Despite announcing moves to include an animal derivative within their chocolate and ice-cream products, Masterfoods have just made an about-face and reversed the decision. Consumer power seems to have made a big impression on the big bosses with over 6000 phone and email complaints since last week's announcement.
So, the good news is that Mars Bars, Twix, Maltesers and all those other yummy goodies will continue to be vegetarian. Hurrah! Masterfoods have apologised for upsetting consumers and says it realised it made a mistake.
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I heard that they began production with the rennet contaminated whey at the start of May, so that any products currently in the shops with a sell-by date of October or later (or maybe it was November) will contain animal products. Last I heard, the vegetarian society was waiting for more details from Masterfoods - unless I hear more, I'll be waiting until December before purchasing any of the affected products, to be on the safe side.
No, the products were destined to be animal free until the October sell by date then would have included animal ingredients. This is now not the case and the products are still, and will remain, veggie.
According to the Guardian, the vegetarian society have been discussing the situation with Masterfoods, and they have not been able to confirm which bars are currently vegetarian and which are not. The about-turn is good news, but I'm not going to be eating any Mars products until they clarify the situation.
Source here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/food/Story/0,,2084418,00.html