Post by: Forth Bridges on May 14, 2007, 04:29:58 pm
Mars starts using animal products
 Masterfoods' brands are household names |
Some of the UK's best-selling chocolate bars, such as Mars and Twix, will no longer be suitable for vegetarians.
Also affecting brands such as Snickers and Maltesers,
owner Masterfoods said it had started to use animal product rennet to
make its chocolate products.
Masterfoods said the change was due to it switching the
sourcing of its ingredients and the admission was a "principled
decision" on its part.
The Vegetarian Society said the company's move was "incomprehensible".
'Extremely disappointed'
Masterfoods said it had started using rennet from 1 May and non-affected products had a "best before date" up to 1 October.
Masterfoods' decision to use non-vegetarian whey is a backward step
Rennet, a chemical sourced from calves' stomachs, is used in the production of whey.
It will now also be found in Bounty, Minstrels and Milky Way products, and the ice cream versions of all Masterfoods' bars.
"If the customer is an extremely strict vegetarian, then
we are sorry the products are no longer suitable, but a less strict
vegetarian should enjoy our chocolate," said Paul Goalby, corporate
affairs manager for Masterfoods.
The Vegetarian Society said it was "extremely disappointed".
"At a time when more and more consumers are concerned
about the provenance of their food, Masterfoods' decision to use
non-vegetarian whey is a backward step," it said in a statement.
"Mars products are very popular with young people and
many will be shocked to discover that their manufacture now relies on
the extraction of rennet from the stomach lining of young calves," it
added.
Post by: loulou on May 14, 2007, 04:50:55 pm
Post by: smurfboy on May 14, 2007, 07:53:01 pm
Rennet, a chemical sourced from calves' stomachs
Post by: smurfboy on May 14, 2007, 08:02:31 pm
I think this is disgusting. Surely if they can make these products perfectly well at the moment there is no need to change?
It should be getting easier to lead a vegetarian lifestyle, not harder. Last week I bought some chocolate only to find out a secretion from insects was used in the glaze - and then I got home and found the same product is used in my vitamins which are supposedly specifically for vegetarians!!! 
Post by: goldencup on May 15, 2007, 08:49:05 am
Post by: loulou on May 15, 2007, 11:50:32 am
Post by: smurfboy on May 15, 2007, 02:49:51 pm
Post by: Forth Bridges on May 15, 2007, 03:06:18 pm
Post by: Scarlet Passion on May 15, 2007, 06:13:02 pm
Post by: smurfboy on May 15, 2007, 08:08:10 pm
Post by: Scarlet Passion on May 15, 2007, 10:32:36 pm
Post by: wjp666 on May 15, 2007, 10:47:11 pm
Post by: goldencup on May 16, 2007, 12:56:31 am
Rennet is found in most cheeses except vegetarian ones.
Post by: smurfboy on May 16, 2007, 02:52:58 pm
i'm not a veggie, so i don't really care what's used in mars bars etc. it could contain a 10oz steak for all i care.if we knew what was in half the stuff we eat we wouldn't eat it. (hot dogs and burgers for example.)my philosophy - what you can't see wont hurt you! yay - ignorance is bliss!
But don't you think it's a bit unfair of Masterfoods to knowingly add an ingredient that means millions of people can't eat their chocolate anymore - especially when there is clearly a viable vegetarian alternative?
Post by: Forth Bridges on May 16, 2007, 04:36:59 pm
Post by: wjp666 on May 16, 2007, 06:55:06 pm
Quote from: wjp666i'm not a veggie, so i don't really care what's used in mars bars etc. it could contain a 10oz steak for all i care.
But don't you think it's a bit unfair of Masterfoods to knowingly add an ingredient that means millions of people can't eat their chocolate anymore - especially when there is clearly a viable vegetarian alternative?
Post by: loulou on May 16, 2007, 10:35:26 pm
Look at HAggieS!
