Plaza posted the ad on her Instagram page in April 2023. It saw the White Lotus actor claim to have invented a new milk made from trees. The supposedly humorous commercial appeared to be a dig at plant-based milks. At the end of the clip, Aubrey proclaimed that “only real milk is real.”

Many of her followers expressed disappointment in the ad. It came at a time when there is growing awareness of the ethical, environmental, and health costs of dairy milk. Plaza turned off the comments on the post after the backlash.

USDA funds helped create the ad. It comes from the Got Milk? campaign, where high profile celebrities are paid to promote fluid dairy milk.

Did the wood milk advert violate federal law?

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (PCRM) has filed a complaint with the USDA’s inspector general, accusing the ad of violating two federal laws. The committee is a nonprofit animal rights and health group that promotes preventative medicine.

PCRM cited a law that prohibits USDA-backed adverts from disparaging other agricultural products. In addition, commercials should also not influence government action or policy. In the US, the Food and Drug Administration is currently calling for the public to offer opinions on guidelines for plant-based milk labels.

According to the complaint, the Wood Milk ad was created to drum up “backlash” against dairy-free alternatives. “This conduct unabashedly violates the legal guardrails that exist to prevent USDA from promoting one commodity to the detriment of others,” the complaint reads.

Plant Based News contacted the USDA for comment. A spokesperson said that they do not comment on ongoing litigation.

The post Aubrey Plaza’s ‘Wood Milk’ Advert Accused Of Violating Federal Law appeared first on Plant Based News.

The NYC Health Department launched a campaign named “Eat A Whole Lot More Plants.” It will see residents be educated about the health and environmental benefits of eating whole plant foods like fruits, vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts. 

“With the ‘Eat A Whole Lot More Plants’ campaign, we are continuing the important work of transforming New Yorkers’ menus, improving their health, and building a more sustainable world,” Adams said in a statement. “A plant-based lifestyle transformed my life, and helped put my type 2 diabetes into remission.”

“By embracing the power of plants, and ensuring every neighborhood across our city has both the knowledge and the access to healthy foods, we can cultivate a healthier future, one plant-based meal at a time.”

Eric Adam’s plant-based journey

Mayor Adams has publicly endorsed the plant-based diet on a number of occasions, having credited it with helping him overcome his own health conditions. 

He was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2016, and was told by doctors he’d need to be on medication for the rest of his life. After getting advice from scientists at the Cleveland Clinic, he decided to adopt a whole foods plant-based diet, and eventually reversed his diagnosis. 

New York embraces veganism

Mayor Adams has brought in a number of pieces of legislation in line with his belief in the benefits of plant-based eating. 

It was recently announced that all NYC hospitals would serve plant-based food as default. While patients could choose to opt for meat, 60 percent went for the vegan dishes just after the initiative was introduced, and 95 percent were happy with their choice. 

Mayor Adams also collaborated with the American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) to introduce a a $44 million lifestyle medicine training scheme (that includes plant-based nutrition) for the city’s doctors.

“Treating the root cause of chronic disease in this country, and especially lifestyle-related chronic disease health disparities, will positively change the trajectory of both quality of life and health costs,” Dr. Cate Collings, a previous president of ACLM, said in a statement at the time.

 “We applaud Mayor Adams and all the health care leaders in the city for recognizing what an impact they can make through this initiative.”

The post Mayor Adams Challenges 8.5 Million New Yorkers To Eat More Vegan Food appeared first on Plant Based News.

Marielle Williamson, 17, is a senior at Eagle Rock High school in Los Angeles. A vegan of almost three years, she asked if she could hold a day of action to highlight the issues associated with dairy milk, as well as promote the benefits of plant-based milk. The school administration told her she could only go ahead with the plan if she promoted the benefits of dairy. According to Williamson, this would “defeat the entire purpose of the campaign.”

She decided to join a lawsuit filed by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit that advocates for preventative plant-based medicine. Together, they are accusing the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Los Angeles Unified School District, and school administrators of violating her first amendment right of free speech.

“One of the biggest things we’re trying to do is to spread awareness to this information that is overshadowed by dairy industry propaganda,” she told Plant Based News (PBN).

She added: “We’re also hoping that this will cause enough of an impact to change that federal law. And to hopefully allow for new legislation that mandates that any school participating in the National School Lunch Program require that plant-based milk is an option, regardless of intolerance, regardless of medical condition.”

Dairy in US schools

In the US, it is mandatory for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to serve dairy milk in cafeterias. They are also prohibited from “directly or indirectly restricting the sale or marketing of dairy milk on school premises.” The USDA website states that fat-free and low-fat milk “contain essential nutrients that kids need to grow and thrive.”

This is despite the fact that an increasing number of young people are moving away from fluid dairy milk. The New York Times recently described Gen Z as the “Not Milk generation” (a play on big dairy’s famous “Got Milk?” adverts). It was in reference to the fact that younger people are increasingly opting for plant-based alternatives on ethical or environmental concerns. 

Williamson has also highlighted that milk can have significant health costs for many of her classmates. “Some are lactose intolerant, some are grossed out by it, and it’s just so pushed on them,” she told PBN. “Not only do they not really have another option, if there is another option they’re discouraged. It’s almost hidden from them.”

Lactose intolerance is particularly prominent in people who are Asian American, Black, Indigenous, and Hispanic. The continued promotion of dairy in schools has, however, long been considered as problematic and racist by many groups. 

The problem with dairy

There are around 9.4 million dairy cows in the US. The animals tend to be forcibly impregnated each year until their bodies are “spent.” Following this, they have their calves taken from them. When their bodies are worn out, they are sent to the slaughterhouse.

Additionally, slaughterhouse work is highly dangerous and often leads to significant mental health problems for employees. More and more people are therefore abstaining from animal products due to concerns about human rights. Dairy also uses up a great deal of land, and is responsible for around four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions.

Despite growing awareness of the costs of dairy, coupled with the health impact it has on much of the population, the government continues to give out billions of dollars in subsidies each year. 

“They are continuing to invest in an industry that is declining,” Williamson said. “And that is not benefitting anybody.”

The post LA Student Sues High School Over Right To Promote Plant-Based Milk appeared first on Plant Based News.

Spain has banned a longstanding tradition of “dwarf bullfighting” in a move that’s been hailed by campaigners. 

The controversial events saw dwarves chase bulls while dressed up in clown, firefighter, and other costumes. They wouldn’t kill the bulls, and the idea was originally intended to be humorous for spectators. 

‘Shameful performances’

“We have overcome the Spain of the past,” said Jesús Martín, the director general of Spain’s Royal Board on Disabilities, which backed the ban. “People with dwarfism were subjected to mockery in public squares in our country, passing down the idea that it is OK to laugh at difference, to so many girls and boys who go with adults to see these shameful performances.”

The Spanish parliament approved the law at the end of April, bringing the country in line with EU guidelines on discrimination against disabled people. Some of the dwarf bullfighters have opposed the ban, however. Standing outside parliament, they held a banner reading “Libertad,” which translates to “Freedom.”

“They take it for granted that people are being denigrated or laughed at, and it’s the opposite: the respect they have for us is impressive,” Daniel Calderón, one of the bullfighters, told the EFE news agency.

The cruelty of bullfighting 

Animal rights groups, however, have celebrated the ban. 

“Ridiculing others for the sake of entertainment is wrong and must end,” PETA’s Vice President of Programmes Elisa Allen told Plant Based News (PBN). “While PETA welcomes a ban on ‘comic’ bullfighting, until this archaic spectacle is outlawed altogether, sensitive, feeling beings will continue to be denigrated in the ring, with bulls subjected to a slow, terrifying death as they’re repeatedly stabbed with daggers and swords.”

The “sport” of bullfighting dates back centuries, with some experts predicting the modern Spanish version started in 1726. Despite numerous calls from animal rights organizations over the years, Spain continues to allow bullfighting, despite concerns about animal welfare. 

In traditional bullfights, the animals are injured and killed in front of spectators. The sport often inflicts significant pain and stress on the animal before they succumb to injuries.

While Spain has yet to crack down on the industry in general, animal rights campaigners have expressed hope that public opinion – which is increasingly against bullfighting – will eventually sway lawmakers. 

“Fortunately, opposition to bullfighting in Spain and elsewhere is mounting,” Allen told PBN. “And it’s only a matter of time before these cruel displays are relegated to the history books, where they belong.

The post Spain Bans ‘Shameful’ Tradition Of ‘Dwarf Bullfighting’ appeared first on Plant Based News.

The South American country brought in the new law last month. Speaking about the ruling, federal judge Djalma Gomes said: “Animals are not things. They are sentient living beings, that is, individuals who feel hunger, thirst, pain, cold, anguish, fear.”

The new law is a result of a 2017 lawsuit from the National Forum for the Protection and Defense of Animals, a Brazilian NGO. Heralding the “historic” move, the group praised its recognition of “the suffering caused to animals … in an activity similar to human trafficking at the time of slavery.”

Other animal groups have also praised the decision. “We welcomes the verdict of the Brazilian court to ban live cattle exports from all ports,” James West, Senior Policy Manager at Compassion In World Farming, which campaigns against live exports, told Plant Based News (PBN). “We hope that the Government will not appeal this decision so that Brazil can end this cruel trade once and for all.”

The cruelty of live exports

Exporting live animals from country to country is a hugely controversial practice. Each year, millions of animals endure journeys of hundreds – and sometimes thousands – of miles. They typically travel by truck, train, plane, or ship. 

Such journeys inevitably come with huge welfare costs for animals, who suffer from dehydration, stress, hunger, and overcrowding. Many will die before they reach their destination. Cattle aren’t the only animals to fall victim – horses, pigs, goats, and sheep are also regularly exported. 

As well as the suffering endured on regular crossings, some animals have also perished in accidents at sea during transport. In 2019, a ship named the Queen Hind carrying 14,000 sheep from Romania to Saudi Arabia capsized. Almost every single animal drowned .

The world moves away from live exports

Brazil is just the latest in a long line of countries to have made moves away from live exports in recent years. In April 2023, New Zealand’s (Aotearoa’s) ban on the practice was enacted. The country, which previously exported live animals for breeding, not slaughter, made the decision two years after 41 crew members and 6,000 cattle died after a ship sank during a storm. 

The country’s environment secretary, Damien O’Connor, said the ban would protect the country’s reputation as consumers become more and more conscious about animal welfare. 

There are also increasing calls across Europe to ban live exports. Luxemburg last year cracked down on the industry, and Germany recently announced that it would stop exporting to countries outside of the EU. Romania – a top sheep exporter – has reportedly been considering a ban since the sinking of the Queen Hind.

The post ‘Animals Are Not Things’: Brazil Bans Live Cattle Exports appeared first on Plant Based News.

The Humane League and law firm Advocates For Animals are taking the government to court over the modern broilers (those raised for meat), who have been selectively bred to grow around 400 percent faster than they naturally would. Campaigners say that breeding chickens in this way goes against animal welfare laws. 

Packham, who was at court for a separate case, joined poet and writer Benjamin Zephaniah and TV personality Lucy Watson in holding banners outside the court. They chanted “justice for chickens” as they urged the government to end the use of these “Frankenchickens.”

Opening the case for the Humane League, Edward Brown KC said: “These breeding practices have increased meat yield, and allowed producers to significantly reduce cost, at the expense of substantial welfare detriment.”

He went on to highlight welfare issues, including musculoskeletal and cardiovascular disorders such as leg weakness, ascite (buildup of fluid in the abdomen), breast muscle diseases, as well as higher mortality rates.

He said that these were all “exacerbated as a result of the high-density intensive conditions in which the animals are kept.”

Are Frankenchickens illegal?

Campaigners claim that the use of Frankenchickens in farming is illegal. Despite this, they make up around 90 percent of the more than one billion chickens killed for food each year in the UK. 

The Welfare of Farmed Animals Regulations 2007 (WOFAR) states: “Animals may only be kept for farming purposes if it can reasonably be expected, on the basis of their genotype or phenotype, that they can be kept without any detrimental effect on their health or welfare.”

According to Brown, Frankenchickens go against this guideline. He cited an RSPCA report, which stated: “fast-growing breeds cannot be kept without detrimental effects to their health and welfare.”

The Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the defendant in the case. It argues that it has no policy which condones or permits the use of Frankenchickens.

What’s the alternative?

Many campaigners argue that we shouldn’t farm chickens at all, but there are also alternatives to Frankenchickens that some say are a more ethical alternative. In the Netherlands, for example, it’s thought that 100 percent of broiler chickens are a slower growing breed. 

The hearing judgment will be released at a later date, and The Humane Society is hoping it will lead mark the beginning of the end for fast-growing chickens. 

“The future of billions of animals hangs in the balance. I hope that fast-growing Frankenchickens, who are born and die in grim factories across the country, get the help they desperately deserve,” Sean Gifford, Managing Director of The Humane League UK, said in a statement.

“Fast growing chickens are trapped in their own bodies and are victimized by constant pain and illness. We want a future where animals are treated with compassion and respect. That is a future where Frankenchickens no longer exist.”

The post ‘Justice For Chickens’: Chris Packham Joins Protest Against UK ‘Frankenchickens’ appeared first on Plant Based News.

Now, those found guilty of “aggravated trespass” can face up to two years in prison (formerly one year). And, a fine of AUS $24,000. If a judge negates a custodial sentence, they are legally required to impose a fine and a community service term.

The law has reportedly been implemented to protect the agricultural sector. It is now in full operation, alongside a revised Animal Welfare Act. The latter gives recognized officials more power to enter and monitor animal food source production facilities.

Australian officials are adamant that stricter trespass laws, coupled with welfare transparency, will quash activists’ needs to uncover animal cruelty.

“By enhancing the existing animal welfare inspection regime, animal advocates will no longer be able to use lack of transparency in abattoirs and other intensive production facilities as a reason for their illegal actions,” Attorney General John Quigley said in a statement. “And they will face far greater consequences should they break the law.”

Animal advocates call out farm trespass law

However, anti-animal cruelty organizations are concerned that the new legal protections will allow animal abuse to fly under the radar.

Rebecca Linigen is the national director of activist organization Four Paws Australia. Speaking to Plant Based News, Linigen said: “Legislation like this, commonly referred to as ‘ag-gag legislation’, claims to benefit animal welfare but this is a smokescreen commonly used.

“The reality is it is intended to stifle transparency and the public’s access to accurate information about just how animals get from farms to our supermarket shelves.”

Linigen added that animal welfare is considered a top priority by Australian citizens. Unfortunately, research indicates that they do not have confidence in existing standards. Linigen explained that penalizing those who uncover animal abuse within the food system will do little to inspire public trust. 

Four Paws suggests that in place of anti-activist legislation, contemporary accountability measures should be put in place. It calls for mandatory CCTV in all commercial animal enterprises (such as farms and slaughterhouses). And, enhanced funding for animal protection enforcement. 

A ‘smokescreen’

Similarly, Australia’s Animal Justice Party also regards the new legislation as a smokescreen. The party notes that the introduction of unauthorized people into a food production setting is commonly used as a biosecurity-related argument against activism. This, despite the inherently unhealthy conditions facing animals in factory farming locations.

“Factory farms are, in and of themselves, biosecurity risks. Their very existence – animals crammed together, the overuse of antibiotics, the filth and disease, trucks entering and leaving farms regularly – should be the concern, especially in light of zoonotic pandemics,” Michael Anagno of the Animal Justice Party told PBN. “Yet the legislation appears to be more worried about the supposed biosecurity risk that a very small number of animal activists may cause by setting foot on an animal agriculture property.”

Anagno concluded that his party is very interested to know how the government will address the biosecurity threat of intensive animal farming as a whole.

The post Australia’s New Farm Trespass Law A ‘Smokescreen’ To Criminalize Animal Activists  appeared first on Plant Based News.

Caterers are seemingly reducing the meat content of menu items to try and stay within government-mandated budgets. Specifically, items such as sausages are being produced with less meat content.

Primary schools – which teach children aged four to 11 – are allocated £2.41 per child, per meal. The money comes from the government as part of its free meals initiative. However, this is not enough to accommodate rising supplier costs which come as a result of inflation-induced food, energy, and transportation price hikes. 

It should be noted that free meals are only offered to children up to age six. After year two of primary education, free meals are offered only to those that can prove they are struggling financially. This is in stark contrast to Scotland and Wales, which have both announced universal free school meals. The measure will apply to all children for the duration of their primary education.

Primary schools in England now face a dilemma: plug the funding gaps out of their own budgets to supply the same quality of (meat-filled) food to their pupils or make sacrifices to stay within their funding allocation. This difficult decision comes after some schools opted to start growing their own produce last year, in a bid to lessen their financial burden.

Meat content in school meals is a problem

Conservative MP Steve Brine brought the issue to the attention of the government. He claims that a school within his Winchester constituency has seen its catering costs rise to £2.80 per meal. This, he explained, leaves a 39 pence shortfall, which the school has to fund with £3,000 from its annual budget. 

“Put simply, there is a gap between the funding received and the cost of putting good quality food on the school table,” Brine told MPs in a Westminster debate. “Some wholesalers have reported they are reducing portion sizes. Thinner sliced ham in the baguettes and reduced meat content in sausages as two examples. That should worry all of us.”

Brine went on to highlight that the government has increased meal funding by seven pence per serving but that this is still “well behind the current rise in food inflation.” As a result, he fears that many children are getting less nourishing and smaller meals. 

The latter is particularly worrying for families facing poverty already. Free school meals offer a lifeline and a guarantee of one sizeable hot meal a day for children from underprivileged households. If they are adapted to a cold-packed lunch, or worse still, if parents are asked to subsidize their children’s meals, it could affect pupils’ health. Not just that, youngsters’ abilities to concentrate and learn could also be hampered.

Vegan school meals instead?

There appears to have been little or no discussion about reducing school catering costs by opting for plant-based menus. This, despite meat content being reduced in supplied foods and compromising the nutritional value of prepared lunches.

Already campaigning to introduce plant-based meals to schools is food advocacy group ProVeg, with support from TV presenter and activist Chris Packham. Together, they are promoting the “School Plates” initiative which helps schools make the switch from meat to vegan meals. The endeavor is promoted for the sake of children’s health, the environment, and to save valuable education budgets. 

ProVeg offers on-site support to assist caterers as they look at creating meat-free recipes and provides free-to-download recipe books. At last count around 3,500 schools were on board. However, this number could increase significantly now that financial strain is showing throughout England.

The post Primary Schools In England Are Serving Less Meat To Cut Costs appeared first on Plant Based News.

Andrea Papi, 26, was found dead on a wild bear-populated trail earlier this month displaying claw and bite marks. Following his death, a female bear – called Jj4 – was captured and relocated to a wildlife park while authorities debate whether she should be killed.

Governor Maurizio Fugatti is adamantly calling for the “culling” of Jj4, also known as Gaia. Having issued a death order, his decision was suspended by the Regional Administrative Tribunal while the case is looked at more closely. Behind the suspension is a coalition of activist groups–including the International Organisation of Animal Protection–which submitted an appeal. They have vowed to protect Gaia, and the cubs she has birthed, “via all available legal means.” 

A petition was also launched and already has the support of more than 300,000 people. They include veterinarians who are reportedly threatening to refuse a kill order while demonstrations continue outside the governor’s office. 

Also stating that they do not want to see the bear destroyed are Papi’s parents. His mother told reporters that local residents were not aware that bears in the area were “problematic.”

Waiting for Gaia’s official judgement

Gaia was identified as Papi’s attacker due to DNA left on a stick that Papi used to defend himself. It comes after she was found to have non-fatally mauled a father and son in the same area last year. This evidence is being used to present her as a persistent threat.

“If the court proves us to be right, the bear will be put down,” Fugatti said in a statement. “It is the news we would have liked to have given in 2020 following the attack against a father and son. There is bitterness about what has happened this time.”

The court’s final decision is expected on May 11. In the meantime, Fugatti is also considering the deaths of two more bears who are thought to have attacked humans. This comes alongside a plan to relocate 60 “excess” bears from Trentino after a program to repopulate the species was more successful than anticipated.

Bears in Trentino

The EU-funded Life Ursus project saw 10 bears moved from Slovenia to Trento in an attempt to rewild the area. The initiative was deemed essential for the integrity of the local ecosystem, as bears lived there prior to increased urbanization.

However, the bears’ numbers have naturally increased to around 100, causing local officials to now declare them a threat. Citizens are reportedly divided about their growing numbers with many loving the animals and wanting to help protect them, while others deem them a nuisance and a concern.

The post Calls For Italian Officials To Spare Life Of Mother Bear Who Killed Jogger appeared first on Plant Based News.

The environmental pledge comes as the city released its first inventory of greenhouse gas emissions. The inventory was compiled by the Mayor’s Office of Climate & Environmental Justice. It revealed that, after buildings and transportation, food accounted for the third-largest proportion of emissions in New York, amounting to 20 percent. 

The inventory also specifically names “meats, poultry, fish, eggs, and dairy products” as primary contributors to New York’s environmental impact. Conversely, it says that: “New Yorkers can significantly reduce the city’s emissions by eating more low-carbon food, including fruits, vegetables, grains, and legumes.” 

As such, nutritional initiatives are being developed by the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy to support widespread emissions reductions.

“New York City is leading the world when it comes to combating climate change because we’re using every option on the menu in our fight. And that includes changing our menus, too,” the predominantly plant-based Mayor Adams said in a statement. 

“This new emissions report shows us that plant-powered food isn’t just good for our physical and mental health, but good for the planet as well. We’ve already made great strides in reducing our food emissions by leading with plant-based meals in our public hospitals and introducing Plant-Powered Fridays in our public schools. Now, we know we need to go further.”

Civil agencies lead the emissions cull

The lion’s share of emissions reductions will come from New York agencies seeking to reduce their food carbon emissions. With hospitals and schools already working toward an increasingly plant-based agenda, a further 40-plus government departments should now take action. These are likely to include New York’s police and fire departments, the Sheriff’s office, and more.

In addition to civil agencies, the private sector is expected to participate meaningfully to bring down its food-based environmental consequences. The Corporate Challenge has set private companies the target of slashing their food emissions by 25 percent, also by 2030.

To support companies in their efforts, educational resources are offered by Mayor Adams’ office. They are supplied as part of a partnership with carbon consultancy Greener by Default and food impact organization CoolFood.

As of yet, no specific reduction actions have been announced. However, multiple agencies – including the Department of Correction – have pledged their support.

Plant-forward messaging from Eric Adams 

Mayor Adams, who adopted a mostly plant-based diet for health reasons in 2016, has routinely sought to increase New Yorkers’ access to vegan foods since his 2022 election. 

In addition to more plant-based menus in schools and hospitals, the politician made March 20 a meat-free holiday. These initiatives came alongside signing New York up to the C40 Good Food Cities Declaration last year.

The post New York City Pledges To Cut Its Food Emissions By A Third appeared first on Plant Based News.

The request comes from Zack Polanski, a Green Party Member for the London Assembly. In an open letter to Khan, he highlighted the importance of plant-based diets for addressing the “climate and ecological emergency.”

Polanski said that food consumption is a huge part of the “decarbonization puzzle.” He also pointed out that five percent of food consumed in London, by mass, is meat – yet meat is responsible for 27 percent of total household emissions. In contrast, fruit and vegetables make up 21 percent of food mass consumed in the city, but generate just four percent of consumption-based emissions.

“As Mayor of London you have significant influence over these food-based emissions,” Polanski wrote. “From your international platform (where I note your engagement with the work done in this area by Mayor Adams of New York) to using Mayoral programs across health and environment to their fullest extent.

“I believe you can go much further with your actions.”

Will London move towards veganism?

Polanski went on to suggest that Khan works with ProVeg UK, an organization that promotes plant-based eating, on his free school meals funding commitment. He pointed out that its School Plates initiative is already delivering free menu support services to more than 5,000 UK schools.

This, he added, plays a part in “reducing environmental impact, improving child health and saving money.”

He also suggested Khan signs the Plant Based Treaty, following in the footsteps of UK cities like Edinburgh and Norwich. The treaty is an initiative aiming to address environmental issues caused by animal agriculture and support a shift to more plant-based diets. Cities that endorse it may take a variety of steps to do this, including building no new animal farms and introducing vegan meals in schools. 

Polanski said that signing the treaty would be “a sound basis for progressing this conversation based on up-to-date data and research as it pertains to London.”

The environmental cost of animal agriculture

The Plant Based Treaty was introduced as an extension of the Paris Climate Agreement, which aims to limit global heating to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels.

Studies have found that such a limit would be impossible with our current food system, even if we eliminated all fossil fuels immediately.

Animal agriculture is a leading cause of global greenhouse gas emissions, responsible for at least 14.5 percent of the world’s output. It’s also a primary driver of deforestation and biodiversity loss.

The post London Mayor Urged To Make City More Plant-Based To Meet Climate Goals appeared first on Plant Based News.

Some egg producers stand accused of using deliberately confusing language to make their products seem more welfare-compliant. This, after a ban on battery farming began on in January of this year, with producers switching to marginally larger wire enclosures.

Helen Beattie, managing director of Veterinarians for Animal Welfare Aotearoa (VAWA), cites “blurring messages” about the continued use of cages as a cause for consumer concern.

“Many Kiwis don’t know that colony cages still exist and house about a third of our layer hens,” Beattie said in a statement. 

She went on to comment that some egg producers “deliberately avoid use of the word cage” on their product packaging. Instead, they appear to romanticize the notion of “fresh colony eggs.”

“Unless an egg-lover understands the farming systems used in New Zealand, it’s easy to miss that where marketing states ‘colony’-then-insert-anything here, it ultimately means ‘colony cage’ with marginal improvements in the hens’ lives,” she concluded.

It’s the lack of transparency surrounding colony farming techniques that has propelled vets to demand increased honesty.

Battery vs colony egg farming: how do they differ?

Though larger than battery cages, colony enclosures still facilitate multiple birds being crammed into metal boxes. This restricts their movements and natural behaviors, such as dust bathing, scratching, and pecking.

Colony cages contain around 60 birds, each having around 750 square centimeters (approximately an A4 sheet of paper) of space. Such enclosures are permitted to be stacked on top of each other, just as they were in battery operations.

Battery and colony laying are very similar, with the latter affording birds a little more space. However, experts say that it is still not nearly enough to live a life free from suffering. This has led organizations including SAFE to regard colony cages as breaching New Zealand’s Animal Welfare Act 1999.

The Royal New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) also opposes colony cages. The organization has disagreed with the Ministry for Primary Industries’ (MPI) claim that the confines allow hens to participate in natural behaviors. 

The SPCA further says that an increasing number of consumers do not want to support colony eggs. This could lead to speculation that many are unwittingly doing so.

New Zealand’s egg farm cruelty

This is not the first time that New Zealand egg farmers have been called out for a lack of transparency.

In 2021, a whistleblower from the egg industry revealed extensive animal cruelty at a Northern Eggs chicken farm. The MPI claimed that it found no evidence of animal mistreatment. It later admitted that it forewarned Northern Eggs that it would be investigating, thereby allowing time to discard incriminating evidence.

The post Egg Producers In New Zealand Are Misleading Shoppers, Vets Warn appeared first on Plant Based News.

The vegetarian politician made his opinion known while speaking remotely at a World Bank event called Making it Personal: How Behavioural Change Can Tackle Climate Change, held on April 14.

“When an idea moves from discussion tables to dinner tables, it becomes a mass movement,” Modi said. “Making every family and every individual aware that their choices can help the planet, can provide scale and speed.” 

Promoting sustainable habits in India

Modi noted that financial assistance will be necessary to help households adopt more sustainable practices. It comes as World Bank pledged to increase its climate funding by nine percent, leading Modi to state that “behavioral initiatives,” alongside procedural ones, must be financed to instill definite change.

Modi did not expressly recommend any one type of sustainable diet, but appeared to support more plant-based ingredients in the food system. These included references to adopting natural farming, which is commonly associated with regenerative crops, and the promotion of millet grains in everyday diets.

Modi also discussed, in detail, India’s Mission LiFE climate initiative, which seeks to educate the country’s population about responsible resource use. Central to the endeavor are sustainability drives to save water and energy, whilst encouraging India’s people to adopt “healthy lifestyles.”

Fighting the climate crisis with plant-based foods

India is a major driver of the plant-based sector, though it still consumes large amounts of animal products.

Figures show that in 2022, India consumed four million metric tons of poultry. Additionally, sales of meat, including “seafood,” have increased year-on-year since 2014.

Alongside meat consumption, India plays host to the world’s largest dairy sector. Together, these elements contribute significantly to the climate crisis, given the environmental harm caused by meat and dairy production.

Greenpeace reports that agriculture and deforestation combined account for a quarter of all greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, animal farming, it claims, makes up 60 percent of all agricultural emissions. As a result, experts have started recommending plant-based diets to help alleviate symptoms of the climate crisis.

Currently around 574 million people follow a meat-free diet in India. However, only nine percent of the population uses the vegan label. 

The post India’s Prime Minister: Climate Crisis Must ‘Be Fought From Dinner Tables’ appeared first on Plant Based News.

West Hollywood has become the first city in the US to ban glue traps, prompting celebration from animal rights campaigners. 

Glue traps are trays lined with sticky adhesive that are used to dispose of animals, mostly rodents, insects, and snakes. Animals caught in them often panic and struggle, which causes them to become even more stuck. The glue often pulls off their fur or feathers, causing a prolonged and painful death.

According to animal rights organization PETA, it can take days for animals caught in glue traps to die. They may pass away of blood loss, suffocation, hunger, thirst, or be crushed by garbage when disposed of while stuck to the traps. 

Following conversations with PETA, West Hollywood City Council voted unanimously to to ban the traps. “By keeping cruel glue traps out, WeHo is a trailblazer for vulnerable little animals,” said PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman in a statement.

“PETA thanks city officials for protecting animals from horrific cruelty and urges lawmakers across the country to follow their lead.”

The problem with glue traps

As well as causing an agonizing death, glue traps also catch a large number of animals who weren’t intended to be trapped. These include birds, squirrels, lizards, and animal companions. 

What’s more, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned the public not to use the traps as they increase human exposure to disease. This is because animals trapped will produce urine and feces, meaning pathogens are transmitted. 

How to humanely remove rodents from your home

There are a number more humane alternatives to glue traps. These include eliminating food sources by keeping counters, cabinets, and floors clean, meaning they may leave your home of their own accord. 

PETA also recommends leaving ammonia-soaked cotton balls near where their droppings or nests have been seen. These may drive rodents out of your home, as they hate the smell. You should always give animals a few days to leave before considering other options. 

If there is still a problem, you can buy humane cage traps, which trap the rodent safely, meaning they can be taken outside unharmed. PETA says that they must be checked at least hourly, so the animal doesn’t become too stressed or dehydrated. You can buy one for $15.99 from PETA. 

The post West Hollywood Becomes First US City To Ban Glue Traps appeared first on Plant Based News.

Due to begin last year, the ban would have seen the sale of foie gras prohibited in the most populous city in the United States. However, duck and geese farmers are driving a fresh bid to overturn it.

At the time of the ban’s proposal, legislators, backed by then-NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, put the cruelty of the foodstuff’s production front and center. It was determined that force-feeding ducks and geese to unnaturally engorge their livers is not ethical and should not continue.

However, just as the ban was expected to take effect, a reprieve was granted to two upstate farms.

New York foie gras farmers fight back

Taking their fight to a state level, foie gras manufacturers Hudson Valley and La Belle secured a State Supreme Court injunction against the NYC ban, in September 2022. At the same time, the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets referred to the incoming ban as “unreasonably restrictive” and sought to challenge its legitimacy.

Foie gras farmers claim that the ban will significantly reduce their income. Hudson Valley vice president Marcus Henley cites figures up to 25 percent. This represents around $6.25 million if he can no longer supply foie gras, which he claims does not involve cruel processes, to NYC customers.

The injunction has now set off a chain of events, including a fresh lawsuit filed by NYC. In its legal papers, the city claims that farmers are exaggerating the impact on their livelihoods. This, given that they are free to sell foie gras anywhere else and manufacture other items.

Furthermore, it claims that the Department of Agriculture has overstepped and involved itself unnecessarily.

Current NYC Mayor Eric Adams has taken over the fight to uphold the foie gras ban. A keen plant-based advocate, Adams is anticipated to maintain a firm stance on the issue.

France wades into the US debate

NYC’s ban followed California’s own foie gras prohibition, which came into effect in 2012 and has been challenged multiple times. In both cases, duck and geese farmers found an ally in France, where foie gras is an indelible part of its cuisine’s heritage.

In 2004, France objected to California’s incoming foie gras ban, claiming that it would be an “assault on French tradition.” Now, as NYC seeks to uphold its own ban, the French Consulate has corresponded with the city council. It reportedly sent letters asking for the fate of 1,300 restaurants that serve the product to be considered.

It should be noted that the consulate does not speak for all of France. Multiple regional mayors have removed the foie gras from their official menus. Lyon’s Grégory Doucht was the most recent, in December 2022, stating that its production “goes completely against animal wellbeing.” 

Additionally, New York City citizens have previously voted overwhelmingly to support a ban, with 81 percent being in favor of taking foie gras off the menu.

Animal torture in the name of ‘luxury’

Foie gras is made from the fatty livers of specific duck and geese breeds who have been repeatedly force-fed.

To get the birds’ livers to the required size, they are contained in small cages where they endure tubes (formerly metal but now, more “humane” plastic alternatives) being forced down their throats. They are then pumped full of seed and water, at least twice a day, for around 12-17 days, until their livers swell to up to 10 times their regular size.

Once birds’ livers are commercially viable, the animals are slaughtered and have them removed. This is commonly carried out when they are approximately 100 days old. However, many die during the feeding phase due to choking on their own vomit or suffering from grain in their lungs.

The post New York City’s Foie Gras Ban Challenged By State appeared first on Plant Based News.

Specifically, it is targeting Tennessee, which recently became the first US state to ban drag shows, including brunches, in public spaces.

The state passed a bill at the start of March that prohibits drag shows, cited as “adult cabaret performances,” from occurring in public or in the presence of children. Drag is also no longer allowed to be shown within 1,000 feet of places of worship, public parks, or schools.

More than 15 other states, including Texas, Idaho, and Nebraska, have also introduced anti-drag bills.

As a result of the new legislation proposals, Eat Just (the maker of Just Egg) has launched its “Brunch Is For Everyone” campaign. It sees the food manufacturer sponsoring drag brunches in Tennessee and supplying them with its vegan egg products. 

Eat Just will also match customer tips given to drag performers at sponsored brunch events.

“We usually stay out of politics, but when you mess with brunch, you mess with us,” Tom Rossmeissl, head of global marketing for JUST Egg, said in a statement.

“Our brand is committed to building a more just, more inclusive world. And we know this wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation is doing the opposite. We want to help, and we’re pretty damn good at brunching, especially for a good cause.” 

A temporary reprieve for drag brunches

One day before the anti-drag legislation was due to come into effect in Tennessee, district judge Thomas Parker granted a two-week injunction.

In his ruling, Parker stated that the new law was too broad. Furthermore, he said that sponsors had failed to adequately demonstrate the need for such legislation. Parker even suggested that the bill was at odds with the US’s treasured First Amendment, which protects freedom of expression.

The timing of the injunction was fortuitous, as it allowed Eat Just’s first “Brunch Is For Everyone” drag event to proceed legally on April 2. The all-ages daytime performance, called Rainbow Brick Brunch, was held at the Atomic Rose club in Memphis. Members of the Eat Just team traveled from California to attend.

It is reported that the event was hugely popular, leaving room for standing patrons only. Eat Just’s vegan breakfast sandwiches are also understood to have sold out.

Sending a message to drag fearmongers

Eat Just maintains that the legislation proposals in Tennessee and elsewhere are attempts to divide communities. This, while trying to smear talented and expressive performers by painting them as predatory and a threat to family values.

Responding to this rhetoric, Eat Just reiterated that it wants to help create a “healthier, more sustainable, and more just world.” As such, it has committed to a multi-platform fundraising effort that will donate funds to the Human Rights Campaign. Local LGBTQIA+ charities, including the Tennessee Equality Project, also stand to benefit.

In addition, Eat Just pledged to raise money to fight the prospective new laws filtering out to multiple US states.

“This law sends a clear and concise message to queer Tennesseans that we are not valued here. Its chilling effects should outrage every American who believes in free speech,” Bella BuBalle, show director and host at the Atomic Rose, said in a statement. 

Global drag superstar RuPaul also commented on the issue, posting an Instagram video that accused politicians of bully tactics and distraction. 

Stating that moves to restrict drag performers and gender-affirming care are simply ploys to take attention away from administrative failures to provide equitable healthcare, education, housing, and jobs, “Mama Ru” ended by reminding people to vote and to donate to the ACLU’s Drag Defense Fund.

The post Vegan Egg Brand Takes On Anti-Drag Laws In The US appeared first on Plant Based News.