Piers Morgan declares war on M&S’s new 100% vegetarian Percy Pig sweets
Marks & Spencer has changed the recipe of its iconic Percy Pig sweets, to ensure every variety is free from animal products.
But while veggies are likely ecstatic, many people have been quick to slate the new formula, including controversial ‘Good Morning Britain’ host Piers Morgan.
News broke this morning that Marks & Spencer has changed the recipe of the iconic British sweet to a vegetarian-friendly one.
READ MORE: Tesco launches a vegan sausage roll
Traditionally, the British confectionary – created in 1992 – was made with pork gelatin, rendering them unsuitable for vegetarians and those who don’t eat pork.
![The new vegetarian Percy Pigs are now gelatine-free. [Photo: Marks & Spencer]](https://s.yimg.com/ny/api/res/1.2/yuPtYf4U1S2ztZrWSfPQ3Q--/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTUyMw--/https://s.yimg.com/uu/api/res/1.2/516LgRuvXlYqXCFBA508Bg--~B/aD03NjU7dz0xNDA0O2FwcGlkPXl0YWNoeW9u/https://img.huffingtonpost.com/asset/5cc9595e240000b5002593d7.jpeg)
A green-eared veggie version – made with beeswax and pea protein – was first created in 2011, available alongside the standard version.
But the brand’s now opted to go entirely vegetarian with its revised recipe, using no gelatine whatsoever, according to reports today in The Sun.
Percy Pigs becoming vegetarian has divided the nation more than Brexit by the looks of it.
— Len (@LenM4) May 1, 2019
A number of Percy Pig fans aren’t happy with the news, tweeting about how their choice has been taken away from them.
There are also claims the new standard veggie variety tastes different compared to the previous kind.
@marksandspencer is it correct that percy pigs are all vegetarian?? What has happened to customer choice🤔🤔
— Julie Smith (@Smithjulie_) May 1, 2019
Today is a sad day #RIPPercyPig as @marksandspencer have decided to change your recipe for good, apparently having both Percy and Veggie Percy is not an option #ShameShameShame #BringBackPercy #PercyPig pic.twitter.com/uZN8BFmyFr
— Aaron Allen (@aaron_mcr) April 30, 2019
so they’ve apparently changed all percy pigs to veggie percy pigs and i am MAD at all the people claiming the veggie ones don’t taste different ???? yes they defo do wtf
— eliza (@elizarachel_) May 1, 2019
Nobody wanted Percy Pigs to become bloody Vegan.
Seriously, if you want Vegan food products - make your own.
I’m sick of this assault on normal food.
Create your own stuff.
Don’t ruin normal sweets.
If you don’t want to have Percy Pigs - Don’t eat them....— Lennon MacEachern-Smith (@lmacec) May 1, 2019
Morgan – who infamously threw up a Greggs vegan sausage roll – has already weighed in on the issue today on ‘Good Morning Britain’.
He spat one of the new Percy Pigs out after sampling it live on air.
READ MORE: Subway launches vegan menu
"It's a pig, it's called Percy the Pig!,” he ranted.
'Vegans and vegetarians - go and get your own sweets!'@piersmorgan isn't happy with the new veggie Percy Pigs... Have you tried them? pic.twitter.com/zbgCHacfff
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) May 1, 2019
"Well get your own damn sweets! Seriously, vegans, vegetarians, go and get your own sweets.”
However, not everyone is against the new Percy Pigs, with many celebrating the veggie-friendly norm and calling out the critics.
ok but im not even vegan or even a real vegetarian but percy pigs taste no fucking different between the two versions except maayyybe the veg ones are very slightly less "foamy" ... i prefer the veg ones bc theyve got green ears ... bonus no animal content. gammon please stop
— ◤ cursebot, agent of fen'harel (@arlathansgrace) May 1, 2019
People who are offended by a sweet changing clearly don't want to be reminded that their sweets have boiled bone in them and want to close their eyes. Good on @marksandspencer for making Percy Pigs accessible to everyone and veggie, which sweets should be. 🐖 #percypig #percypig
— Hollie Adams (@Foxtrevert) May 1, 2019
The world is burning, fascism is on the rise but God forbid we take boiled up bone & connective tissue out of Percy Pigs https://t.co/Ybpb4ETDTJ
— Tracey (@traceymoz) May 1, 2019
Marks & Spencer has gone to great lengths to appeal to its meat-free clientele, but the retailer hasn’t always got it right.
Back in January, they were accused of cultural appropriation after launching a vegan biryani wrap.
