Request
Your request was about the following information:
I would like to know if Bovaer, which is full of toxic chemicals is being put into Cows food and therefore entering the food chain, for the purpose of cutting methane from Cows, at the expense of the health and safety of the population.
Chemicals in this Bovaer can cause infertility in males and there are carcinogens. This is a relatively new product and I do not think this has been rigorously tested.
Is this in the food supply in UK within Cows? Does Organic milk and beef include this too, as I and probably many others do not want this experimental chemical drug in our food?
Response
Bovaer® 10 is the trade name for 3-nitrooxypropanol or 3-NOP, a feed additive used to reduce methane emissions. Milk from cows given Bovaer is safe for consumers to drink. The additive is metabolised by the cows so does not pass into the milk. Bovaer, as with all other feed additives, has been subject to rigorous safety assessments as part of the market authorisation process and is approved for use in Great Britain. It is also approved in the EU, Australia, Canada and the US. If you wish to read the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) safety assessment it is available at: Safety Assessment: Outcome of assessment of 3-Nitrooxypropanol “3-NOP” as a feed additive for all ruminants for milk production and reproduction, from DSM Nutritional Products Reference number RP1059. The FSA has published a blog which answers some of the questions being asked about this additive Bovaer cow feed additive explained – Food Standards Agency
Feed legislation, Regulation 1831/2003, on the rules for the authorisation and use of feed additives provides the basis for the assurance of a high level of protection for human health, animal health and welfare, environment, users’ and consumers’ interests in relation to feed additives. General food and feed law also ensures that all food and feed placed on the market is safe.
Regarding organics products, FSS have contacted officials in the Scottish Government who have provided the following “organic farming seeks to work with natural processes using methods that are designed to achieve a sustainable production system with limited use of external inputs. There are a limited approved products and substances which are permitted under organic regulations. The main components that make up Bovaer® are not included in the list of approved products and substances. As a result, Bovaer® is not permitted under organic standards and is therefore not used in organic farming”. Information on additives permitted in organic production can be found on the Soil Association website at: https://www.soilassociation.org/