Vegan Outrage Over Revelations Britain's Fiver Contains Animal Fat

The plastic feeling five pound bill was introduced as supposedly a cleaner, more durable and more environmentally sustainable alternative to its cotton paper counterpart. The notes, which are almost impossible to tear, are made out of plastic polymer…and traces of beef tallow. 

​"We can confirm that the polymer pellet from which the base substrate is made contains a trace of a substance known as tallow. Tallow, is derived from animal fats (suet) and is a substance that is also widely used in the manufacture of soap and candles," the Bank of England stated. 

In response, many vegans vented their anger on social media, pledging to boycott the new plastic note, with some refusing to accept the fact that a 'fat wallet' — could mean an 'animal-fat wallet.'

​Steffi Rox, vegan businesswomen who tweeted the Bank of England for a response to the tallow rumors, told London tabloid The Standard: "It's really disappointing. It's not a nice thought that there is an animal product in my pocket."

"It grosses me out."

More than 11,000 people have already signed a petition asking the Bank of England to remove the traces of tallow from the bank notes.

​"The new £5 notes contain animal fat in the form of tallow. This is unacceptable to millions of vegans and vegetarians in the U.K. We demand that you cease to use animal products in the production of currency that we have to use."