Hindu group urges Australia to print beef-free banknotes as it hurts their religious sentiments
A Hindu organization reportedly urged the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) to print beef-free banknotes after it was revealed the production of $20 and $100 notes included using cow fat. Reports stated small amounts of tallow, taken from beef and mutton fat, are used in the production of polymer currency to give the notes anti-static properties.
Newly designed banknotes are being introduced in the country, with the newly-printed notes of $5, $10, and $50 already in circulation, according to the Daily Mail. Reports stated the RBA is planning to introduce new notes of $20 and $100 in 2019 and 2020 too.
The President of the Universal Society of Hinduism, Rajan Zed, this week reportedly asked the RBA to "show respect to the feelings of Hindus and come up with a banknote production process which did not use beef as an ingredient."