Retailers fear that sales of favourite confectionery lines could be hit after Masterfoods announced a recipe change to several of its products.
The manufacturer's decision to use animal products in its Mars Bar, Bounty, Snickers, Twix and Milky Way lines will mean the UK's three million vegetarians are unlikely to buy the snacks. From this month it is using rennet, found in the stomachs of newborn calves, instead of the more expensive veggie alternative.
Neal McCauley of Centra Botanic in Belfast told C-Store: "We have a large student population here and a lot are vegetarian. I'm sure this will hit sales."