The Bank of England is treating £5 note drama with “the utmost seriousness”
The Bank of England has responded to angry vegans who have objected to the use of animal products in the manufacturing of £5 bank notes.
It has said it didn't know the animal material – known as tallow – was used in the making of the note.
The statement comes after someone asked about the bank note on Twitter, and when the vegans found out the truth, they were furious. Some branded the bank "disgraceful".
Maybe because using animal products is legal? Just a hunch though.
— Mark (@Mark_Ingoe) November 29, 2016
This evening, the Bank of England said: "We are aware of some people’s concerns about traces of tallow in our new five pound note. We respect those concerns and are treating them with the utmost seriousness.
"This issue has only just come to light, and the Bank did not know about it when the contract was signed.
"Information recently provided by our supplier, Innovia, and its supply chain shows that an extremely small amount of tallow is used in an early stage of the production process of polymer pellets, which are then used to create the base substrate for the five pound note. Innovia is now working intensively with its supply chain and will keep the Bank informed on progress towards potential solutions."