Bank of England looks to quell currency backlash
The new five-pound notes contain tallow, which is made from rendered animal fat. Many citizens have objected, spurring the venerable institution to seek a modern-day solution.
The new currency is touted as “cleaner,” “safer” and “stronger” by the bank’s PR campaign:
However, word quickly spread that the notes contain a small amount of tallow.
Forbes contributor Tim Worstall explained:
The latest little piece of outrage in my native Britain is that the new plastic (actually, polymer) £5 notes contain tallow. Tallow is derived from beef or sheep fat and is thus not normally considered to be right for those of the vegan or vegetarian persuasion. The outrage being of course that it’s pretty difficult to avoid animal products if they’re actually baked into the legal tender of the place you happen to live.
The backlash online grew after the Bank of England confirmed on Twitter that the notes contain tallow:
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