The new Burger King menu item aims to address the environmental impact of beef.
The fast-food chain partnered with top scientists to develop and test a diet for cows to produce less methane, a greenhouse gas that traps heat from the sun and warms the planet.
The new diet reduces up to 33% per day, on average, of cows’ daily methane emissions for the last three to four months of their lives, according to initial study results.
The Methane Emission Beef Whopper Sandwich is available at select restaurants in Miami, New York, Austin, Texas, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon while supplies last.
According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, livestock is responsible for approximately 14.5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Cows release methane as a by-product of their digestion.
Preliminary evidence suggests adding 100 grams of lemongrass leaves to cows’ prescribed daily veterinary diet for the past four months helps them release less methane as they digest their food, according to Burger King.
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“If the entire industry, from farmers, meat vendors and other brands, join us, we can scale up and collectively help reduce methane emissions that affect climate change,” said Fernando Machado, director of global marketing for Restaurant Brands International.
Consumers can find details on the initiative’s findings at bk.com/sustainability.
