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An online
petition against the notes, started by campaigner Doug Maw, was
signed by more than 13,000 supporters in less than 24 hours.
"This is unacceptable to millions of vegans and vegetarians in
the UK," Maw wrote in the online petition.
"We demand that you cease to use animal products in the
production of currency that we have to use," the petition
continued, adding that some religious groups may also object.
The Bank of England confirmed that tallow, which contains animal
fats, is used in the production of the new currency, and said
the substance was also commonly used in candles and soap.
"We can confirm that the polymer pellet from which the base
substrate is made contains a trace of a substance known as
tallow," a Bank spokeswoman said.
The new, light-blue five pound notes are worth just over $6 and
were introduced in September. They are smaller and stronger,
with more security features than their predecessors, with the
aim of making them harder to counterfeit.
A plastic 10-pound note featuring the author of "Pride and
Prejudice", Jane Austen, is due to appear next year.
(Reporting by Adela Suliman; editing by Stephen Addison and
David Milliken)
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