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

Even if you don't use it all that much, chances are there's a sticky, leaking tin of Lyle's golden syrup lurking in the back of your kitchen cupboard.

It's an absolute staple in British households, as is its packaging, which hasn't changed since 1883.

But despite its lengthy history, people are only just making the 'morbid' discovery about Lyle's trademark lion. You know the one:

Wikimedia Commons

At first glance, it looks like the animal is just sleeping. But take a closer look and, well, it's certainly not taking a nap.

Twitter user Victoria Nightingale first pointed out the horrifying truth last week, writing: "Tell me I’m not the only one who didn’t realise the lion on Lyle’s Golden Syrup packaging is depicted dead?!"

Soon enough the revelation caught on, with most Brits being none the wiser that the syrup's main mascot is a dead feline.

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 Twitter 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.

Twitter

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

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.

"'Out of the strong came forth sweetness', as the quote goes.

Tesco

"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 - that napping lion is actually a dead beast being used as a hive by a swarm of busy bees. You can't beat a bit of morbid history, eh?