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V21 2018 INDEX       E-SYLUM ARCHIVE

The E-Sylum: Volume 21, Number 43, October 28, 2018, Article 25

NEW ZEALAND VEGANS PROTEST POLYMER BANKNOTES

The traces of tallow on polymer banknotes has raised a fuss in new Zealand now that the notes are being introduced there. -Editor

New Zealand banknotes Vegans are outraged after learning New Zealand banknotes uses tallow — rendered animal fat from sheep, pigs and cows — as a "slip agent" to prevent friction and static.

The secret ingredient of tallow has been used for more than a decade and only became public when Britain adopted the same technology to produce its £5 note last year, resulting in a UK protest movement.

NZ notes are made up with 1 per cent animal fat.

The news in the UK and Australia has caused a great deal of heated discussion online.

An online video recently posted to Facebook by social commentators Project Nightfall in Australia reveals tallow is used in Australian currency, as well as in bank notes from Canada, Malaysia, Singapore and other countries — a total of 23, including New Zealand.

"This video is not friendly to vegans, Muslims, Hindus or Jews" warns the video.

The video has attracted over 630,000 views, and provoked nearly 5000 shares, and over 700 comments.

Some Facebook users were horrified by the news.

Tallow is already used in a number of household items such as soap, candles, plastic bags, moisturisers, and even some fabric softeners. It's also found in some aeroplane fuel and even in mobile phones. Animal byproducts are also used in many clothing and cosmetics.

I don't know where the "1 per cent animal fat" came from. Figures on similar polymer notes from the Bank of England indicate only trace amount on the order of 5 parts per million, or 1/2000th percent.

Other articles online say the "secret ingredient" "shocked netizens". This aspect of polymer banknotes has been public for some time and as many commentators have noted, it's a big fuss over all-but-nothing. Some people aren't happy without something to get outraged about. -Editor

To read the complete article, see:
Vegans outraged after animal fat used to make NZ banknotes (https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/news/article.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=12149227)



Wayne Homren, Editor

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