Name: Fact check: Are cows in Denmark dying over Bovaer additive?
Uploaded: 2025-11-24T11:54:53.344Z
Duration: 2 min
Description: Misinformation and controversy surrounding the methane-reducing Bovaer feed additive hit the UK last year, and has now travelled over to Denmark.

Misinformation and controversy surrounding the methane-reducing Bovaer feed additive hit the UK last year, and has now travelled over to Denmark.

Copenhagen

Recent social media posts have alleged that the feed additive Bovaer is causing serious illness and death among cows in Denmark, with some farmers referring to the product as poison. However, food safety authorities, including the European Food Safety Authority and the UK's Food Standards Agency, have stated that Bovaer is safe for dairy cows and does not pose risks to consumers when used as approved.

Denmark mandated the use of methane-reducing feed additives like Bovaer at the start of 2025 to support climate goals. While official bodies affirm the additive's safety, Danish research organizations are investigating reports of health and production changes in cows to determine if Bovaer or other factors are responsible for the issues observed on certain farms.

Fact check: Are cows in Denmark dying over Bovaer additive?

Are cows in Denmark dying over the Bovair additive? Cows in Denmark are falling seriously ill and even dying due to the use of the feed additive Bovair, a series of viral social media posts claims. The posts share videos and supposed testimonies of dairy farmers who have given their cows Bovair, which is used to reduce methane emissions, in which they refer to the feed additive as poison. They say that cows fed with Bovair are collapsing, developing diarrhea, producing less milk and even dying. Food safety authorities and independent experts across the world assure that the additive is safe for dairy cows and doesn't make milk or meat from animals that have taken it unsafe for humans to consume. The European Food Safety Authority published a scientific opinion in 2021 in which it said that Bovair was effective and safe for dairy cows and was of no concern for consumer safety or the environment. It noted that its active substance 3-NOP can irritate the skin and may be hazardous if inhaled. The UK's Food Standards Agency more recently published a notice in December 2024 explaining that cows metabolize Bovair so it doesn't pass to their milk or meat. It also said that 3-NOP had passed rigorous safety assessments and that Bovair posed no safety concerns when used at the approved dose. Denmark mandated the use of methane reducing feed at the beginning of 2025 to make its agriculture more climate friendly, vouching for Bovair's safety. Nonetheless, certain bodies such as Sagus Innovation and Aarhus University are taking reports of changes in the health and behaviour of dairy cows seriously. They want to see whether Bovair feeding could be contributing to digestive or production changes or if other factors like diet composition explain why certain farms are reporting challenges but not others.

Chauncey Billups, who was serving as head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers until his suspension, pleaded not guilty on Monday to charges related to alleged rigged high-stakes poker games.

Chauncey Billups pleads not guilty to charges

The Kremlin on Monday (November 24) said that a European counter-proposal to a U.S. 28-point peace plan for Ukraine was not constructive and that it simply did not work for Moscow.

Moscow

Kremlin rejects revised European peace plan to end war in Ukraine

A federal judge has dismissed the criminal cases against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on the grounds that Lindsey Halligan, the interim U.S. attorney who secured their indictments, was unlawfully appointed to the role.

Washington

Cases against James Comey, Letitia James dismissed

The Trump Administration is ramping up pressure on Venezuela as the Air Force conducted a simulated nighttime attack along the country's coast. Charlie D'Agata has the latest.

Caracas

Trump ramps up pressure on Venezuela with nighttime Air Force attack

Israel killed Ali Tabtabai, the acting chief of staff of militant group Hezbollah, in an airstrike on a southern suburb of Beirut on Sunday, the Israeli military said.

Beirut

Middle East Conflict

Israel kills Hezbollah military leader in Beirut strike

While Russia and Ukraine continue to exchange daily drone fire, an updated peace framework is being worked out in Geneva between Ukraine, the US and European partners.

Kyiv

Ukraine Invasion

Ukraine upholds red lines as Geneva peace talks continue

Álvaro García Ortiz's decision came less than a week after he received a two-year suspension and a fine for disclosing private information about the partner of an opposition politician.

Madrid

Spain's attorney general resigns after conviction over data leak

U.S. President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency has been disbanded with eight months remaining in its mandate, and Office of Personnel Management Director Scott Kupor has told Reuters that the cost-cutting body now "doesn't exist".

DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter

Al-Burhan rejected a new truce proposal from US envoy as the “worst yet”, accusing the Quad mediators of bias due to the UAE’s involvement.

Al Fashir

Sudan’s army chief rejects quad truce proposal as ‘worst yet’

Three suicide bombers and three security personnel killed in attack on the Federal Constabulary headquarters in Peshawar, media reports say.

Peshawar

Six killed in suicide attack on security complex in Pakistan

The attack which Israel says to have killed chief of staff Haytham Tabtabai in the southern suburbs of Beirut also killed four other people and injured 25.

Israel says to have killed top Hezbollah official in strike on Beirut

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested that former Prince Andrew should testify before the U.S. Congress as part of its ongoing investigation into Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer did not discuss Andrew’s case directly but said, as a matter of principle, everyone involved should cooperate with the inquiry.

London

Starmer says former Prince Andrew should testify in Epstein probe

About 50 schoolchildren aged 10–18 who were abducted in Niger state, Nigeria, have escaped, authorities confirmed. They fled individually between Friday and Saturday, according to the Christian Association of Nigeria, which runs the school. Officials continue to track those still missing.

Niger

50 abducted Nigerian schoolchildren escape, authorities say

The first G20 summit to be held in Africa has been labelled a "triumph of multilateralism," as leaders from the world's more powerful economies came together in Johannesburg. South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa used his presidency to highlight the priorities of Africa and the global south.

Johannesburg

G20 shared goals 'outweigh differences' as summit ends

After running a day overtime, delegates at COP30, the United Nations climate summit in Belém, Brazil, finally reached a deal on a final agreement, but one that falls well short of the high expectations held by many delegates, environmental groups and NGOs.

Belém

COP30 climate deal falls short of expectations

Washington signaled room for negotiation on a 28-point plan to end the Ukraine war, denying claims by some U.S. senators that it is a Russian "wish list," as Kyiv and European allies criticized the proposal ahead of Sunday talks in Geneva.

Geneva

Europeans push for stronger deal for Ukraine as Geneva talks continue

The United States is set to launch a new phase of Venezuela-related operations in the coming days, four U.S. officials told Reuters, as the Trump administration steps up pressure on President Nicolas Maduro's government.

U.S. to launch new phase of Venezuela operations, sources say

Premier Li Qiang said Beijing wants to work with Pretoria to safeguard the multilateral trading system.

China pledges to work more closely with South Africa

Brazil's COP30 presidency pushed through a compromise climate deal that would boost finance for poor nations coping with global warming but that omitted any mention of the fossil fuels driving it.

UN climate talks end with no binding deal on fossil fuels

U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a once-loyal supporter of Donald Trump who has since become a critic of the president, said she is resigning from Congress in January. Greene's resignation followed a public fallout with Trump over the Epstein files.

Trump loyalist-turned-critic Marjorie Taylor Greene resigns

The Coast Guard said it conducted its largest cocaine seizure in history worth an estimated $362 million. Take an inside look as officials offload the nearly 50,000 pounds of drugs.

Coast Guard announces largest cocaine seizure in agency history

U.S Secretary of State Marco Rubio and special envoy Steve Witkoff are due to arrive in Geneva on Sunday to push for President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in Ukraine. European and Ukrainian officials will take part in the talks.

U.S delegation to meet with Ukraine to sell Trump's peace plan

The G20 summit opened on Saturday (November 22) with EU leaders and their counterparts from leading and emerging economies coming together as Washington's proposed peace plan for Ukraine loomed large on the sidelines.

Soweto

Leaders adopt declaration at Africa's first G20 summit

Federal police have detained Brazil’s ex-president Jair Bolsonaro after a Supreme Court judge deemed the far-right firebrand a "high flight risk." The arrest comes just days before Bolsonaro is due to begin a 27-year prison term for leading a botched coup attempt.

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil ex-president Bolsonaro arrested due to "flight risk"

Pope Leo XIV met with some of the rescued Ukrainian children who were kidnapped by Russian forces throughout the war as the Vatican ramps up its efforts to get all of the nearly 20,000 abducted kids home to Ukraine.

Rome

Pope Leo XIV meets with rescued Ukrainian children

U.S. President Donald Trump and New York City's incoming progressive mayor Zohran Mamdani were all smiles at a White House meeting, promising to set aside months of bitter feuding and cooperate on the city's future.

Trump hosts warm White House meeting with N.Y. mayor-elect Mamdani

Hopes for a strong G20 declaration on climate and debt relief are slim as South Africa hosts the summit from Saturday (November 22). Global tensions and a boycott by the U.S. threaten to overshadow the gathering.

G20 leaders seeking agreement in South Africa, despite U.S. boycott

Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is resigning from Congress early next year after a weekslong falling out with President Trump and much of her party.

Marjorie Taylor Greene resigning from Congress after Trump fallout

President Trump is pressuring Ukraine to sign off on a new peace proposal with Russia by Thanksgiving. The 28-point plan would have Ukraine surrender about 20% of its territory to the Russians -- an area roughly the size of Pennsylvania.

Trump presses Zelenskyy to accept peace plan, ceding territory to Russia

A powerful earthquake has struck Bangladesh outside the densely populated capital of Dhaka, killing at least five people and injuring about 100, according to the government.

Breakdown