|
Reap the rewards and forward this newsletter to someone
who may benefit.
Quotes:
Britain's Vegetarian Society chief executive Tina Fox.
"There are some companies putting gremlins on our
shopping lists,"
Nestle:
"The raw material for cochineal manufacture is obtained
from insects native to Mexico, but a number of
extraction and purification processes have to be gone
through to make the preparation used for food
colouring."
Smarties
News Reports
http://news.google.co.uk/news?hl=en&ned=uk&q=smarties
Did you know that purple and pink smarties contain
crushed insects? This is "old-hat" from as far as we
can remember. We have lived with it for years throwing
out the purple and pink smarties (if you knew, that is)
not ever think that we could or try to do anything about
it. Nothing new about that attitude either. It appears
the Vegetarian Society has decided to do something
positive about. As it is in Muslims' best interests, we
feel we should give strength to this campaign. Where
ever you are in the world reading this alert please take
part in the campaign and send a protest email as below
(or reformulate it, if you wish).
If you are not Interested in taking part then please do
read the article following the sample protest email
below.
-----------------------------------
Send a
New
Message to:
Consumer.Services@uk.nestle.com
C.C. foodguide-owner@yahoogroups.co.uk
Copy Message or send something similar:
I have read the reports of Nestle Smarties containing
crushed insects. As a Muslim, it is deeply offensive to
me that you would use such detestable ingredients.
There are many alternatives that you could use for
example: E129, Carmoisine, beetroot red, which are non
animal derived and would give the colour desired. A
major Multinational company like yourselves should have
no problem finding an alternative wholesome (vegetarian
or synthetic) ingredient to replace it.
I call for Nestle to stop using crushed insects in
Smarties. We hope your company will do the wise thing
and propose to change the ingredients. After all,
crushed insects are simply not wholesome no matter how
many purification process it goes through. I will not
be buying Smarties until this change has taken place. I
will advise friends family and close associates to do
the same. In fact, I seriously consider boycotting
Nestle Products and make use of Masterfoods Skittles and
Cadburys chocolate products as a viable alternative.
Kind regards,
<YOUR NAME>
----------------------------------------------------------
Poor response to Alerts
Last issue, we petitioned our "virtual flock" to log a
protest with Redmill Crisps. Out of well over 500
subscribers, we received only
4 emails.
Obviously, this would not reverse the tenacious decision
of Redmill Crisps. Consequently we mobilised some extra
resources directing a flood of email protests over a few
hours. The result? Well, we had the Managing Director
of Redmill practically begging the Foodguide to take
down the incriminating write-up with a promise to
provide the information required within a calendar
month.
Why set-up the 'Protest by E-mail' Programme?
We decided to set-up the protest by email venture as it
affords the Muslim Community the opportunity to
strengthen its consumer power. We calculated 10
seconds (maximum 15 seconds) to post your protest
email. It doesn't take much time and all the
information is already pre-prepared - not dissimilar to
a petition in the Masjid to the local council. We hoped
that those out of the UK who receive this Newsletter
would also lend a helping hand after all the Muslims are
one body and a fraternity unto each other.
AlhamdoLillah, we have a wide range of subscribers from
all over the globe.
Muslim Consumer Clout a Necessity
Alhumdolillah, it is a great pleasure and privilege for
the Foodguide to assist the Muslim Community. However,
we need more "Consumer Clout" to assist us to bring you
the product lists that you want! Notwithstanding, we
have to regretfully report that unless future "protests"
are more successful, we will consider discontinuing such
a programme. Our limited resources and time just do not
justify the time spent. We can either answer questions
or manage the sending scores of emails out - not both.
We need 15 seconds of your time for the activism part.
Jewish Consumer Power
We Muslims should learn from the success of other
communities and give credit to the Jewish Community in
particular for their efforts in lobbying and making
themselves heard. In the USA, the Jewish community
number nearly 5,602,000 and though their population is
small they have mustered tremendous pressure for
companies to clamour for Kosher certification amongst
other things. We in the UK have to be satisfied with
the "Suitable for Vegetarians" certification. If we
worked together as Muslims companies would seek want
Halaal certification too Insha-Allah.
The Choice is yours
Please do take part in the email protests in future. It
will not take more than 15 seconds of your time and
Insha-Allah we would have more leverage over companies.
Remember if companies are convinced they might lose
Muslim business, they would immediately assist us with
our queries. This is the simple fact of the matter.
It is up to you. Let us work together on this one.
|
