Far-right organization the English Defence League was not protesting Greggs’ new vegan sausage roll during a demo yesterday, say reports – despite rumors on social media.
The rumors were sparked after photographs showed around 30 EDL members gathered outside a Greggs bakery store in central Manchester.
An eyewitness told the Manchester Evening News [MEN] that the protestors were ‘chant[ing] slogans in favor of Brexit, critical of the police and the press, [and] carrying pro-Trump and English Defence League placards’.
Protest
These photos of the EDL members outside Greggs led to social media users saying they were campaigning against the vegan sausage roll.
One tweeted an image and said: “Anti-Vegan Sausage Roll Protest in Manchester today…looking forward to the new Greggs Brexit Roll….you pay for it…but just receive an empty paper bag! #brexit”
Another added: “Let’s just take a moment to marvel that some people are so draconian that they are barricading a Greggs in Manchester, risking the business and jobs inside, because they do not like the vegans having more option.”
But according to the MEN, the protestors ‘were just being temporarily held outside Greggs as they tried to march from St Peter’s Square up to Piccadilly Gardens’.
Greggs vegan sausage roll
Greggs’ vegan sausage roll has been making headlines since its launch was announced last week. According to the bakery, it created the snack in response to consumer demand.
“Like many food retailers we have seen increasing demand for vegetarian and vegan products,” Roger Whiteside, Chief Executive at Greggs, said in a statement sent to Plant Based News.
“We have been trying to develop a vegan version of our famous sausage roll for some time now. It has not been easy but our taste panel customers all love this one, so we have decided to launch it as our contribution to Veganuary.”