A major supermarket has insisted its supply chain does not use a controversial cattle additive that has seen customers vow to boycott its rival Coles.
Coles announced in November 2023 some beef suppliers would expand the use of Bovaer in cattle feed, after two trials found the supplement lowered methane emissions by ‘at least 50 per cent’.
But the use of the additive has provoked a storm of controversy earlier this month after the UK’s largest dairy cooperative announced a Bovaer trial.
Many conspiracy theories, often involving Bill Gates, have emerged online claiming it can cause cancer or affect fertility.
However, experts have previously told Daily Mail that customers do not have anything to worry about and that concerns about cancer risks are unfounded.
In the wake of the controversy, Aldi Australia was asked by a social media user whether any cattle in its supply chain were given the additive.
‘We understand from our direct suppliers that Bovaer is not being used within our meat or dairy supply chain in Australia,’ the company responded on X.
A spokesperson for Aldi said it was ‘committed to environmental sustainability and animal welfare, along with ensuring the safety and health of our customers’.
In the wake of the controversy, Aldi Australia was asked by a social media user whether any cattle in its supply chain were given the additive (stock image)
‘We understand from our direct suppliers that Bovaer is not being used within our meat or dairy supply chain in Australia,’ the company responded on X (pictured)
‘As a food retailer, we are aligned with the decisions made by health regulatory bodies around the world on feed additives safety,’ the spokesperson added.
‘Our commitment to product safety is unwavering, and we ensure all products meet our rigorous standards.’
It’s understood none of Woolworths’ livestock producers use Bovaer in its supply chain.
At Coles, the supplement is exclusively used for the supermarkets ‘Finest Carbon Neutral’ line of products.
Bovaer is fed to cows to suppress an enzyme that causes the production of methane, a gas that contributes to climate change.
The methane supplement is made of silicon dioxide, propylene glycol and the organic compound 3-nitrooxypropanol (known as 3-NOP).
There is no suggestion that the drug, produced by Swiss-Dutch manufacturer, DSM-Firmenich, is unsafe for consumers, or that it transfers to milk or meat.
Bovaer senior vice president Mark Van Nieuwland told the ABC the product had been tested widely and branded the conspiracy theories surrounding it ‘fake news’.
Coles expanded its use of the drug in November 2023 after trials found it reduced methane emissions
The supplement is exclusively used for the premium ‘Finest Carbon Neutral’ line of Coles’ beef
‘For example, the European Food Standards authorities or the UK Food Standards look at the evidence collected over the years [and] assess that independently,’ he said.
‘There’s even a public comments period to this, and then [they] come to a conclusion, and they all concluded the product was safe.’
But many Aussie conspiracy theorists remain suspicious, prompting dairy suppliers to reveal whether or not they use the additive.
Victorian farm Bass River Dairies announced earlier this month it was selling ‘full fart milk’ from cows that were not fed Bovaer, while Norco also confirmed it was not using the supplement.
‘At Norco we pride ourselves on making quality, natural dairy products,’ it said.
Outspoken anti-vaxxer and former federal politician Craig Kelly commended the milk companies who are not using the supplement.
‘Well done Norco, listening to the public,’ he said.
‘We don’t want to drink milk from cows drugged with Bovaer.
‘And we also don’t want to eat meat from cattle drugged with Bovaer – so all Coles meat is off the shopping list.’
Hundreds of fellow critics of the supplement responded to Mr Kelly’s post.
‘I want nothing to do with Bovaer, and we can all vote with our choices. Hopefully Coles will learn a very nasty lesson from all this,’ one said.
A second added: ‘Coles don’t sell anything you can’t get elsewhere. They will never get another cent from me – I have been a loyal Coles shopper for 30 years.’
Bovaer suppresses the enzyme that produces the greenhouse gas methane in cows
Bovaer senior vice president Mark Van Nieuwland told the ABC the product had been tested widely and branded the conspiracy theories surrounding it ‘fake news’ (pictured: a young woman shopping for meat in Coles)
‘A sizable group of your customers don’t want to eat food that you have tampered with. We just want wholesome natural food,’ a third said.
Coles has hit back at the backlash and told customers the product is completely safe.
‘Coles prioritises food safety and animal welfare and we are committed to improving the sustainability of our business,’ a spokesperson said.
‘Bovaer has been extensively researched over the past 15 years and approved by leading food safety organisations including Food Standards Agency UK and the European Food Safety Authority.’
In the UK, customers are also threatening to boycott Danish firm Arla – which holds the biggest dairy conglomerate in Britain – over its use of the drug.
Major supermarkets Tesco and Asda are among the stores which stock Arla milk.
Arla fired back at what it labelled ‘misinformation’ around the additive on social media.
Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates invested millions in Rumin 8, a company developing similar methane-reducing supplements in early 2023, via his investment firm Breakthrough Energy Ventures.
In the UK there has been confusion between Bovaer and the Rumin 8 company that had benefited from Gates’ investment.
Bovaer is approved for use in dozens of countries, including Australia and the UK.
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