Which supermarkets are using Bovaer in milk?

November 16, 2025 •

4 min read

Arla Foods' Bovaer trial can reduce methane emissions by approximately 27%. This trial, however, has triggered controversy, and many consumers are seeking information on which supermarkets use Bovaer in their milk.

Quick Summary

Several prominent UK supermarkets, including Tesco, Morrisons, and Aldi, have partnered with Arla Foods for the Bovaer trial. Some consumers are boycotting products from the farms involved because of health and environmental concerns. Regulators have approved the additive.

Key Points

Supermarket Partnerships: Tesco, Morrisons, and Aldi are known partners in the UK Arla Foods trial using the feed additive Bovaer.
Methane Reduction: Bovaer aims to reduce methane emissions from cows' digestive systems by suppressing a key enzyme.
Consumer Backlash: The trials have led to consumer backlash, including boycott calls, due to health concerns and a lack of transparency.
No Trace in Milk: The manufacturer Dsm-firmenich and food regulators state that Bovaer breaks down completely in the cow's rumen and does not enter the milk.
Transparency Issues: Consumers find it difficult to trace which supermarket own-brand products contain milk from Bovaer-fed cows.
Alternatives Exist: Independent dairy brands like Yeo Valley Organic have distanced themselves from the additive, offering a clear alternative for shoppers.

The introduction of the feed additive Bovaer in a trial involving Arla Foods and several major British retailers, which started in late 2024, sparked public debate. Bovaer is designed to reduce methane emissions from cows. However, controversy regarding potential health and environmental impacts led to consumer backlash and calls for boycotts. Consumers need to know which supermarkets are involved to make informed decisions.

The Supermarkets Involved in the Bovaer Trial

Several prominent UK supermarket chains have been linked to the Arla Foods Bovaer trial. It's important to note that these retailers are trialing the product, and controversy has led some consumers to seek alternatives.

Tesco

As one of the UK's largest retailers, Tesco's involvement in the Bovaer trial drew considerable attention. Consumers concerned about the additive may wish to check the origin of their milk, as Arla Foods supplies a significant portion of Tesco's dairy products, including its own-brand and organic lines.

Morrisons

Morrisons has also partnered with Arla Foods for the Bovaer trial. This includes stocking milk produced by the 30 farms initially involved in the pilot project. The retailer's participation has been met with criticism from some consumer groups.

Aldi

Aldi is another retail partner in the Arla Foods Bovaer trial. Some consumers who typically rely on Aldi's low-cost dairy products have expressed concern and sought out alternatives in light of the news.

Other Affiliated Supermarkets and Brands

The controversy surrounding Arla's trial has extended beyond the initial participants. Arla supplies many brands and retailers. Some consumers identified potential links to other supermarkets stocking Arla products.

Sainsbury's: Some online speculation suggested Sainsbury's involvement, primarily based on the assumption that they sell Arla products. Some reports suggest Sainsbury's own-brand milk is from different sources, but consumers should verify based on product labeling.
Lidl: Lidl's dairy sourcing may include Arla products, though some social media users noted variations between stores.
Other Arla Brands: A number of other dairy brands are produced by Arla Foods and could be potentially impacted, including Cravendale milk, Arla BOB, and Arla Protein.

The Debate Over Bovaer in Milk

Why Bovaer is being used

Bovaer's main purpose is to help the dairy industry reduce its environmental footprint. Methane, a greenhouse gas, is released from cows' digestive systems during enteric fermentation. By adding Bovaer to cattle feed, dairy companies like Arla aim to suppress the enzyme responsible for methane production, leading to a reduction in emissions. For supermarkets striving to meet sustainability goals, partnering on such a trial is a way to demonstrate a commitment to environmental action.

Concerns and Controversy

Despite the climate-friendly intentions, the Bovaer trial has generated backlash. Critics have raised several points of contention:

Consumer Safety: Some early online misinformation, based on industrial handling reports rather than food safety assessments, raised concerns about human health. However, safety regulators in the UK and EU have approved Bovaer for use. The manufacturer Dsm-firmenich states the additive breaks down in the cow's digestive system and does not enter the milk.
Unknown Long-Term Effects: Environmental and health advocates have expressed concerns about the unknown long-term effects of the additive on animal health and the broader environment. While tests have cleared it for safety, prolonged use is still being studied.
Consumer Choice: Many consumers felt they were not adequately informed about the trial and believe they should have the right to choose whether to purchase milk from farms using Bovaer. This lack of transparency has fueled calls for boycotts and led to increased interest in locally sourced or organic milk.

How to Check Your Milk for Bovaer

As the trial involves milk from specific Arla farms, it can be challenging for consumers to definitively know if the milk they purchase is from a farm using Bovaer. However, there are a few steps you can take:

Check for Arla branding: Look for products explicitly branded as Arla, such as Cravendale. Arla also produces some supermarket own-brand dairy.
Examine supplier codes: Some dairy products have supplier codes that can be traced back to the producer. This often requires research, but some online groups have collated lists to assist.
Support alternatives: Opting for dairy products from brands that have publicly distanced themselves from such additives, like Yeo Valley Organic, or buying directly from local farms, is a clearer way to avoid Bovaer.

Comparison of Retailers and Supply Chains

To help navigate the controversy, here is a comparison of some UK supermarket dairy suppliers in relation to the Bovaer trial.


Feature	Tesco	Morrisons	Aldi	Yeo Valley Organic (Independent)
Trial Status	Partner in Arla trial	Partner in Arla trial	Partner in Arla trial	Not involved, distanced from additives
Sourcing Transparency	Supplies from multiple sources, including Arla	Participated in trial with Arla farms	Some stores supplied by Arla	Directly from a known network of organic farms
Consumer Concerns	High profile target of boycotts	Target of boycotts and protests	Featured in boycott lists	Generally viewed as a trusted organic alternative
Consumer Action	Many checking labels and sourcing alternatives	Seeking alternative dairy sources	Social media-driven boycott and checks	Considered a safer, more transparent choice

Conclusion

The use of Bovaer in milk production, led by Arla Foods in collaboration with major supermarkets like Tesco, Morrisons, and Aldi in the UK, has become a significant source of consumer debate. While the additive's primary objective is to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, concerns regarding transparency and long-term consequences have prompted consumers to search for alternatives. For those who wish to avoid milk from farms using Bovaer, the best approach involves carefully checking product labels, researching dairy supplier codes, and supporting smaller, independent, or organic brands that have not adopted the additive. The debate highlights increasing consumer demand for more information about food production.

Arla Foods Statement on Bovaer Safety

Frequently Asked Questions

In the UK, major supermarkets including Tesco, Morrisons, and Aldi have partnered with Arla Foods to trial the methane-reducing feed additive Bovaer on some farms.

Yes, regulatory bodies like the UK Food Standards Agency and EU food safety authorities have approved Bovaer. The manufacturer states the additive breaks down in the cow's digestive system and does not transfer into the milk supply.

Some consumers are boycotting due to concerns over the additive's long-term effects on animal and human health, which arose from social media misinformation. Additionally, a perceived lack of transparency regarding which specific products are involved has fueled the backlash.

It can be difficult to tell definitively, as the trial involves specific farms supplying Arla, which in turn supplies supermarkets. The best method is to research which brands or retailer own-brands are supplied by Arla, check packaging for supplier codes, or opt for independent brands that have not adopted the additive.

No, Arla is running a trial involving only a specific number of farms and is not applying Bovaer to its entire milk supply. However, products from those trial farms are entering the general retail supply chain.

Yes, many brands and independent dairies do not use Bovaer. Some companies, such as Yeo Valley Organic, have publicly distanced themselves from using such additives in response to the controversy.

The main purpose of Bovaer is to reduce methane emissions from dairy cows. It works by inhibiting an enzyme in the cow's stomach that produces methane, helping companies reduce their environmental footprint.