers and farmers’ organisations who have come out to counter this misinformation.”

In a full statement to Tyla, an Arla Foods spokesperson said: “As one of the biggest food producers in the UK, Arla Foods is committed to providing high quality dairy and we would never compromise on the safety of our products. Bovaer® has been researched for 15 years and is currently used in 29 countries around the world. The science tells us that it is both proven safe for consumers and effective in reducing emissions – and it does not get into the milk, so isn't in our products. Together with our farmer owners, this is an important part of our efforts to bring down the carbon footprint of the food we produce.”

Tyla has reached out to Morrisons, Aldi, and Tesco for comment.