The Saturday Night Live star called up the animal organization after they criticized him for buying a puppy from a pet store rather than adopting. He and his girlfriend, actor Chase Sui Wonders, were recently spotted buying a Cavapoo in New York City. (A Cavapoo is a mixed-breed dog combining the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Poodle breeds.)

The purchase came weeks after Davidson’s two-year-old dog Henry died after falling ill.

In a statement to TMZ, Daphna Nachminovitch – PETA’s senior vice president of cruelty investigations – said it was “tragic” that Davidson didn’t rescue an animal from a shelter instead. 

“Since shelters in New York and across the country are overflowing with homeless animals, PETA urges Pete to show some big heart energy by adopting, not shopping, in the future,” she added. 

Pete Davidson responds

In a perhaps unexpected move, Davidson decided to respond to PETA’s criticism. In a voicemail sent to the organization, he attempted to justify his decision. 

“Hi, my name is Pete Davidson. This message is for Daphna,” he said. “Thank you so much for making comments publicly that I didn’t adopt a dog. I just want to let you know I’m severely allergic to dogs so I have to get a specific breed.”

He went on to say that his family had been “so sad” since the death of Henry, and that Cavapoos are the only dogs that don’t set off his allergies.

“So why don’t you do your research before you f***ing create news stories for people because you’re a boring tired [bleeped, unclear]. “F*** you and suck my d***!”

The aftermath

PETA retaliated to Davidson’s words, however, stating that there’s “no such thing” as a hypoallergenic dog.

“At least a quarter of dogs in shelters are purebreds, and that Petfinder has listings for homeless dogs of every breed under the sun, including the one he purchased,” they added.

Davidson subsequently said he’s “not sorry” for the voicemail, but did admit that he used a “poor choice of words.”

“I haven’t seen my mom and sister cry like that in over 20 years,” he told TMZ yesterday (Tuesday, June 6). “I was trying to cheer up my family, I was already upset that the store had filmed me without my permission or acknowledgment. Then this organization made a public example of us, making our grieving situation worse.”

“I am upset. It was a poor choice of words. I shouldn’t have said what I said, but I am not sorry for standing up for myself and my family.”

The problem with pet stores

Buying dogs and other animals from pet stores is hugely controversial due to concerns about their treatment. Animals are often sourced from “puppy mills,” where they are typically kept in cramped and filthy conditions.

Some puppies are imported from other countries, and many will struggle to socialize due to the conditions in which they were raised. Selling dogs, cats, and rabbits in pet stores will be banned in New York City from next year.

The post Pete Davidson Leaves Furious Voicemail For PETA Amid Pet Store Controversy appeared first on Plant Based News.

It isn’t known whether he follows the lifestyle in all aspects of his life. He sparked controversy last year after attending a dolphin show while promoting Avatar: The Way of Water. He’s also previously distanced himself from the word “vegan.”

Here’s what we know about Cameron’s diet and whether his lifestyle is vegan.

Is James Cameron vegan?

James Cameron, born in 1954, is a Canadian director, screenwriter, and producer. He is thought to have adopted a fully plant-based diet in 2012, a few years after the release of the first Avatar film in 2009. Avatar carries an environmental message, with the plot revolving around a corporation seeking to extract natural resources from a fictional moon, named Pandora, in the year 2154.

He has since endorsed the health benefits of plant-based eating. Speaking to Deadline in 2018, he said: “The fact that I’ve been eating plant-based for six years, I haven’t been sick one day, I haven’t been sick at all in six years. I haven’t had a sniffle, I haven’t had a flu, a sore throat or anything in six years and that was certainly not the case before that.”

Cameron added that he was on an “enormous mission” to make more Avatar films at the age of 63. And, that he’s “got tons of energy.” He added: “I don’t think I could be doing this if I wasn’t plant-based, not at this age. I think that’s a big factor.”

Veganism on the ‘Avatar’ set

According to reports, Cameron ensured that the production followed the messaging of the film – and he is thought to have enforced a strict vegan food policy on set.

“We have to walk the walk. We have to live our lives, as the people working on this film, consistent with the message of the films,” he is reported to have told the crew. “So we’re all going to eat vegan on this production.”

He is thought to have provided vegan Italian, Thai, Mexican, and other cuisines. While the crew were free to eat meat off-set, many embraced his plant-based catering. 

James Cameron and ‘The Game Changers’

Cameron was an executive producer of the 2018 film The Game Changers. It has since gone on to be one of the most popular vegan documentaries (with a sequel in the works). The film explores the health benefits of a plant-based diet, with particular focus on men and athletes.

“I don’t usually dump my own money into movies but we wrote a pretty fat check to get this film going,” Cameron previously told Deadline. “They had a sizzle reel, I showed Arnold [Schwarzenegger] the sizzle reel, got him involved and so on. It built momentum.”

The film features a number of experts, including a cardiologist named Dr. Dean Ornish. Together, they make the case that plant-based eating reduces inflammation and lowers the risk of heart disease. A number of athletes also appear in the film, including NFL stars. 

“The greatest single barrier to entry for men contemplating [a vegan diet]—even for their own health, even if their lives depended on it, if they were facing a quadruple bypass—is this idea that to be a big strong man you have to eat animal flesh. That’s just wrong,” Cameron said. 

James Cameron renames veganism

Cameron caused a stir in November 2022 after revealing that he refers to himself as a “futurevore” rather than vegan. He said it was an attempt to rebrand the lifestyle, due to the fact that vegan “has all those connotations.”

“The term I came up with is futurevore. We’re eating the way people will eat in the future. We’re just doing it early,” he told GQ. 

Dolphin show controversy

While we know that the filmmaker follows a plant-based diet, there is some debate over whether he’s vegan. Being vegan means not contributing to animal suffering in every aspect of your life (as much as possible), meaning its scope is far wider than what we eat. 

In December 2022, Cameron sparked controversy after attending a dolphin show as part of the press tour for Avatar: The Way of Water.

At a press event in Japan, Cameron and his team watched an Avatar-themed dolphin show at a marine park. Cameron introduced the show, saying “Welcome to Pandora.”

Attending dolphin shows is not compatible with a vegan lifestyle, as the animals are held captive against their will and forced to take part in unnatural performances. After a great deal of criticism from the community, Cameron responded to the backlash. 

In an email to ocean photographer Brian Skerry, which was then posted on Facebook, Cameron wrote: “We were on a whirlwind publicity tour for Avatar: The Way of Water across multiple countries, and I was getting whisked along from one appearance or interview to another for a week straight, literally doing twenty or thirty interviews a day.”

He added that he was handed a schedule that showed an event was taking place at an aquarium. He said that he’d envisaged “something like the Monterey Bay Aquarium, with its great science and conservation programs.” Cameron stated that there had been no mention of a dolphin show, and that he found out “as they were walking on stage.”

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Looking for more content like this? You might like:

• Is Billie Eilish Vegan? Everything She’s Said About The Movement
• Is Ricky Gervais Vegan? Here’s What He’s Said About The Lifestyle
• What Diet Does Bear Grylls Follow, And Was He Really Vegan?

The post Is James Cameron Vegan? Here’s What We Know appeared first on Plant Based News.

Animal rights organization Animal Outlook released the audio. It was part of an investigation into a number of chicken farms owned by Tyson, as well as its competitors. 

As reported by Vox, the undercover investigator recorded a conversation with a farm manager and a “broiler technician advisor” at Tyson. The latter individual worked with a number of chicken farms in Jetersville, Virginia. The farm where the recording was made was not free-range, and the discussion did not focus on one farm in particular.

The myth of free-range

The technician is said to have acknowledged that the “free-range” chicken label is more or less meaningless. At the start of the conversation in question, the farm manager speculated how a Tyson competitor handles “free-range” chickens. To this, the technician replied: “Those birds don’t go outside — you know that. They don’t all go out … Look that up online.”

The farm manager then said: “It’s not like they make it like all of ’em come out and enjoy the sun. That is strictly for commercial [advertising] purposes. They pick the prettiest birds [for commercials] and they toss ’em out in the grass.”

To this, the technician points out that “breeder birds” (those used primarily for breeding, rather than meat) are often used for advertising as they look healthier. 

Speaking to Vox about the findings, the investigator said: “Usually people in [the technician’s] type of position are very guarded about what they say… For her to be so blatant and upfront about this — I was really shocked.”

What does free-range actually mean?

This investigation is just the latest bit of evidence that suggests “free-range” is little more than a marketing tactic.

Many people believe that free-range chickens are raised outdoors. Commercials and advertising campaigns often put across the image that birds spend their lives on green pastures with plenty of space.

The reality, however, often looks very different. To qualify as free-range, under USDA guidelines, producers must attest that birds have some access to the outdoors for most of their lives. In practice, this may mean that chickens are kept in cramped barns with tens of thousands of other birds for most of their lives. The outdoor “access” may be a small door that many may never be able to reach, due to injury, lack of space, or strict pecking orders in the flock. 

There are some farms that raise birds outdoors either all or some of the time, but huge broiler farms are also able to use the free-range label if they offer potential outdoor access.

The post Undercover Audio From Tyson Employee Exposes ‘Free-Range’ Chicken appeared first on Plant Based News.

According to the brand, the shoes “replicate the luxurious look and feel” of animal leather. They are made from 50 percent maize waste and 50 percent recycled polyurethane, and are said to be 63 percent biodegradable. They are also up to four times more durable than animal leather. 

The new collection is mostly made up of black and white sneakers, with some pairs coming in red, green, and blue. They are all handmade in Portugal, and described as “for the eco conscious trendsetter.”

The rise of LØCI

LØCI was founded in 2021, and it’s quickly establishing itself as a key player in the plant-based shoe space. Leonardo DiCaprio invested in the brand last year, and its celebrity fans include Ben Affleck, Jessica Alba, and Mila Kunis. 

“We believe that the measure of our success lies in the magnitude of our impact,” said CEO Emmanuel Eribo in a statement. “Today, it is crucial to go beyond creating exceptional products; we are here to drive change. That is why it is always imperative for us to think differently and swim against the tide.”

One of LØCI’s USPs is that it uses recycled plastic bottles where possible, while also incorporating materials like recycled nylon and brass, cork, bamboo, and natural rubber replace, rather than animal leather. 

LØCI has claimed that it’s prevented around one million plastic bottles from being discarded. It also donates 10 percent of sales to marine organizations SEE Turtles and Sea Shepherd. 

Leonardo DiCaprio supports sustainable brands

Speaking about his decision to invest in LØCI, DiCaprio previously said in a statement that he was “proud” to support a brand “dedicated to minimizing its environmental impact, and centered around creating cruelty-free, ethical footwear.”

The actor has also supported a number of other sustainable fashion brands, including Vitrolabs and Allbirds. He’s also invested in the cultivated meat sector, as well as Lewis Hamilton’s vegan chain Neat Burger.

Those interested can view the new LØCI maize collection here. Prices for the “corn” sneakers start at $215 (£173), and they are available to order online now.

The post Leonardo DiCaprio-Backed Vegan Brand LØCI Unveils Corn Leather Sneakers appeared first on Plant Based News.

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.

Current Foods is known for its sushi-grade salmon and tuna alternatives made from unusual ingredients including bamboo, potato, and algae. Presently, it supplies US and European food service industries, but is not sold directly to the public.

By acquiring all of the Current Foods stock, Wicked Kitchen will gain access to the plant-based sushi market itself.

Speaking about the newest merger, Wicked Kitchen said: “Now, our two purpose-driven brands can better support a single mission: to create amazing foods that work towards improving the environment and the lives of humans, animals, and sea life by inspiring the world to eat more plants.”

A ‘perfect match’

Discussing the merger of the two companies, Wicked Foods’ CEO Pete Speranza said: “Current Foods is a perfect match for Wicked as a global-impact brand with the same mission and complementary products. With this deal and the Good Catch acquisition, we’re uniquely positioned as consumers continually learn about the environmental impact realities on sea life.”

Increased consumer awareness could be one reason why the plant-based seafood market is taking off. Accordingly, the sector is predicted to reach $1.3 billion by 2031, if a 42.3 percent annual growth pattern continues. Consumers are increasingly becoming aware of the environmental cost of “seafood,” as well as the ethical implications of fishing.

Wicked Kitchen’s global growth

Starting life in 2018 as an in-house brand for UK supermarket chain Tesco, Wicked Kitchen has grown hugely.

Today, the brand has a presence in Asia, the US (including at sports events), and across Europe, with a product range that is hundreds-strong. Moreover, it is also diverse. It ranges from frozen meals to wraps, plant-based meat slices, and more.

The post Wicked Kitchen Just Bought A Second Vegan Seafood Company appeared first on Plant Based News.

The model and media personality shared the photos over the weekend to her 49.5 million Instagram followers. The images show Bieber posed on a boat while dressed in a bikini and wet t-shirt carrying the words.

She captioned the post: “all I know is, I’m about to have the best summer of my life,” alongside the glass of milk emoji. The photos may come as a surprise to some, as Bieber previously hailed the benefits of a plant-based diet.

Bieber is the latest celebrity to be associated with the “got milk?” campaign, which comes from the dairy industry. It sees famous faces paid to promote dairy milk consumption. Emma Roberts, Emily Ratajkowski, and Aubrey Plaza have made similar posts in recent months. 

Got milk? controversy

A number of people criticized Bieber’s recent post, pointing out the ethical costs of the dairy industry. Seb Alex, a well-known vegan campaigner, wrote: “The reason dairy is falling is because people are realizing they’re not baby cows and don’t need to drink the breastmilk that cows make for their babies. Not to mention what actually happens to these cows in this messed up industry.”

He added that it’s “sad” to see her use her platform to advertise a product “based on animal abuse.” Activist Rob Banks wrote that it’s “so strange” to see celebrities starring in these campaigns. 

Got Milk? was launched in 1993. It became famous for featuring a number of well-known celebrities donning milk mustaches. The ads were shelved in 2014, but similar campaigns are seeing a resurgence.

Most recently, White Lotus star Aubrey Plaza sparked controversy after appearing in a fake advert for “wood milk” that parodied the plant-based milk industry. In it, she stated that “only real milk is real.” The actor turned off her comments after backlash, with some accusing her of being a “dairy propagandist.”

The fall of dairy milk

Big dairy’s decision to invest huge amounts into such campaigns is likely in response to the decreasing popularity of fluid milk among younger generations. A recent New York Times article dubbed generation Z the “Not Milk generation.” This was in reference to the fact that they bought 20 percent less milk than the national average last year. 

As well as growing awareness of the environmental and health impacts of dairy, many young people are increasingly concerned about the ethical costs of the industry. “Dairy cows” are forcibly impregnated in order to produce milk, usually every year. Each time, their newborn calves are taken away so that their milk can be used for humans. The separation typically happens within hours after birth. This causes huge distress to both mother and baby, who will often bellow and cry out for days after they’re gone.

Due to the conditions in which they’re kept, lameness and mastitis, among other health problems, are common in dairy cows. When their bodies are worn out, they are sent to the slaughterhouse.

The post Hailey Bieber Sparks Backlash For ‘Got Milk?’ Post To 50 Million Fans appeared first on Plant Based News.

Veg of Lund, the parent company of DUG Drinks, has announced a patent approval for an ice cream made with potatoes, rapeseed oil, and a vegetable protein emulsion. 

This patent currently just covers Sweden, but the makers have said that they’re hoping for international protection soon. 

“We are pleased that a patent is approved in Sweden,” said Professor Eva Tornberg, founder of Veg of Lund, in a statement. “The fact it is based on such an everyday crop as potatoes shows the uniqueness and strength of the patent.”

Potatoes as a vegan alternative

Tornberg has heralded the potential of potatoes as a sustainable vegan alternative to dairy. DUG released potato milk onto the market in 2021. While it hasn’t yet achieved the commercial success of competitors like oat and soy, it’s still available at supermarkets in a number of countries, including the UK. 

In 2022, the company launched a potato-based smoothie, which also has a Swedish patent. The new ice cream launch comes as the company aims to break into other markets across the world. 

“Just as we did for 2022, we’ve started 2023 with a bang,” said Fredrik Carling, CEO of DUG. “Earlier this month we announced the launch of DUG in 496 stores of the leading premium Swiss supermarket chain Migros. And we anticipate this will be one of a number of international launches this year, so watch this space…”

He added that the company is working on “new product development projects in the meat alternative segment and the ice-cream segment, both of which will be based on our patented potato-powered emulsion.”

The rise of dairy-free ice cream 

The vegan ice cream market has been forecast to grow to $805.3 million by 2027, up from $520.9 million in 2019.

Many people are ditching dairy because of a growing understanding of the ethical and environmental costs of milk production. There are more than 270 million dairy cows around the world. In order to produce milk, they must have a baby, and they’re forcibly impregnated repeatedly each year. In order for humans to take their milk, their calves are dragged away from them hours after birth. When they are considered “spent,” they are sent to the slaughterhouse. 

The dairy industry is responsible for around four percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. It also drives deforestation and biodiversity loss. Land is cleared to allow for grazing, or to grow feed for the growing number raised on factory farms. 

The post Vegan ‘Potato Ice Cream’ Could Soon Hit The Market appeared first on Plant Based News.

The naturalist and media personality said the appointment comes at a “historic moment.” The RSPCA is set to celebrate its 200th birthday next year. In a statement, Packham added that he’s arguably taking up his position at “one of the most critical times for animals in the charity’s history.”

Packham went on to state that the modern world comes with its “own challenges” for non-human animals. He highlighted the Covid-19 pandemic, the cost of living crisis, and the war in Europe, all of which are having an impact. He pointed out that there has been a 25 percent rise in abandoned animals year on year, as people struggle to manage costs. Incidents of neglect have also risen by 13 percent. 

What this leads to, Packham pointed out, is declining political will to look after non-human animals, as humans are priotitized.

“This would be a huge mistake,” he said. “Animal welfare is central to many of the big challenges facing governments and society, not just here but around the world, now and in the future. Wildlife is in crisis and we all need to do our bit to support the animals who share our world.”

‘What is good for animals is good for us’

Packham argued that there is a link between between the welfare of humans and wildlife, saying “what’s good for animals is good for us.”

The majority of infectious diseases and pandemics have originated from our unnatural treatment of animals. Animal farming is also a leading cause of the climate crisis, driving greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. Factory farms are also driving antibiotic resistance, with around 80 percent of antibiotics given to these animals, rather than humans. 

What is the RSPCA?

The RSPCA, established in 1824, specializes in animal rescue and promoting animal “welfare.” The charity often rescues and rehomes abandoned dogs, cats, and other companion animals. It also claims to promote better treatment of animals in farms, labs, and captivity. 

The charity isn’t without controversy, however. Some have criticized it for not going far enough in its promotion of “animal welfare.” Its “RSPCA Assured” label is given to farms that supposedly adhere to high standards. These include no cages, “responsible” antibiotic use, more living space, and what the charity calls “humane slaughter.” 

Many have argued that its standards are inadequate, and that the RSPCA should instead promote a plant-based food system. A number of RSPCA-assured farms have been investigated for cruelty, including most recently Scottish salmon farms linked to “a string of abuse.” 

The post Chris Packham ‘Immensely Proud’ As He’s Named RSPCA President appeared first on Plant Based News.

At 8pm last night (Wednesday, May 24), three women entered the grounds of Appleton Farm and took three lambs. They named them Sammy, Sunny, and Sooty, and they have all been taken to safety. According to the group, the lambs were due to be slaughtered soon. 

The women have since handed themselves into police at Windsor. They held placards reading slogans like “I rescued the King’s Sheep” and “This is how we love animals.”

Animal Rising said this is the first of a number of “open rescues” the team will carry out this summer. 

‘It doesn’t have to be this way’

Animal Rising has since confirmed that the activists made “every attempt” to rescue the mother sheep along with her babies, but that it wasn’t possible.

“​​We take solace in knowing that we have done our best by these babies,” the group said. “Saving them from slaughter and helping them to a long life of freedom.”

“Saving lives is morally the correct thing to do,” Rose Patterson, 33, one of the rescuers, told Plant Based News. “We are all taught that preventing harm is a good thing to do and that is exactly what we did yesterday at Sandringham.

“At barely months old – just babies – lambs are killed for food; it doesn’t have to be this way. We can live in a world where the freedom of all animals is valued, they’re not used for food, and we have a safe and secure food system.”

Animal Rising have also called on the royal family to commit to the transition of a plant-based food system. The group pointed out that they own an area of land larger than Greater London, and that it would be an “incredible statement” to commit to a rewilding program.

“Mending our connection to animals is vital in tackling the climate and nature crises,” Foy said. 

Sheep farming in the UK

Farming sheep is big business in the UK. Around four million hectares are used for this purpose, which is an area twice the size of Wales. Despite this, they provide only a tiny fraction of the calories consumed, around 1.2 percent. Many activists, including those from Animal Rising, are calling on the government to rewild the land used for grazing animals to help us fight the climate crisis. 

Lambs are generally killed when they are around seven-months-old, though they are sometimes just six weeks. At the slaughterhouse, they are shackled upside down and stunned before having their throats cut.

“Three lambs have been given a second chance at life, a life free from the harms of our food system,” Animal Rising wrote on Instagram. “Through their actions, [the Animal Rising rescuers] not only saved these innocent babies but they also continue the crucial conversation on our broken relationship with animals.”

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The restaurant is placed at one of the busiest fast food intersections in Hollywood. The new location is also taking the spot of a former McDonald’s restaurant.

Hart House used the new opening as an opportunity to launch a fresh summer menu, too. Dubbed “Summer Lovin,” it features three new plant-based items: a Smokey BBQ Burg’r, Hart House lemonade, and Nashville nuggets.

“Since the inception of Hart House, it’s always been about creating a new option within fast food which is why I’m so excited to bring Hart House to Hollywood,” said actor and comedian Hart in a statement. “At Hart House, we are in the business of making people feel good and I’m so proud of how fast we are growing and can’t wait ’til there are Hart House restaurants all across the nation!”

The celebrity also took to Instagram to celebrate the launch, encouraging his 175 million followers to visit the eatery and discover “what all of the food hype is about.”

Vegan drive-thru on Sunset Boulevard

The new Hart House offers 24 indoor seats, plus a further 16 outdoors. As it has before, the chain chose to work with Kai Williams and Nicollette Santos to complete the interior fit-out and graphic design details. This allowed the restaurant to again showcase the talents of a team made up exclusively of women of color.

The space has been ceremoniously painted with an expansive mural, by artist Olivia Sawai. She has previously completed large-scale artworks for Starbucks. 

Alongside the artwork comes fresh landscaping, with existing palm trees carefully preserved. In addition, a rainwater retention system that will capture and recycle rainfall has been installed to maintain the grounds in a sustainable way. 

“We are on a mission to create a sustainable restaurant brand that is grounded in high-quality jobs and objectively delicious food, with a menu that happens to be made entirely from plants,” Andy Hooper, Hart House CEO, said in a statement. “We believe it’s time to usher in a new era of fast food in Hollywood that matches up against the titans of the industry.”

Hart House Hollywood is located at 6800 Sunset Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90028. The new vegan Summer Lovin’ dishes will be available at all three Hart House restaurants in Hollywood from May 25.

The post Kevin Hart’s Vegan Fast-Food Chain Just Opened Its First Drive-Thru appeared first on Plant Based News.

If the draft guidelines are put into force, then “obvious misspelling, homophonic words, or inserting non-alphabet symbols” to refer to legally protected dairy terms would be prohibited.

This could affect all vegan dairy products in the UK, from milks to cheeses to butters and yogurts. According to the documents, businesses could be banned from using terms like “mylk,” “m*lk,” “vegan cheese,” “plant-based yogurt,” “cheddar-type,” and a host of other descriptors that have historically been allowed in the market.

Our team at Palm has worked in this category since its inception. As plant-based pioneers, we have launched or implemented PR, social media, and influencer campaigns for multiple dairy-free trailblazers, including COYO, Plenish, Rebel Kitchen, Nutty Bruce, Nush, and Freaks of Nature.

So, if you sell a mylk or a sheese or a dairy-free yog, how can you ensure that these changes don’t wreck sales and imperil a hard-fought customer base?

7 tips for vegan brands facing marketing restrictions

1. Master the guidelines

As soon as the official details are published, understand how they will impact your brand, products, marketing strategy, and packaging. And, crucially, when.

The Times reported that “names such as ‘mozzarella alternative’ would not be allowed, but language on packaging such as ‘use as an alternative to mozzarella’ would be.” Establish what you can and can’t do and when changes need to be made, using this information to shape your strategy and response.

2. The importance of name recognition

Invest in building equity and name recognition in your brand and establishing it as a category leader. These changes will naturally favor the market’s biggest players. For example, consumers will have no problem in asking for “a glass of Oatly” instead “a glass of oat milk,” in the same way that people talk of “Googling” instead of “using a search engine”.

To make sure your business isn’t left behind, you’ll need to make your brand as well-known as possible and associated with the category as a whole, so that consumers can still pick out your wares if product labeling changes.

3. Consider third-party marketing

If you can’t use your packaging and owned marketing to communicate your message, then third parties will be crucial. Press and influencer campaigns will be essential as the media won’t be constrained by trading standard guidelines. As such, they will be free to deliver messages direct to consumers that brands are no longer able to themselves.

4. Educational campaigns

Campaigns that educate the market will be a powerful way to build consumer understanding. Activations that showcase how and when to use such products enable brands to show that their ranges are an alternative to traditional dairy, if their labeling isn’t able to.

This can be supported by clever brand collaborations. If you have a dairy-free milk, then strategic partnerships with likeminded cereal or coffee brands can achieve the positioning that you want.

5. Speak to retailers

Work with your retailer to establish the best spot to place your product. If these guidelines don’t enable you to draw the connection to your product and the traditional dairy variety, then placing the products side by side might be just as effective.

6. Proactively challenge the guidelines

Make noise on social media and implement PR campaigns to get your voice heard. This could include opinion pieces*, TV shows, and podcasts. Additionally, use your customer base as an advocate for your position.

Get political. Join forces with other brands and speak to your MP and Defra to ensure you’re counted in the debate.

7. Get creative

Finally, if you have to, harness creativity to develop alternative ways to describe your products. Consider terminology that resonates with your customer base. And at the same time, emphasizes the nutritional benefits, plant-based nature, and unique selling points of your range.

The plant-based industry has been adept at creating new categories for years. Now, it has an opportunity to “own” this change by forging language that enables brands to control their positioning and consumer perception of their products.

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* Editor’s note: those interested in submitting an opinion piece to Plant Based News can do so here.

The post Vegan Milk And Cheese Is Under Threat In The UK – Here’s What Brands Can Do appeared first on Plant Based News.

Located in one space but split into two concepts, the plant-based eateries will be housed in Soho’s BFI Stephen Street building. 

It is understood that a bakery, dubbed 123V, will be at the front of the large space. Here, customers will be able to buy traditional patisserie delicacies, all with a plant-based twist. A café will also offer patrons the chance to sit-in and enjoy a casual meal.

To the rear of the split space will be Studio Gauthier. A riff on the fine dining style that Gauthier is known for, it will be a less formal version of the chef’s flagship London eatery, Gauthier Soho. The homage comes 13 years after the latter first opened (it was awarded a Michelin star less than a year later).

Speaking about the upcoming restaurant launches, Gauthier said: “We know there is a growing market for high-quality, delicious gastronomy and patisserie which is animal-free.”

Vegan food at 123V and Gauthier Studio

123V is an offshoot of an existing restaurant at the Fenwick department store on Bond Street, also in London. It is seemingly being marketed to those looking for tasty but casual food. 

The menu will include a selection of focaccia and sourdough sandwiches, vegan sushi, eggplant toasts, and chickpea fries. Take-away will be offered for those grabbing a meal on the go, and a bottomless salad station will be available at lunchtime.

Conversely, Studio Gauthier will be similar in concept to Gauthier Soho, with a focus on French fine dining. To maintain consistency between the two, Soho’s head chef Alexia Dellaca Minot is moving to lead the new kitchen.

Menu items include wild garlic and rocket focaccia with Aïgo Boulido (a kind of garlic soup), as well as black truffle and rice flour berlingots. Spring asparagus with miso hollandaise and a barbecued loin of kohlrabi are also anticipated.

The menu appears just as upmarket as that of Gauthier Soho. However, the setting will offer a more casual introduction to the brand.

“Gauthier is a restaurant for special occasions. We work very hard to make sure the atmosphere and service is perfect,” Gauthier himself explained. “The location at Stephen Street is perfect to give people a chance to experience the special food we are doing, but in a fun, unbuttoned, more laid-back setting.

“Where Gauthier is for your anniversary, Studio Gauthier is for your fun night out with friends.”

How a Michelin-starred restaurant turned vegan

Chef Gauthier became vegan in 2016 following repeated protests against foie gras outside of the Gauthier Soho restaurant, formerly a major supporter of the animal product.

He then proceeded to remove animal products from all of his menus. His first major business change came in 2018 when Gauthier Soho shifted to a 75 percent plant-based offering. By 2021, the entire menu was vegan (the restaurant celebrated the two-year anniversary of its completely plant-based menu just last week).

The move, however, attracted some criticism from previous patrons. “When we changed Gauthier to 100 percent plant-based, I must admit, I worried. We were a classical French restaurant and we lost a lot of customers,” the chef said in a statement. “But two years on I am happy to say we have now gained far more.”

Vegan celebrities Billie Eilish and Benedict Cumberbatch have both visited the animal-free spot, the Evening Standard reports, as well as vegetarian musician Sir Paul McCartney.

Studio Gauthier and 123V Bakery are expected to open in June. They will be located within the BFI building on 21 Stephen Street in London, W1T 1LN.

The post A New Vegan Bakery And Fine-Dining Restaurant To Open In London appeared first on Plant Based News.

The campaign sees nearly 100 screens “take over” the iconic Atlantic City Boardwalk in New Jersey. The stretch is said to be the longest and busiest boardwalk in the world.

The actor’s face can be seen on dozens of advertising columns and other structures along the coast. Beside it, some text reads: “Helping Animals and the Earth Isn’t a Tall Order. Starbucks, End the Vegan Upcharge.”

The five-mile-long boardwalk first opened in 1870, making it the oldest in the United States. It’s considered by some to be “the backbone” of Atlantic City.

Shops, restaurants, hotels, casinos, and other attractions line the promenade. PETA says the new screens are within sight of two separate Starbucks locations.

Starbucks charges extra for vegan milk

The world’s largest coffee chain has long applied surcharges to its dairy-free milk options. In the US, Starbucks offers almond, coconut, oat, and soy milk alongside dairy. But consumers have to pay around 70-90 cents more for it.

“Dropping the upcharge would make it easier for compassionate customers to choose animal- and planet-friendly vegan options,” commented Cromwell, who starred in Babe in 1995. The film earned him an Academy Award nomination, and was the catalyst for his journey to veganism.

The actor underscored that “many other coffee companies have already stopped charging extra for these choices.” Indeed, even some of Starbucks’ own international locations have ditched the added fee, including in the UK and Germany.

The move is more important than ever, the actor says, in part due to environmental reasons. “We all have a stake in the life-and-death matter of the climate catastrophe, and Starbucks should do its part by ending its vegan upcharge,” he stated, adding that the surcharge “punishes kind and environmentally conscious customers.”

Cromwell isn’t alone in his request. Beatles legend Paul McCartney has also participated in PETA campaigns about the matter. McCartney wrote to the CEO of Starbucks and placed his support behind a petition urging the company to stop the upcharge. It has since garnered more than 150,000 signatures.

James Cromwell activism

The recent Atlantic City campaign is certainly not Cromwell’s first in the vegan space, or his first aimed Starbucks.

In May 2022, the 83-year-old superglued himself to a Starbucks counter in protest of the vegan dairy surcharge. “When will you stop raking in huge profits while customers, animals, and the environment suffer?” he said at the time.

In 2019, Cromwell was arrested during a protest against animal testing at Texas A&M University. Two years prior, he was arrested for trespassing after interrupting an orca performance at SeaWorld.

The post James Cromwell Asks Starbucks To End Its Vegan Tax – With 100 Photos Of His Face appeared first on Plant Based News.

One Swedish study, published in the Journal of Industrial Ecology in 2021, found that men emit 16 percent more greenhouse gasses than women. This is because they tend to spend more money on environmentally damaging items like animal flesh and fuel. According to researchers, this variation is attributed to what men spend their money on, and not that they spend more money than women generally. They were only found to spend around two percent more than women overall.

Women were found to spend more money on healthcare, furnishings, clothes, and food. Men were more likely to spend more on eating out, cars, tobacco, and fuels.

“If men spent money the same way as women, their emissions would be similar but they are not,” the study’s lead author, Annika Carlsson Kanyama, from research company Ecoloop in Sweden, said in a statement.

The study

Researchers looked at 217 products and services bought by single men and women in Sweden. It found that food and drink accounted for a quarter of emissions, while holidays made up a third. Furnishings made up between two and three percent. 

Men were found to spend more on meat, but women more on dairy. The study highlighted that meat and dairy have “much higher emissions than all their replacements,” including foods like oat milk and tofu. 

Carlsson Kanyama recommended that men be encouraged to “spend money like a woman” to reduce their emissions. 

Is eating meat ‘manly?’

Similar findings have been uncovered in other research, too. A recent study looked into the link between meat consumption and manliness was published. It found that Australian men who ate more meat believed themselves to be more “manly” than those following vegan diets.

“Our findings suggest that men in Australia may resist giving up meat because eating meat is a way of enacting their masculinity,” the study authors wrote. “Media representations of meat are gendered, and many advertisements position meat as ‘manly’. Even preschool-aged boys implicitly associate meat with maleness.”

The climate cost of meat

Numerous previous studies have found that animal agriculture is one of the most environmentally destructive industries there is. Meat accounts for 60 percent of all greenhouse gasses from food. A key issue is methane, a powerful greenhouse gas that’s 80 times more warming than carbon dioxide. A third of human-caused methane comes from livestock, mostly cattle. 

Many scientists believe that a shift towards more plant-based diets is essential to combat the climate crisis. A 2018 study found that beef consumption needs to fall by 90 percent in western countries, replaced by five times more beans and pulses. Milk consumption should also fall by 60 percent, researchers said. 

Greenhouse gas emissions themselves aren’t the only environmental issue meat causes. Livestock is also a leading cause of deforestation, with most Amazon destruction being attributed to cattle ranching and soy, the latter of which is mostly grown to feed to farmed pigs and chickens. Animal agriculture is also driving biodiversity loss, water pollution, and ocean dead zones. 

The post Climate ‘Gender Gap’: How Men’s Love For Meat Is Driving Up Emissions appeared first on Plant Based News.

In an article for The Times about his new cooking show Oh Cook!, the tv presenter said we have the “privilege” to decide to give up meat, adding: “There’s enough healthy vegetarian food about. I’m not one — yet — but I have devoted an episode to meat-free cooking and I’m particularly proud of my vegan burger.”

He added: “It’s quite possible we’ll look back in a generation or two’s time and regard eating animals as primitive. I still intend to try that 25-year-old steak and kidney pudding, though.”

James May and veganism

This isn’t the first time May has discussed the ethics of eating meat. In a 2019 interview, he said that he’d “tried veganism,” before going onto claim that eight months of eating vegetarian “made him ill.” He went on to say that humans will “in the future” give up meat. 

He stated that eating animals “genuinely isn’t sustainable,” adding: “I’ve also got some cow friends now down in the countryside and I go and talk to them in the field next to our house and I look into their eyes and I think they do know me.”

May’s views on meat may come as a surprise to some, as his good friend and former co-star Jeremy Clarkson has become known for his starkly opposing views on meat consumption. 

In November last year, Clarkson said vegans get “very little sex” in a bizarre tirade against plant-based eating. He has also described the move by Oxford County Council to serve only plant-based food at events as “madness,” claiming the council had “absolutely no idea about farming.”

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