Mars, Twix, etal No Longer Suitable For Vegetarians

I wasn't criticising you - I just wondered why this would bother you if you were not vegetarian. 

My husband isn't vegetarian and he thinks its nasty that a mars bar would have rennet in it.

Most people don't think about whats in the food they eat.  They really should. 

My husband isn't vegetarian and he thinks its nasty that a mars bar would have rennet in it.

Most people don't think about whats in the food they eat.  They really should. 

Vegetarians confuse me! It's OK for a Mars bar to have milk in it, which comes from a cows fourth stomach, but it's not OK to have rennet in it which comes from a cows fourth stomach?!?!?! 

Well, they don't usually kill the cow to get the milk but I don't know how else you'd get its stomach lining. Anyway veggie or not, eating innards is pretty gross if you ask me.

Vegetarians confuse me! It's OK for a Mars bar to have milk in it, which comes from a cows fourth stomach, but it's not OK to have rennet in it which comes from a cows fourth stomach?!?!?! 

You aren't eating the dead animal if you drink milk.  You are eating the dead animal (which has to die for manufacturers to get the rennet) if you eat meat.

That's the difference.

Vegetarians confuse me! It's OK for a Mars bar to have milk in it, which comes from a cows fourth stomach, but it's not OK to have rennet in it which comes from a cows fourth stomach?!?!?! 

Rennet is obtained via the death of the animal, whereas milk is not (not directly anyway). That is where vegetarians have a problem with it.

I am thrilled to hear they have changed their plans. So reassuring to see that people still hold  power so make things happen.

Oh I see - it's not the fact that it has rennet in it, it's the fact that the cow has died to get the rennet. Would it be OK if the cow dies of natural causes? 

As for the innards bit, I'm pretty sure all the bits of a cow we eat are on the inside, the outside is usually better suited for shoes! 

I've never quite understood why some people don't like eating organs but are OK with muscles. Mind you, I've had bad experiences with vegetarians so I may be biased - my ex-girlfriends sister was a veggy and always insisted I cook something veggy for her when she visited us, but when I went there she never returned the favour by cooking me a T-bone. Talk about selfish! 

You aren't eating the dead animal if you drink milk.  You are eating the dead animal (which has to die for manufacturers to get the rennet) if you eat meat.

That's the difference.

What if they just sliced a piece off the cow, but kept it alive, could you eat it then? 

I am thrilled to hear they have changed their plans. So reassuring to see that people still hold  power so make things happen.

Call me cynical, but I thought it was a brilliant marketing ploy on behalf of Masterfoods - you couldn't buy that kind of coverage! 

Call me cynical, but I thought it was a brilliant marketing ploy on behalf of Masterfoods - you couldn't buy that kind of coverage! 

That had crossed my mind too actually! It probably was- but I dont care, it brought the issues of rennet and vegetarianism to the publics attention too 

There was a woman from the Veg. Soc. on the BBC news just now who said that 90% of cheese made in the UK does not contain animal rennet anyway. Brilliant news.

There was a woman from the Veg. Soc. on the BBC news just now who said that 90% of cheese made in the UK does not contain animal rennet anyway. Brilliant news.

I'll be happy when I can find vegetarian marshmallows.  Still on the look out..

I don't like those anyway but I'm surprised there isn't a veggie version, you'd think they could make them with agar or something.

Mars chocolate actually doesn't taste very good anyway. Green & Blacks is better, to name just one. I'm a vegan (well, near vegan. I sometimes eat butter) and I wouldn't eat Mars products anyway because they have milk and stuff in them. But even before I became vegan I didn't like Mars stuff. It's just sweet, it doesn't even really taste of chocolate.

Anyway, the main lesson, and an encouraging one I think, is that when a large consumer group speaks up, industry listens. We should remember this and hit them harder about packaging, waxing, pesticides and factory farmed meat. If we stop buying it, they'll stop making it!

Is green & blacks vegan?

I don't like those anyway but I'm surprised there isn't a veggie version, you'd think they could make them with agar or something.

You can find veggie marshmallows online. I cant think of the companies off-hand, but they do make them.

Some of the green & blacks is vegan yes- the dark and plain chocolate varieties.