Mars starts using animal products

[Marcia]

the question is, do you believe them? 

[MrsR]

Finally got a reply.........

Dear Nikki

Thank you for contacting us regarding the Vegetarian suitability of our snack products.

   

Since the beginning of 2008, some of our best known chocolate snacks - including Mars bars, Snickers bars, Galaxy and Maltesers - now feature the words 'Suitable for Vegetarians' and a letter 'V' printed before the best before date, based on the guidance from the Food Standards Agency relating to vegetarian labelling.

 

We introduced the scheme in response to feedback we received in 2007 when we announced that some of our products might not be suitable for vegetarians. This was a result of changing the supply source of some of the whey we use to make chocolate from a vegetarian-friendly variety to one with traces of rennet, an animal enzyme.

 

Having listened to concerns from more than 6000 of our consumers, we quickly realised we had made a mistake, we apologised, and we immediately reversed the decision. As a result of changing back to our vegetarian-friendly whey, Mars bars, Snickers bars, Galaxy and Maltesers are once again suitable for vegetarians.


 


As a company, we believe in clear, transparent labelling and we introduced this initiative because we want to make products suitable for vegetarians.

 


The vegetarian labelling appears on the back of pack where nutritional information, including Guideline Daily Amounts and ingredients is also listed. The labelling is applied to products which meet the FSA's guidance on vegetarian labelling.

 

Please find below, a list of current Mars UK products that are suitable for a vegetarian diet.

 

For the most up to date information you can access our website at www.marsconsumercare.co.uk.

 

Last updated at 13.00 on 14th March 2008

 

MARS Standard Bar
 
 
MARS Duo
 
 
MARS Snacksize
 
 
 
 
 
SNICKERS Standard Bar
 
 
SNICKERS Duo
 
 
SNICKERS Snacksize
 
 
 

GALAXY Dark
 
 
GALAXY Milk Chocolate Bars
 
 
GALAXY Milk Chocolate Snacksize Bars
 
 
GALAXY Ripple
 
 
GALAXY Minstrels
 
 
 
 
 
Milk Chocolate MALTESERS
 
 
White Chocolate MALTESERS
 
 
 
 
 
REVELS
 
 
 
 
 
TRACKER Burst of Berries Bar
 
 
TRACKER Zingy Lemon Bar
 
 
TRACKER Roast Nut Bar
 
 
TRACKER Choc Chip Bar
 
 
 
 
 
STARBURST Chews Original
 
 
STARBURST Strawberry Mix
 
 
STARBURST Sours
 
 
STARBURST Choozers
 
 
 
 
 
AQUADROPS
 
 
 
 
 
LOCKETS
 
 
 
 
 
TUNES



For information on the vegetarian status of our drinks range see our dedicated website:

http://www.marsdrinks.co.uk/drinks.htm

 
If you need any further information or advice please contact our Consumer Careline on the telephone number below and one of our Consumer Care Advisors will be more than happy to help you.

Kind regards.

Josephine Connah
Consumer Care Team
0800 952 1234

[MrsR]

No reply but have emailed again.

[Mark]

This was from a year ago. I think they backed down when they realised they would lose veggies, Muslims and jews + anyone that didn'r fancy animal in their choclit 

They issued a statement along the lines of "We should have asked our customers first"

[MrsR]

I have emailed Mars themselves, will let you know what reply I get.

[MrsR]

If I don't heart from Notts AR over the next day I will write to Mars myself.

[hOrZa]

Thanks

I hope they don't try this again it was a mistake last time and its still a mistake

[MrsR]

I'll double check with Notts AR's hun

[hOrZa]

This was last year wasn't it? and didn't they back down? have changed their minds back again?

[MrsR]

Mars starts using animal products

Some of the UK's best-selling chocolate bars, such as Mars and Twix, will no longer be suitable for vegetarians.

Also affecting brands such as Snickers and Maltesers, owner Masterfoods said it had started to use animal product rennet to make its chocolate products.

Masterfoods said the change was due to it switching the sourcing of its ingredients and the admission was a "principled decision" on its part.

The Vegetarian Society said the company's move was "incomprehensible".

'Extremely disappointed'

Masterfoods said it had started using rennet from 1 May and non-affected products had a "best before date" up to 1 October.

 Masterfoods' decision to use non-vegetarian whey is a backward step
Vegetarian Society
 

Rennet, a chemical sourced from calves' stomachs, is used in the production of whey.

It will now also be found in Bounty, Minstrels and Milky Way products, and the ice cream versions of all Masterfoods' bars.

"If the customer is an extremely strict vegetarian, then we are sorry the products are no longer suitable, but a less strict vegetarian should enjoy our chocolate," said Paul Goalby, corporate affairs manager for Masterfoods.

The Vegetarian Society said it was "extremely disappointed".

"At a time when more and more consumers are concerned about the provenance of their food, Masterfoods' decision to use non-vegetarian whey is a backward step," it said in a statement.

"Mars products are very popular with young people and many will be shocked to discover that their manufacture now relies on the extraction of rennet from the stomach lining of young calves," it added.