Bank defies protests to put animal fat in new plastic £10 note
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THE £5 plastic note will be kept in circulation and a new £10 note issued later this year, the Bank of England confirmed yesterday.
It has promised to introduce more of the indestructible currency despite concerns that it contains animal fat.
Fury erupted among vegetarians and vegans after it emerged tallow was used to make the notes, with 134,000 signing a petition against its use.
The Bank said an “extremely small amount” was used but destroying, reprinting or delaying September’s issue of the £10 note would be costly and harm anti-fraud measures.
However, it held off signing supply contracts for the £20 polymer note, due for release in 2020, to consider plant-based substitutes.
It will make a final decision on £20 notes, and future £5 and £10 notes, by summer. The Bank said it would have incurred major costs if it decided to destroy and reprint existing notes.
It has already spent £24 million printing 275 million £10 notes as well as £46 million printing £5 notes.
A Bank report said: “We work hard to ensure that the public has enough secure notes to use in daily life.
“Destroying the hundreds of millions of notes already printed would put this at risk.”
Petition author Doug Maw, of Keswick, Cumbria, said he would bring a case against the Bank, adding: “They are forcing people who have religious and ethical objections to use something against their beliefs.”