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Brits are just making 'morbid' discovery about Lyle's golden syrup lion

Home> Lifestyle> Food & Drink

Published 13:23 11 Dec 2023 GMT

Brits are just making 'morbid' discovery about Lyle's golden syrup lion

Lyle's golden syrup is a staple in UK households

Anish Vij

Anish Vij

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The iconic Lyle's golden syrup hasn't changed packing since 1883 and it was even awarded a Guinness World Record for the world's oldest branding.

Quite simply, it's a cupboard staple for households up and down the country, especially on Pancake Tuesday.

But despite its appeal to pancake-lovers and professional bakers, it seems that people are only just coming across the 'morbid' truth about Lyle's trademark lion.

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If you take a look at the syrup tin, the yellow lion is placed slap bang in the middle of the packaging.

Underneath is the quote: "Out of the strong came forth sweetness".

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After a second or third glance you'll notice the animal appears to be sleeping.

Spoiler alert - it's not.

Taking to X, one woman thinks she has revealed the horrifying truth.

Victoria Nightingale wrote: "Tell me I’m not the only one who didn’t realise the lion on Lyle’s Golden Syrup packaging is depicted dead?!"

In response to Victoria's post, one wrote: "Oh ew I assume they are flies around it! How odd?!"

"Hope never realised and now can’t unsee it," said another, while a third added: "Genuinely ruined it for me!"

A fourth chimed in: "Bloody hell that's a bit morbid isn't it," to which Victoria replied: "I know. Not me all this time thinking it was a happy sleeping lion."

The X user went on to explain the origins of the dead beast, writing: "Apparently it’s a biblical story about a man being strong and killing a lion?

"The guy who created the brand was very Christian so used the image."

Although it's not really something you want to be thinking about when you're slathering syrup all over your pancakes, she's absolutely bang on.

According to Lyle's, the story starts with business veteran Abram Lyle who built a sugar refinery on East London in 1881.

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As part of the company's offerings, he produced the rich golden syrup we know today, originally calling it 'Goldie'.

It didn't take long for it to catch on, with Abram selling a tonne of the stuff a week to grocers across the city.

The product became so in demand that Abram decided to create the famous green and gold tin.

On its website, the company explains: "Lyle had strong religious beliefs, which is why the tin's famous logo depicts strongman Samson's 'lion and bees' from the Bible's Old Testament, registered as Lyle's trademark.

"Where bees produce honey inside the lion's carcass, rich syrup pours from the well-loved tin... and the logo and design remain unchanged to this day (along with the delicious contents, of course)."

So there you have it, you can't beat a bit of morbid history.

Featured Image Credit: Newscast/Getty

Topics: Food And Drink

Anish Vij
Anish Vij

Anish is a Journalist at LADbible Group and is a GG2 Young Journalist of the Year 2025. He has a Master's degree in Multimedia Journalism and a Bachelor's degree in International Business Management. Apart from that, his life revolves around the ‘Four F’s’ - family, friends, football and food. Email: [email protected]

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@Anish_Vij

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