Burger King, one of the more popular hamburger establishments in the country, announced that it is already making a move to help in the combat against climate change. The company, in its partnership with experts, plans to reduce the methane being emitted by cows by modifying their diets.
Cutting down cow farts
The move to minimize the methane released by the cows, or simply known to be ‘cow farts,’ is accompanied by adding 100 grams of lemongrass to their cattle’s low carb food intake. Burger King says that with their initial study, they have lowered the amount of methane that the cows emit every day by an average of 33 percent.
In a tweet shared by the food chain, they said that “cow farts and burps are no laughing matter.” CNN reported that Burger King sought the help of professors from Autonomous University at the Mexico State and University of California at Davis.
cow farts & burps are no laughing matter. they release methane, contributing to climate change. that’s why we’re working to change our cows’ diet by adding lemongrass to reduce their emissions by approximately 33%. learn about our ongoing study: https://t.co/kPCXpjfbGL #CowsMenu pic.twitter.com/DnmF8gVVL0
— Burger King (@BurgerKing) July 14, 2020
These bovines, upon digestion, also produces methane gases that escape into the atmosphere. This could significantly impact the environment, as methane, considered a greenhouse gas, is known to capture heat from the sun and thereby increasing the temperature of the planet, resulting to further warming of the globe.
Limited Whoppers
Beef that came from ‘environment-friendly’ cows will be included in Burger King’s Whopper sandwich that will be sold at some of their branches in the country starting Tuesday. This will include their chains in Los Angeles, Miami, New York, Austin, and Portland while supplies last.
Committed to sustainability
Burger King is owned by Restaurant Brands International, whose other popular franchises include Tim Hortons and Popeyes. According to their website, their company is “committed to the simple principle of doing what’s right. As one of the largest restaurant companies in the world, it is both our responsibility and opportunity to advance the issue of sustainability in the food service industry.”
As per their global chief marketing officer Fernando Machado, “If the whole industry, from farmers, meat suppliers, and other brands join us, we can increase scale and collectively help reduce methane emissions that affect climate change.”
Previously, Burger King has also been in an effort to campaign for sustainability by shying away from the use of preservatives in their sandwiches. Their unorthodox TV ad even showcased a month-old burger being consumed by mold. This move is to address the desire of customers for more organic consumption.
