I have now found out why the carob prices have dropped!! :'( :'(

Like Sainsbuggers Morrisons and Tesco, all major users negotiate down their buy prices every year >:( >:(

And McDonalds is no exception to the rule, so this year they must be buying their Carob Gum from Spain

Vanilla Triple Thick ® Shake Ingredients:
Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream: Milk, sugar, cream, nonfat milk solids, corn syrup solids, mono-and diglycerides, guar gum, dextrose, sodium citrate, artificial vanilla flavor, sodium phosphate, carrageenan, disodium phosphate, carob gum, vitamin A palmitate.