The demand for vegan fare in the UK has skyrocketed in recent years: one in five households now chooses dairy-free milk, the market for meat-free products is worth over £625 million and government surveys reveal the lowest rates of meat and fish consumption in at least a decade. That's why PETA - whose motto reads, in part, that "animals are not ours to eat" - had no trouble finding volunteers to taste test the hottest plant-based products on the market for its third annual Vegan Food Awards.
Vegan on Female First
This year's contest expanded to include 21 categories, and here are just some of the winners:
- Best Dairy-Free Ice Cream: Tesco Free From Strawberry and Vanilla Cones
These treats feature vegan vanilla ice cream with strawberry sauce in a dairy- and gluten-free cone.
- Best Faux Meat: Fry's Chicken-Style Nuggets
These nuggets are truly irresistible, especially when paired with a creamy vegan dip and spicy potato wedges.
- Best Vegan Pizza: Firezza
This chain offers vegan cheese on any of its delicious pizzas.
- Best Vegan Noodles: Wasabi Tofu Yakisoba
This dish features a generous portion of flavourful noodles and tofu - perfect for lunch on the go.
- Best Vegan Food Service: GIVE Kitchen
This company delivers prepared meals right to your door and offers a 22-Day Vegan Challenge.
Other winners include Tiger Tiger Plain May-O (Best Egg-Free Mayonnaise), Violife Original Slices (Best Dairy-Free Cheese), Yo! Sushi Tofu Katsu Curry (Best Vegan Curry), La Suite West (Best Vegan Menu) and CocoaFeliz chocolates (Best Vegan Luxury Food Item).
"PETA's winners are the perfect example of how today's businesses - from the finest hotels to affordable supermarkets - are meeting the demand for food that's healthy, humane and eco-friendly", says PETA's Dawn Carr. "So many delicious products are now available at the click of a button or by making a trip to the local grocery store - there has never been a better time to go vegan."
In addition to causing the suffering of animals on factory farms, raising and killing animals for food is catastrophic for the environment. The United Nations has said that a move towards a vegan diet is necessary to offset the worst effects of climate change. The consumption of dairy foods and other animal-derived items has also been linked to heart disease, strokes, diabetes, obesity and cancer. Whether it's out of environmental concern, to alleviate animal suffering or for health reasons, interest in a plant-based diet is higher than ever before. Numerous celebrities - including former US President Bill Clinton, Joaquin Phoenix, Ellie Goulding, Jared Leto and Alan Cumming - are praising the benefits of vegan eating.
A copy of PETA's Vegan Food Awards logo is available here. A high resolution photo of some of our winners is available here.
To read about all the winners, please visit PETA.org.uk or click here.
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