Animal fat found in Britain's plastic money; angry vegan community files petition

New Delhi: The Bank of England has decided to change its polymer notes after their animal-fat-infused £5 bank note upset vegans, vegetarians, and other animal advocates.

In a statement, Governor Mark Carney said that a small amount of tallow – a substance produced from animal fat from beef or mutton – was used in the process of making the five-pound note.

"Information recently provided by our supplier, Innovia, and its supply chain shows that an extremely small amount of tallow is used in an early stage of the production process of polymer pellets, which are then used to create the base substrate for the five-pound note," the statement said.

Carney also added that they are looking seriously into the concerns of those who are affected by it.

Even the Bank of England confirmed the news via a Twitter post.

Ever since the news broke, it caused a major uproar from netizens who started a petition to "cease to use animal products in the production of currency." The petition has so far gained more than 120,000 supporters.

A year after the bank signed a deal with Innovia to switch its bank notes to polymer bills, its officials now claim they did not know of this issue upon signing the contract.

It has been reported that the new polymer £10 note will be issued in summer 2017 and the £20 note by 2020.