Rowntree’s gives 139-year-old Fruit Pastilles recipe a vegan makeover

THE 139-year-old recipe for Fruit Pastilles has had a tweak to go vegan.

Until now the sweet, launched in 1881, included gelatine, derived from collagen from animal parts.

Maker Rowntree’s, which is owned by Nestlé, said the move followed requests by veggie fans.

But bosses warned the change will make the sweets “slightly softer”.

Brand boss Meg Miller said: “We want the brand to be enjoyed by as many consumers as possible.”

She also reckoned that softer confectionery “has been a market trend for a number of years”.

The Fruit Pastille was invented by York-based brothers Henry and Joseph Rowntree in 1881.

Now manufactured at Nestlé’s Newcastle factory, the vegan version will be available by February.

One veggie tweeted: “I could never understand why in 2020 people are still making sweets with boiled bits of animals.

"I will be buying some.”

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