Mars Petition

[Alexis]

Mars UK have now incomprehensibly started using calf rennet in the manufacture of their chocolate, which means that vegetarians (6% of the UK population) and various religions can no longer eat Mars bars and other confectionary.

Why chocolate needs calf stomach in it is beyond me, but they just sent a letter to the vegetarian society and carried on shipping the now meaty bars with no mention on the wrapper.

Sign the petition below to bring back veggie Mars bars!

http://www.petitiononline.com/MarsWhey/petition.html

 

[Presto]

Weird! Here in the US the Food and Drug Administration is considering "redefining" chocolate...so that it can contain substitute fats instead of cocoa butter.

http://dontmesswithourchocolate.guittard.com/theissue.asp

Why are chocolate manufacturers messing with their recipes?

 

[Alexis]

The European Union wanted to classify UK chocolate as 'vegetable fat' because of the lack of cocoa in it! I think the Belgians and Swiss were getting a bit high and mighty over their high cocoa content choc.

I personally prefer dark chocolate and like chocolate with 70% cocoa in it, although that's too bitter for some.

 

[PlantAKiss]

Unfortunately those online petitions do no good. Petitions aren't valid unless there is a verifiable snail address. Its some poor soul's job to go through signed petitions and verify the addys. A better route is to actually WRITE the company. Post a PDF of pre-written letter people can print and sign along with address to send it to. The name of a person to address it to is even better. That is more effective...just takes more effort.

 

[Alexis]

Hi Suzanne

People who email and write get a standard letter.

There are three main chocolate companies in the UK - Cadburys, Nestle and Mars. Suddenly a third of the market isn't suitable for 6% of the population!

 

[Alexis]

YAY! PEOPLE POWER:

http://www.masterfoodsconsumercare.co.uk/veg_status.asp

Mars backs down after 6000 people contacted them to complain!

 

[PlantAKiss]

Awsome!!! People power!

 

[nepenthes gracilis]

One question what is calf rennet?

 

[Clint]

I think it's an enzyme from a calf's stomach.

 

[phissionkorps]

rennin is the enzyme, rennet is a soln. (extract) containing it.

 

[Clint]

Ohhh so it's stomach extract. Even more appetizing

 

[Alexis]

These are usually veal calves as well, and some meaties stay away from veal too.