You can definitely make these veggie (Picture: Getty Images)

A lot of people are justifiably shocked that the new £5 notes contain animal fat.

The Bank of England confirmed yesterday that the plastic notes, which have been in circulation since September, contain beef tallow – that is, a dead cow’s body fat, and a byproduct of the meat industry.

Putting meat in the new £5 notes is a massive slap in the face to millions of people

So you can probably understand why so many vegetarians and vegans are upset.

It’s generally possible to avoid animal products in other areas of life – even if it’s easier to find plant-based substitutes for some things than others. But the £5 note is, by its very nature, pretty much the only one you can use – and you’re stuck with it.




However, if there’s one thing veggies are good at it’s finding plant-based substitutes – even when it seems impossible.

So we thought we’d help the Bank of England out by providing them with some alternatives to the fat of slaughtered animals.

What is tallow and why is it there in the first place?

Cows at a British meat market (Picture: Getty Images)

Tallow is animal fat, and it can come from either cows, pigs or sheep, or sometimes horses.

Bank of England confirms new £5 notes contain animal fat

In order to produce tallow, you first need to get hold of the animal’s ‘suet’ – the hard fat found around the kidneys, stomach and some of the other organs.

The main components in rendered animal fat such as tallow are oleic, stearic, palmitic, palmitoleic, linoleic and myristic acid. All of these are used in non-vegetarian pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, inks, paints, glues, soaps and plastics.

It is stearic acid that is used in the plastic in the new £5 notes. It apparently acts as a lubricant and neutralises trace additives in the notes.

Are there veggie-friendly alternatives?

Coconuts! Yum yum (Picture: Getty Images)

Yes, there are – coconuts!

Vegetable-based stearic acid does exist – it’s usually produced by treating coconut oil or sustainable palm oil with water at high temperatures.

This then hydrogenates the mixture to create the acid.

Why doesn’t the Bank of England just use that?

Well, exactly.

The main issue is likely cost. Using plant-based stearic is that it’s a bit more expensive than animal-based stearic.

However the upside, of course, is that you’re not forcing people to go against their beliefs – religious or otherwise.

And with a Change.org petition calling for the veganisation of the notes fast surpassing 18,000 signatures, the Bank of England may want to look into it.