Low-Burp Burger?

BURGER KING

SUSTAINABLE WHOPPER? Burger King says it’s created a “methane-reduced” version of the classic burger.

Recently, the fast-food chain Burger King added a new item to its menu: beef that’s more environmentally friendly. It comes from cows fed a special diet designed to make them less gassy.

A cow’s gut contains microbes that help break down tough plant fibers. This process, called fermentation, produces methane. Cow burps and farts are loaded with this potent greenhouse gas, which traps heat in Earth’s atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

Burger King claims that adding a plant called lemongrass to cattle feed reduces this microbial methane production by 33 percent. That’s based on a study the company conducted with scientists in Mexico. But many researchers are skeptical of Burger King’s claim. That’s because Burger King’s cows only munch on lemongrass during the last few months of their lives—up to 90 percent of methane emissions from cattle happen before that point.

COURTESY OF GREGORY URQUIAGA/UC DAVIS

BURPING BOVINES: A single cow produces between 70 and 120 kilograms of methane per year. Scientists at UC Davis, pictured left, are researching the impact of cows’ diets on methane production.

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