Sweden introduces ‘methane-reduced’ beef in grocery stores
- Methane-reduced beef is currently only available in Sweden.
- New meat has reduced the methane footprint as cows are fed red seaweed, a supplement that makes cows burp and fart less.
- “This is the first time that low-methane beef has gone out to consumers,” said Volta Greentech’s CEO.
Coop, a Swedish grocery chain, introduced the world’s first “methane-reduced” beef, which is currently only available in Sweden.
The new meat has a significantly reduced methane footprint compared to the average beef package because the cows are fed with red seaweed, a supplement that makes the cows burp and fart less.
Selected stores in Sweden sell methane-reduced ground beef, sirloin steak and beef fillets, Fast company reported.
“This is the first time that low-methane beef goes out to consumers,” says Fredrik Åkerman, co-founder and CEO of Volta Greentech, a Swedish startup that grows seaweed and collaborates with Coop for the project.
Cows emit 220 pounds of methane per year – the equivalent of burning more than 900 liters of gasoline, which heats up the planet at a rapid rate because it is 80 times more powerful than CO2.
Fortunately, popular brands and chains around the world are also planning to start testing seaweed for their products. Some include the popular ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, Arla Foods, a large European company, and Burger King, to name a few.