Rumor – Bill Gates launched butter made from petroleum to kill people.
Analysis
Posts circulating across various digital platforms and in multiple languages claim that businessman Bill Gates is introducing a new food product to the global market. It refers to an alleged dairy-free butter derived from petroleum and paraffin, developed with the intention of causing illness and triggering the end of humanity.
The content also links this supposed novelty to conspiracy theories surrounding Gates and the Covid-19 pandemic. The story has been shared primarily by accounts promoting alternative diets and has also gained traction within political and anti-vaccine online spaces. Here is the text circulating on social media:
THE NEW “BUTTER” MADE FROM PETROLEUM!! THE NEW “BUTTER” MADE FROM PETROLEUM!! BILL GATES, THE ONE WHO IN 2020 (COVID19) PROFITED A LOT AND KILLED MANY WITH HIS “FAKE JAB”, NOW PRESENTS HIS NEW INVENTION TO THE WORLD MARKET, DAIRY-FREE BUTTER DERIVED FROM PETROLEUM (PARAFFIN). HIS NEW CONTRIBUTION TO SICKNESS AND THE END OF HUMANITY.
Fact Check
The story mixes a real initiative aimed at producing fat without animals or plants with a false claim about petroleum and an alleged intention to harm the public. To understand the case, we will address the following questions: 1) Did Bill Gates launch butter made from petroleum to kill people? 2) What is the actual release related to Bill Gates and butter? 3) Are there other similar fake news stories?
Did Bill Gates launch butter made from petroleum to kill people?
No. Bill Gates did not launch butter made from petroleum, and there is no evidence whatsoever that the product was developed to kill people.
The story originates from a technology developed by the American startup Savor, which produces fats without using animals, plants, or traditional vegetable oils. The company received investment and support from Bill Gates, which explains the billionaire’s association with the product.
The technology uses carbon and hydrogen to build fat molecules. According to a report by CBS Chicago, the company utilizes carbon dioxide and hydrogen obtained from water to produce fat molecules similar to those found in butter and other foods through chemical processes.
Therefore, the claim regarding petroleum or paraffin does not match the process presented by the company.
What is the actual release related to Bill Gates and butter?
As mentioned, the initiative in question is an experimental project developed by the US startup Savor, backed financially by investments linked to Bill Gates. According to details shared in a report by CBS News, the company created a method to synthesize dietary fats from carbon dioxide (CO2) or methane combined with hydrogen extracted from water.
The process works through gas capture and thermal reactions using catalysis in a laboratory setting, recombining atoms to form fatty acids identical to those in animal fat. This method eliminates the need for livestock farming or growing oilseed crops. The project remains in development, and there are no scientific indications or evidence suggesting the food poses health risks. It is also worth noting that traditional margarines and ultra-processed fats already undergo industrial processing without it implying a deliberate intent to harm the population.
Are there other similar fake news stories?
Yes. Claims regarding ultra-processed foods and products developed by major corporations or high-profile individuals are frequently leveraged to generate alarmist content.
Fact-checkers have previously debunked claims suggesting that processed meat is made from ground-up animals and claims that Oreo cookies contain petroleum-derived ingredients.
Various conspiracy theories targeting Bill Gates have also been debunked, such as the false claim that Bill Gates was spreading dengue through a mosquito factory in Colombia and the story asserting that vaccines were created by him to reduce the global population.
Conclusion
It is false that Bill Gates launched butter made from petroleum to kill people. The story originated from genuine technology developed by the startup Savor, which creates fat using carbon and hydrogen without relying on animals or plants. Bill Gates is one of the investors in the company, but the product contains no petroleum or paraffin, and there is no evidence it was created to harm anyone.
Fake news ❌