STRICTLY EMBARGOED UNTIL 10pm, Thursday, October 27th 2005

Holland & Barrett welcomed on board,
but
Bassett’s Jelly Babies walk the plank
at Vegetarian Society Awards
sponsored by the Co-operative Bank

Each year, at their annual award ceremony, The Vegetarian Society name the winner of what is known as ‘The Imperfect World Award’.

The purpose of this award is to let manufacturers know that there are products out there that vegetarians want to buy – but won’t – because for some incomprehensible reason they are made using animal products: Isinglass or gelatine in the production process of certain beers and wines, cochineal used to colour sweets, gelatine to set desserts, animal rennet in cheese and whey. All of these items could be produced using vegetarian alternatives to animal products, and by naming and shaming those companies that have chosen (thus far) to ignore their product’s vegetarian potential, the Society hopes to spur them to change.

Indeed, crisp giant, Walkers took heed when they were the recipients of this ‘honour’ two years ago. Within months they re-launched Walker’s cheese & onion flavour crisps, with the announcement that they were now suitable for vegetarians. This year, the Society is pleased to announce that one of the shortlisted three ‘imperfect’ products is no longer eligible for the award: the high street health food store, Holland & Barrett has taken pre-emptive action and happy vegetarians can now buy their own-brand Flaxseed Oil (Linseed oil) capsules WITHOUT gelatine. Earlier this evening, at the award ceremony on the Cutty Sark, TV presenter Wendy Turner Webster and Lord Stratford, the former MP Tony Banks, praised Holland & Barrett for getting on board with vegetarians. Lord Stratford went on to name Bassett’s Jelly Babies as the worst offender to veggies, the popular sweets contain slaughterhouse by-product, gelatine, an ingredient that many people – especially children - may be unaware that they should check for in sweets. Guinness, followed them closely down the plank for the use of isinglass (from the swim-bladders of fish) in their production process.

Tina Fox, chief executive of The Vegetarian Society commented:
“ Choosing a winner for this ‘award’ is bound to be a close call, but we went for Bassett’s Jelly Babies in the end as it seems so unfair that children, particularly vegetarian children, may be scoffing these sweets without being aware that they are, in fact, eating something that comes from the slaughterhouse.”

Bassett’s and Guinness were conspicuously absent from the event, although they had been invited.

Notes for editors

• For more press information / images from the event (available on Friday 28th Oct) please contact Kerry in The Vegetarian Society press office: kerry@vegsoc.org 0161 925 2012, 07973 108165

• The Vegetarian Society credit card was launched in February 2003, in association with the Co-operative Bank. Anyone interested in more information about The Vegetarian Society affinity credit card should ring The Co-operative Bank on 0800 002 006 or visit www.co-operativebank.co.uk

• For information about the services offered by VMM, the UK’s No 1 dating service exclusively for vegetarians and vegans, please visit www.veggiematchmakers.com or contact Alan Wrigley on 0207 039 0059. VMM are approved by The Vegetarian Society. For information about approval and The Vegetarian Society’s Seedling Symbol please visit www.vegsoc.org/business/corporate/index

• Wine at the event donated by Vintage Roots. For more information contact Neil Palmer, Director on 0118 976 1999 or neil@vintageroots.co.uk or visit www.vintageroots.co.uk

• National Vegetarian Week 2006 will run 22-28 May.