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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Mars bars get veggie status back | Mars bars get veggie status back |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Mars has abandoned plans to use animal products in its chocolate, and has apologised to "upset" vegetarians. | Mars has abandoned plans to use animal products in its chocolate, and has apologised to "upset" vegetarians. |
| The firm had said it would change the whey used in some of its products from a vegetarian source to one with traces of the animal enzyme, rennet. | The firm had said it would change the whey used in some of its products from a vegetarian source to one with traces of the animal enzyme, rennet. |
| The Vegetarian Society organised a campaign against the move, asking members to voice their concerns to parent company Masterfoods. | The Vegetarian Society organised a campaign against the move, asking members to voice their concerns to parent company Masterfoods. |
| Mars said it became "very clear, very quickly" that it had made a mistake. | Mars said it became "very clear, very quickly" that it had made a mistake. |
| In just one week, more than 6,000 people bombarded the company, which produces the Mars, Snickers, Maltesers and Galaxy brands, with phone and e-mail complaints. | In just one week, more than 6,000 people bombarded the company, which produces the Mars, Snickers, Maltesers and Galaxy brands, with phone and e-mail complaints. |
| Forty MPs also signed a petition to voice their opposition. | Forty MPs also signed a petition to voice their opposition. |
| Fiona Dawson, managing director of Mars UK, said the company had listened to customers and decided to reverse its decision. | Fiona Dawson, managing director of Mars UK, said the company had listened to customers and decided to reverse its decision. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY The Mars turnaround is about profit, not people power Michael Winston, UK class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6385&edition=1">Send us your comments "The consumer is our boss and we had lots of feedback from consumers who were unhappy about the change," Ms Dawson said. | |
| "It became very clear, very quickly that we had made a mistake, for which I am sorry. | "It became very clear, very quickly that we had made a mistake, for which I am sorry. |
| "There are three million vegetarians in the UK and not only did we disappoint them, but we upset a lot of the consumers." | "There are three million vegetarians in the UK and not only did we disappoint them, but we upset a lot of the consumers." |
| 'Principled decision' | 'Principled decision' |
| The Vegetarian Society had called the move by Mars "incomprehensible" and "a backward step" at a time when consumers were increasingly concerned about "the provenance of their food". | The Vegetarian Society had called the move by Mars "incomprehensible" and "a backward step" at a time when consumers were increasingly concerned about "the provenance of their food". |
| We are very pleased that they now recognise the importance of integrity to all their customers, especially vegetarians Dr Annette PinnerVegetarian Society | We are very pleased that they now recognise the importance of integrity to all their customers, especially vegetarians Dr Annette PinnerVegetarian Society |
| Mars replied that, by admitting its products were no longer suitable for "extremely strict vegetarians", it was making a "principled decision". | Mars replied that, by admitting its products were no longer suitable for "extremely strict vegetarians", it was making a "principled decision". |
| Now it insists it will begin changing its recipes back immediately. | Now it insists it will begin changing its recipes back immediately. |
| Dr Annette Pinner, chief executive of the Vegetarian Society, said she was pleased Mars had been "honest enough" to admit it had "made a mistake". | Dr Annette Pinner, chief executive of the Vegetarian Society, said she was pleased Mars had been "honest enough" to admit it had "made a mistake". |
| "A Masterfoods representative has made contact with us and we are very pleased that they now recognise the importance of integrity to all their customers, especially vegetarians," she added. | "A Masterfoods representative has made contact with us and we are very pleased that they now recognise the importance of integrity to all their customers, especially vegetarians," she added. |
| Rennet is extracted from calves' stomachs and was to have been used in the ice cream versions of all Masterfoods' bars too. | Rennet is extracted from calves' stomachs and was to have been used in the ice cream versions of all Masterfoods' bars too. |