Has vegan activism gone too far?

Has vegan activism gone too far?

COLES has apologised after admitting chocolate blocks marketed to vegans actually contained dairy.

Two of the supermarket giant’s products were recalled on Friday following the discovery of the error.

A statement from Coles said: “The recall is due to the presence of an undeclared allergen — dairy — which has not been specified on the label. The label incorrectly advises the product is “suitable for vegans”.

Consumers who have a dairy allergy or intolerance may have a reaction if they consume the product.

The products affected are Coles Sugar Free Dark Chocolate 100g and Coles Sugar Free Dark Chocolate with Almond and Cranberry 100g.

It’s not a problem with a small batch either with Coles saying all blocks, no matter what date code, could be contaminated with dairy.

The company has taken the vegan bars off the shelves due to the muck up.

“We apologise to our customers for any inconvenience,” said Coles.

Customers can return the product to any Coles supermarket for a full refund, and any consumers concerned about their health should seek medical advice.

Coles has a small range of products directly targeting vegan shoppers including vegan bliss balls and vegan chicken-style nuggets.

Unlike vegetarians, who can eat some animal derived predicts so long as the creature is not harmed, vegans are strictly animal free.

Last week, celebrity chef Gordon Ramsey caused a stir when he announced on Twitter he was “Going to give this vegan thing a try”.

The 51-year-old’s latest revelation has shocked many fans, as the three-Michelin-star chef and star of Hell’s Kitchen and Kitchen Nightmares has earned a reputation for being staunchly anti-vegan and vegetarian in the past.

Veganism is a growing trend worldwide and is especially popular in the UK, with the BBC reporting the number of vegans had jumped from 150,000 in 2006 to 542,000 in 2016.