Our cows are the latest victims of the net zero obsession...and we should all be worried - Renee Hoenderkamp

For the sake of argument, let's assume that cow methane is actually a problem and this is a solution. What’s the problem? Well from a health perspective, the problem is that we just don’t know what the problems might be and the concern centres around the fact that we are being experimented on without consent. It seems that once again the issue of informed consent has been discarded.

A trial - by its very definition - is an experiment to see if there are any problems. Shouldn’t someone ask us if we want to take part?

So, what are people worried about? Bovaer is a medication whose active ingredients are silicon dioxide, propylene glycol and organic compound 3-nitrooxypropanol (known as 3-NOP).

There is no suggestion that the additive is not safe for consumers. The UK's Food Standard Agency (FSA) has approved it for use.

Likewise, it claimed the additive has no side effects on cows.

However, a report by the FSA last year found that 3-NOP “should be considered corrosive to the eyes, a skin irritant and potentially harmful by inhalation” to humans handling it.

Couple this with potential excretion in milk and ingestion of meat from cows fed it, and people are worried. Having said this, proponents of the intervention state that studies show this not to be harmful to the cows, the meat nor milk.

Arla has hit out at what it labels "completely false" "misinformation" circulating on social media about the additive.

The firm said in its tweet announcing the trial: "This represents an amazing chance to reduce emissions on farm."

I guess it all comes down to freedom of choice and informed consent. We need to know when they are doing things that directly affect the food we put into our bodies, and we need to be able to opt in or out.

There should be well-publicised, non-biased info whenever a controversial ingredient is added to a food staple and clear guidance on how to avoid it if that is what we decide to do.

It is no different to a medication: information on the pros and cons, consent if you want it and the ability to opt out.

So how can you opt out of this one? Well, I have a few ideas. In terms of dairy products, there are already some companies who have announced that their products will not come from cows being fed Bovaer.

Already some suppliers have made statements to reassure consumers that none of their cows will be fed this, these include Yeo Valley, Hook and Sons farms and Plurenden Farm.

This will extend by default to the meat from those herds. So the message is, look to local suppliers, ask them directly if it isn’t clear and let's support our smaller businesses who need us more than ever.