Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

£5 note contains animal fat. For vegetarians and vegans

157 replies

EveOnline2016 · 29/11/2016 23:35

news.sky.com/story/vegan-campaigners-demand-animal-fat-removed-from-new-1635-notes-10676891

I hope this raise awareness.

I am not a vegetarian but people who choose to be should know that bank notes be aware.

OP posts:
SuburbanRhonda · 30/11/2016 08:38

There's plenty of information in the book "Pulling the Wool" about the cruelty involved in the Australian wool industry (which is the main supplier of merino wool to the rest of the world). I used to work for the International Wool Secretariat and they've always been very mindful of the adverse effects of cruelty in the industry on sales of wool.

Ditsy4 · 30/11/2016 08:46

I wonder if my DD knows this.

pklme · 30/11/2016 08:54

Vaguely remember that a revolution was sparked in India by sepoys discovering animal fat was used in making the cartridges for the rifles. They had to tear off the top with their teeth. (My gun terminology is non existent, I can't remember which animal or which religion, but something along those lines...)

Personally, I favour using a relatively natural ingredient which is a waste product rather than a manufactured ingredient which may have a worse environmental impact- but there are usually hideously complicated calculations involved in those kinds of comparisons...

LuluLovesFruitcakes · 30/11/2016 08:57

somewhat reassured that i'm not the only veggie/vegan that gets told they must not give bjs Grin

As for the fivers...I don't see the necessity. But there are alot of products containing animal bits & byproducts that I really don't understand why they'd need to. Clearly it's cheaper.
I'm vegetarian and had friends taking the piss about the new fivers. Not sure why, I'm not gonna eat them Hmm

derxa · 30/11/2016 09:02

the cruelty involved in the Australian wool industry I don't know anything about the Australian wool industry. But people on here will think that poor practices happen here. I run a flock of sheep. It would be commercial madness for farmers here to have their sheep treated badly.

LadyPenelopeShufflebottom · 30/11/2016 09:07

There's beef tallow in lots and lots of plastic products and even in a lot of expensive candles, it's more environmentally friendly than the equivalent chemicals that do a similar job, hence why the BOE are using the beef tallow.

It's not like the BOE are slaughtering cattle specifically for the tallow, it's being produced off the back of the food industry anyway and wasted. To get rid of tallow it's burned and releases a bunch of nasty chemicals into the atmosphere, so by using it in currency you drastically reduce this form of harm to the environment.

Objections to the use of beef tallow in currency is very short sighted.

TaraCarter · 30/11/2016 09:13

Derxa the issue is merinos being particularly vulnerable to blowfly strike, and I think this is exacerbated by the Australian climate. In order to prevent blowfly strike (which to be fair is horrific), they cut off the folds of skin in the problem areas (called mulesing).

This massively reduces the rate of blowfly deaths, but it's still having bits chopped off without anaesthetic. Unless that last bit has changed?

MariePoppins · 30/11/2016 09:16

derxa I was ready to say the same thing.
My PIL have sheep. They do shear the sheep when the weather is getting warm. These sheep are loosing their wool anyway (as you would have noticed if you in the moors end of spring/summer time) when left to their own devices.

As for being brutal and breaking jaws etc... you do realise that they would have the animal protection people on their back if that was the case right? And they would then loose the right of keeping animals?

MariePoppins · 30/11/2016 09:18

So the issue isn't the shearing then, it's the blowfly strike....

TupsNSups · 30/11/2016 09:23

In order to prevent blowfly strike (which to be fair is horrific), they cut off the folds of skin in the problem areas (called mulling).

So not shearing then?

TaraCarter · 30/11/2016 09:26

Didn't say it was shearing. But Rhonda mentioned cruelty in the Australian sheep industry, and that's why.

specialsubject · 30/11/2016 09:26

Somebody mentiones that due to animal fats in plastics used to make chunky phones, internet use is not for vegans.

So anyone on here cannot be a true vegan....

Boycott means inconvenience. Or belt up.

TaraCarter · 30/11/2016 09:29
Winterc00kie · 30/11/2016 09:30

1st world problems eh! Xx

derxa · 30/11/2016 09:32

Well I've just applied for QMS accreditation. The code of practice is a 36 page document and we've ticked all the boxes. Mulesing seems pretty cruel but it's carried out on merino sheep in Australia not on British sheep which are bred for the meat industry. Here sheep are sheared in the summer and it's relief for them.

TaraCarter · 30/11/2016 09:43

Yep- people who take issue with mulesing need only avoid Australian Merino wool, which is always marked clearly as such. Both because it's a selling point and because it needs special care when washing.

LaContessaDiPlump · 30/11/2016 09:47

That's right pklme - it was the Enfield rifle. It was alleged that the cartiridges were lubricated with fat from cows and pigs, thus offending both Hindus and Muslims. It's not known if the story was true, but it was enough to tip people over the edge - I think the Indian population was fed up with the British already but this seemed like the final straw of disrespect.

hackmum · 30/11/2016 09:50

On the question of eggs, the reason vegans don't eat them is that all male chicks are killed instantly at birth.

Obviously five pound notes aren't the only product that is sourced from animals. Animal products are everywhere - there is even pig fat in tyres, I believe. If you're a vegan, you can only do the best you can - the vegans I know avoid eating honey or wearing leather or wool or using cosmetics that have been tested on animals or include animal products. But there is only so much you can do. It's not, after all, the fault of vegans that so much produce is derived through animal cruelty.

I've never quite understood why a desire to avoid animal cruelty is the subject of so much hostility. Most people who eat meat would be horrified at seeing someone kick a dog, for example, or at an animal such as a lion being shot for someone's entertainment. But then they get very very angry at the idea that someone should want to avoid being complicit in animal cruelty by not eating meat or dairy.

TaraCarter · 30/11/2016 09:52

Contessa the version I heard was that there were beef cartridges which got given to Hindus and pork ones that got given to Muslims. But that doesn't really make sense- makes more sense that it was generic fat all mixed in.

derxa · 30/11/2016 10:07

I've never quite understood why a desire to avoid animal cruelty is the subject of so much hostility I think it's laudable to have beliefs and stick to them. However to spread untrue information is poor behaviour.

Wookiecookies · 30/11/2016 10:20

I am a meat eater, but I try to shop as ethically as possible when I purchase meat. I dont disagree with vegans being pissed off about this, It comes down to choice doesnt it?
If there is an alternative, why shouldnt it be used? Believe me, if lab grown meat becomes sustainable and safe/nutritious in the future, I would happily make the switch.

LaContessaDiPlump · 30/11/2016 10:23

I've never quite understood why a desire to avoid animal cruelty is the subject of so much hostility.

Hear hear Hackmum!

I've had omnivore friends pick at me for not supporting human rights causes over animal rights causes before - comments about looking after kids before piggy wiggies or something like that. Yet if you ask these people what THEY do to support human rights causes (since obviously these causes are massively important to them) they go all quiet. Apparently I am meant to prioritise humans over animals and will be judged harshly if I don't, but it's ok for my accusers to do fuck all apparently Angry

People who get defensive and lash out and tell you you're not supporting the rights of other beings properly can do one IMO, unless they've got a decent evidence base (i.e. telling me I'm campaigning for the wrong sort of cage or something - that I will listen to).

stilllearnin · 30/11/2016 10:28

My actual dp questioned the bj thing! Fool! Soon found a way to shut him up (saucy) Grin

FizzBombBathTime · 30/11/2016 10:34

Anyone else imagining trying to chew a fiver? It's giving me a funny tummy

amicissimma · 30/11/2016 10:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.