Boycott of Lurpak butter prompted by conspiracy theories

A boycott of Lurpak butter has emerged after conspiracy theorists falsely claimed that Bill Gates is involved in a trial of the additive Bovaer, which is meant to reduce methane emissions from cattle. Arla Foods announced the trial in November. Despite the backlash, Arla Foods continues with the trial, stating that Bovaer has been approved by UK regulators and is safe for consumption. The company’s UK chief attributed the negative response to misinformation on social media. Social media activity around Bovaer surged, with many users calling for a boycott of Arla products. The Food Standards Agency confirmed that milk from cows fed Bovaer is safe to drink, countering claims about potential health risks.