A CONTROVERSIAL additive causing a stir in the UK is not being used in Jersey milk and there are “no plans to incorporate it in the future”, Jersey Dairy has confirmed.
Bovaer, a feed additive designed to limit the amount of methane burped by cattle in a bid to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, is being trialled on 30 UK dairy farms producing milk for Danish-Swedish producer Arla, which supplies milk to supermarket chains including Tesco, Morrisons and Aldi.
Following news of the trial, some consumers have taken to social media saying they are boycotting Arla products due to alleged safety concerns. However, the UK’s Food Standards Agency says that the additive is metabolised by the cows so does not pass into the milk.
International trials of Bovaer are also being conducted in 20 countries and the product has also been deemed safe and authorised for sale in an additional 65 jurisdictions, including the EU, Australia and Canada.
In a statement provided to the JEP, a Jersey Dairy spokesperson said: “Jersey Dairy would like to clarify that we do not use the additive Bovaer on our dairy farms, and there are no plans to incorporate it in the future.
“All of our farms are LEAF (Linking Environment and Farming) accredited, demonstrating our commitment to sustainable farming practices. We remain dedicated to producing high-quality dairy products to our customers while prioritising animal welfare and reducing our environmental impact.”
