Bank of Canada admits animal fat in our polymer bank notes
Posted November 30, 2016 9:13 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The Bank of England’s new plastic 5-pound note is stronger, cleaner and safer – but apparently not suitable for vegetarians.
Vegans and vegetarians are calling for the new bank notes, which have only been in circulation for two months, to be replaced because they are made with a substance derived from animal fat.
The Bank of England confirmed on Twitter that the notes contain “a trace of a substance known as tallow” – a rendered form of animal fat, processed from suet, which is sometimes used in soaps and candles.
An online petition against the notes has been getting attention Wednesday. The petition says the use of tallow is “unacceptable to millions of vegans, vegetarians, Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and others in the U.K.”
Following a number of inquiries, the Bank of Canada also confirmed that its polymer bank notes also contain animal fat.
“Our supplier of polymer substrate, Innovia Security, has confirmed to us that these additives may include extremely small amounts of tallow,” the Bank said in a statement released Wednesday.
The Bank adds they are “actively” following up with Innovia, who are investigating further and will report back to them “as to their next steps.”
