Burger King Pushes 'Reduced Methane' Beef to Fight Climate Change
2020-07-16
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1The fast food company Burger King wants to change the way cows eat in an effort to limit climate change.
2The restaurant chain said it is adding a different plant, called lemongrass, to the diet of cows that provide meat for the restaurant group.
3The fast food chain announced the Reduced Methane Emissions Beef Whopper on Tuesday.
4The hamburger is made with beef from cows that release less methane gas, the company says.
5The burgers will be available in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon for a limited time.
6Burger King is also testing an advertising campaign that it hopes will persuade buyers that the company cares about the environment.
7The social media campaign includes a child dressed as a cowboy singing about cows and the environment.
8The campaign also uses terms some people consider vulgar to describe the release of methane gas.
9The company best known for the Whopper hamburger worries the public may disapprove if it does nothing to fight climate change.
10A recent public opinion study by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research suggests the company might be right.
11It found that two out of three Americans say corporations have a responsibility to fight climate change.
12Burger King said Tuesday it believes that adding lemongrass to the cows' diet can reduce methane by about 33 percent.
13Methane is a carbon-based gas that is released when organic material breaks down, such as during digestion inside animals.
14Scientists say cows release a lot of methane as they digest grass and other plant material.
15Methane is also considered a greenhouse gas, meaning it can trap heat in the atmosphere.
16The Environmental Protection Agency says greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture made up just under 10 percent of total, U.S. emissions in 2018.
17Methane from cows made up about one fourth of that amount.
18The Associated Press reports that Burger King worked with scientists at Mexico's Autonomous University of Mexico State and the University of California, Davis.
19The researchers added 100 grams of lemongrass leaves to the cows' daily diets.
20In early tests, they said the addition caused the cows to release less methane.
21Two years ago, competitor McDonald's said it was taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
22At the time, the company said changes to the way it made Big Macs and Quarter Pounder hamburgers could cut emissions.
23McDonald's said the move would keep 150 million tons of methane out of the atmosphere by 2030.
24I'm Mario Ritter, Jr.
1The fast food company Burger King wants to change the way cows eat in an effort to limit climate change. 2The restaurant chain said it is adding a different plant, called lemongrass, to the diet of cows that provide meat for the restaurant group. 3The fast food chain announced the Reduced Methane Emissions Beef Whopper on Tuesday. The hamburger is made with beef from cows that release less methane gas, the company says. The burgers will be available in Los Angeles, Miami, New York City, Austin, Texas and Portland, Oregon for a limited time. 4Burger King is also testing an advertising campaign that it hopes will persuade buyers that the company cares about the environment. The social media campaign includes a child dressed as a cowboy singing about cows and the environment. The campaign also uses terms some people consider vulgar to describe the release of methane gas. 5The company best known for the Whopper hamburger worries the public may disapprove if it does nothing to fight climate change. A recent public opinion study by the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research suggests the company might be right. It found that two out of three Americans say corporations have a responsibility to fight climate change. 6Burger King said Tuesday it believes that adding lemongrass to the cows' diet can reduce methane by about 33 percent. 7Methane is a carbon-based gas that is released when organic material breaks down, such as during digestion inside animals. Scientists say cows release a lot of methane as they digest grass and other plant material. Methane is also considered a greenhouse gas, meaning it can trap heat in the atmosphere. 8The Environmental Protection Agency says greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture made up just under 10 percent of total, U.S. emissions in 2018. Methane from cows made up about one fourth of that amount. 9The Associated Press reports that Burger King worked with scientists at Mexico's Autonomous University of Mexico State and the University of California, Davis. The researchers added 100 grams of lemongrass leaves to the cows' daily diets. In early tests, they said the addition caused the cows to release less methane. 10Two years ago, competitor McDonald's said it was taking steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. At the time, the company said changes to the way it made Big Macs and Quarter Pounder hamburgers could cut emissions. McDonald's said the move would keep 150 million tons of methane out of the atmosphere by 2030. 11I'm Mario Ritter, Jr. 12Michelle Chapman reported this story for the Associated Press. Mario Ritter Jr. adapted it for VOA Learning English. Bryan Lynn was the editor. 13_____________________________________________ 14Words in This Story 15chain -n. a business with many different stores, restaurants or hotels, for example, that have a similar appearance and provide the same products or services 16vulgar -adj. something that does not show good manners, good taste or good behavior 17digestion -n. the process within the body that breaks down food into energy and needed substances 18emission -n. the act of producing or sending out something (such as energy or gas) from a source