London - Guinness is changing its 256-year-old recipe so it can become vegetarian friendly.
From next year the brewery giant will stop using fish bladders as a filtration agent.
Vegetarians and vegans have long campaigned for the move because it will allow them to drink the stout.
Fish bladders made into an “isinglass” paste have been used in the brewery trade since the 19th century. They help to remove yeast from beer and make it settle faster.
A spokesperson for Guinness said: “We are conscious that isinglass may represent a barrier to consumption of our products to some. As part of our ongoing efforts to further improve the way we make our products we are seeking alternatives.”
Vegans and vegetarians have highlighted the fact breweries are not required to state the use of isinglass on the bottle.
Breweries have fought for its exemption from EU labelling rules on the basis that it has been used for decades with no recorded side effects.
Guinness is understood to be looking at two filtration methods that do not require isinglass – most breweries now use synthetic gelatins to help remove excess yeast from beer.
But only nine months ago the company wrote to Barnivore, an online guide to vegan beer and wine, suggesting no alternative could be found to filter its stout.
The brewing empire was set up in Dublin in 1759 by Arthur Guinness. The company moved its headquarters to London in 1932 and it is now part of the Diageo multinational drinks group.
Daily Mail