Note makers admit Scottish cash does contain animal fat

Following the revelation at the start of this week that the Bank of England’s new fivers contained a small amount of tallow derived from animal products, the three main Scottish banks, Clydesdale Bank, Bank of Scotland and Royal Bank of Scotland, were all assured that their £5 notes were vegan-friendly.

However, De La Rue, which makes the notes, said more detailed analysis had revealed animal derivative equivalent to a maximum of 0.003% per banknote.

A spokesman said it was trying to address the problem with its suppliers.

Despite it being claimed that only just over half of one cow is required to make every single £5 note in circulation, more than 100,000 people have signed a petition protesting the current manufacturing process.

In a statement, De La Rue said: “Our initial analysis of our supply chain suggested that our polymer substrate did not contain any traces of tallow, and we advised specific customers on this basis.

“However, recognising the concern expressed by the public in recent days, we have undertaken a detailed and thorough review of our polymer supply chain. This review has identified the potential for minute traces of animal derivative, equivalent to a maximum of 0.003% per banknote.

“We are now working with our suppliers to identify ways of addressing this.”

One of those who has taken issue with the current method of producing the notes is Trupti Patel from the Hindu Forum of Britain.

Speaking in an interview with the BBC, he said: “Using a non-vegetarian source is totally and utterly unacceptable.

“In this country we spend so much time and effort on interfaith matters, so much time and effort on being sensitive to each other’s needs and then, all of a sudden, out of the blue, without any consultation, these notes come out with traces of non-vegetarian material.

“Now you would think that’s okay, there are Hindus who are vegetarians and non-vegetarians, what is the difference? Well in this day and age, if we think about it, it is possible to create everything artificially, even diamonds are created artificially, so I can’t see any need for creating a £5 note with non-vegetarian material.”

However, the Australian pioneer of the polymer bank note says it is “stupid” that UK vegetarians and vegans are protesting about the five pound polymer note containing animal fat.

Professor David Solomon said the polymer notes contain trivial amounts of tallow, an animal fat found in candles and soap, yet pressure is being placed on the Bank of England to find an alternative.

“It’s stupid. It’s absolutely stupid,” Solomon told the Australian radio station 2GB. “There’s trivial amounts of it in there.”