News
The number of news found: 14.
02/28/2018 ROONEY MARA LAUNCHES LUXURY VEGAN FASHION LINE
Actress Rooney Mara recently debuted vegan fashion line Hiraeth, which she created with her friend Sara Schloat. The brand is a highly curated collection of timeless pieces that includes faux-leather trousers (with a matching harness), a slip dress, a raspberry-hued corduroy suit, velvet items, and several shoe styles such as combat boots. "I realized there aren't many [faux leather] options available for someone like me who is interested in design and wants high-quality pieces," Mara told Vogue. "In fast fashion, you can find faux-leather boots that are really cheap, but while it's cruelty-free in the animal sense, I didn't necessarily know where those things were made, or if they were cruel toward humans." Mara—who adopted a vegan lifestyle seven years ago—said each Hiraeth piece is made in Los Angeles by people who are paid a living wage. The collection's pieces are priced between $600 and $1,500, but Mara has yet to announce where or when they will be available for sale. (vegnews.com)
02/26/2018 TEAM CANADA WEARS ALL-VEGAN UNIFORMS AT OLYMPICS
Team Canada was outfitted in all-vegan uniforms during this year's winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Apparel brand Hudson's Bay Company (HBC)—which supplied the Olympians with uniforms—was praised by animal-rights organization People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) for demonstrating that durable athletic wear can be made without animal products. "With their faux-fur pom-poms, wool-free sweaters, and synthetic-down insulation, Team Canada's uniforms prove how stylish and warm vegan outerwear can be," PETA director of corporate affairs Anne Brainard said. "PETA is celebrating the HBC for its compassionate and forward-thinking choice to outfit Canada's Olympians in high-tech, modern materials that don't harm a hair on an animal's head." During this year's Olympics, Canadian figure skater/vegan activist Meagan Duhamel helped the Canadian team score a gold medal by executing a flawless performance with partner Eric Radford, the first openly gay Olympian to win such an accolade. (vegnews.com)
02/23/2018 DATA SHOWS PLANT-BASED DIET WOULD SAVE UK $7 BILLION
A new study conducted by researchers at the University of Ghent found that the United Kingdom would save £5.21 billion ($7.35 billion) in economic costs during the next 20 years if 10 percent of the population adopted a plant-based diet. Researchers studied the health benefits attributed to plant-based diets across a number of scientific studies and found that if 10 percent of the UK population incorporated soy-based foods into their daily diets, the economic savings would amount to £7.54 billion ($10.63 billion). "Our research demonstrates that increasing plant-based eating is cost-effective, reduces economic costs, such as hospital admissions and doctors' bills, as well as increasing the number of healthy years people live, and enabling them to continue having an active life," lead study author Lieven Annemans said. While scientists continue to prove that plant-based diets are optimal for health, mounting research links the consumption of animal products to increased risks for developing diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain types of cancer. (vegnews.com)
02/21/2018 NYC FASHION MOGUL TO DEBUT VEGAN CHEESE BRAND
New vegan cheese brand RIND will launch in select New York City restaurants next year. The company is a collaborative project between Joshua Katcher (founder of vegan fashion brand Brave Gentleman) and Dina DiCenso (owner of vegan shop Gristle Tattoo and former equity analyst), who share a love for cheese made without animal cruelty. Katcher explained that his experience in fashion will inform the visual elements of RIND, while DiCenso's work in the finance industry will help the company succeed in that regard. The pair is currently testing several ripened cheese flavors—made with a "primordial" process using ancient microbes to break down fats, proteins, and sugars. DiCenso told VegNews their cheeses are interchangeable with animal-based products in both taste and visual appeal. RIND is currently seeking investors to help the company launch to a broader customer base. "Our cheese isn't just an 'alternative,'" Katcher said. "We think it's fantastic in its own right." (vegnews.com)
02/19/2018 AUSTRALIA'S FIRST VEGAN CRUISE SETS SAIL THIS FALL
A fully vegan cruise aboard luxury cruiseliner Celebrity Solstice will set sail from Sydney, Australia on October 20. The Whole Connection (TWC) wellness-themed cruise will sail across the Pacific Islands for nine days and feature daily yoga, exclusive documentary screenings, discussion panels with wellness experts, and whole-food, plant-based cooking classes. Guests will be served vegan menus and have access to workshops that focus on plant-based livings. The event was originally planned as a cruise with a plant-based portion, but will now proceed as a fully vegan cruise. While TWC bills the journey as the first all-vegan cruise in Australia, several companies operate vegan seafaring trips worldwide, including Cruise & Maritime Voyages, which launched its seven-night vegan cruise from London to Norway's Fjords during fall 2017. (vegnews.com)
02/16/2018 VEGAN FIGURE SKATER EARNS OLYMPIC GOLD MEDAL
World champion figure skater Meagan Duhamel and her partner Eric Radford helped the Canadian team secure an Olympic gold medal during their long-program performance this week. The pair skated to Adele's "Hometown Glory" during the Pyeongchang Olympics in what judges called a "flawless" performance with a high level of difficulty. Duhamel has been vegan since 2008 and rescued a dog (named "Moo-tae") from the Korean dog trade ahead of the Olympics—with plans to bring another dog home to Canada that she plans to place with an adoptive family at the completion of this year's games. The win is also a milestone for Radford, who became the first openly gay figure skater to win a gold medal at the Olympics. Duhamel—who won a silver medal with Radford at the 2014 Sochi, Russia Olympics—announced that she would retire from the Olympics after this year's games. (vegnews.com)
02/14/2018 KIWIS NOW EAT NEARLY 50 POUNDS LESS MEAT PER CAPITA
According to local media outlet Newstalk ZB (NTZB), New Zealand residents are consuming 20 kilos (44 pounds) less meat per capita than they did 10 years ago. NTZB spoke with local butcher shop owner Hannah Miller who confirmed that sales at her shop Lady Butcher have declined in recent years as consumers are increasingly buying smaller portions. Other regions around the world have also reported a decline in both meat consumption and production. According to market data gathered by research firm Kantar World Panel (KWP), 29 percent of United Kingdom residents consumed a meat-free dinner in 2017. On the production side, the German meat industry produced approximately 340 million pounds less meat in 2017 in response to decreased demand for animal products. (vegnews.com)
02/12/2018 TOM FORD RECONSIDERS HIS STANCE ON FUR
In a candid phone interview with Women's Wear Daily this week, designer Tom Ford—who adopted a plant-based diet last year—discussed his stance on using fur in upcoming collections. Interviewer Bridget Foley asked Ford about if his stance on using fur in collections has changed after competing brands Gucci and Michael Kors pledged to go fur-free. Ford recalled an incident when a woman employed by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) threw tomato juice onto the designer at an event. While the designer admitted he is not yet "fur-free," his view on using fur in fashion began to unravel during the interview—as Ford created a connection between the animals he no longer eats and those exploited in fashion. "The fur thing," Ford said, "of course, is a natural thing. [Going vegan] starts to make you question that." (vegnews.com)
02/09/2018 IMPOSSIBLE FOODS PARTNERS WITH FOOD BANKS TO FIGHT HUNGER
California-based food-technology company Impossible Foods launched a partnership program this week with several San Francisco Bay Area food banks. The company teamed with Alameda County Community Food Bank (ACCFB) and Second Harvest Food Bank in Santa Clara and San Mateo counties to serve its plant-based Impossible Burger to residents that participate in food assistance programs. "We are still ramping up and enjoy strong demand for our product from chefs and restaurateurs—but at the same time, we know that people in our hometown regions are struggling to afford food that's delicious and nutritious," Impossible Foods Vice President of Communication Jessica Appelgren said. Wilken Louie, associate director of food resourcing at ACCFB (which will serve 28 million meals this year), explained that high-quality protein is the most desired but least donated food item, and the food bank's partnership with Impossible Foods will help meet the needs of its 300 nonprofit partners and 905 food distribution sites. (vegnews.com)
02/08/2018 VEGAN CANDY LAUNCHES SPIKE BY 140 PERCENT SINCE 2013
A recent report compiled by market-research firm Mintel found that new vegan product launches in the confectionary category increased by 140 percent between 2013 and 2017. The report revealed that Germany had the highest increase (16 percent) in vegan candy launches in 2017 and showed a growth of 252 percent during the report period. Mintel revealed that 48 percent of German consumers between the ages 25 to 34 are interested in more clearly labeled vegan confectionery products. "Germany is an ideal testing ground for vegan confectionery, as German consumers both like to indulge and are looking for ethical and inclusive products," Mintel food and drink director Marcia Mogelonsky said. In 2016, market-research firm Market Insights found that new product launches in the United States with a "plant-based" claim increased by 32 percent in 2016. (vegnews.com)
02/06/2018 MARK WAHLBERG'S CHAIN ADDS IMPOSSIBLE BURGER TO MENU
Burger chain Wahlburgers added the plant-based Impossible Burger patty to participating restaurants nationwide. The chain—founded by celebrity brothers Paul, Mark, and Donnie Wahlberg in 2011—serves the burger with smoked cheddar cheese, chili-spiced tomatoes, lettuce, caramelized onions, and its signature Wahl sauce. While Wahlburger added the Impossible Patty as an option for meat-eaters who want to reduce their environmental impact by choosing a plant-based patty instead of beef, a representative for the chain told VegNews that customers can order it vegan (and request that the cooking surface is wiped down) by omitting the sauce and cheese and swapping in a vegan bun (available at limited locations). A number of restaurants have added the Impossible Burger to their menus in recent months, some with options for vegan customers. (vegnews.com)
02/05/2018 VOLKSWAGEN VOWS TO ELIMINATE TESTING CARS ON ANIMALS
German car company Volkswagen announced it will eliminate testing features of its vehicles on animals. The company was recently embroiled in a scandal exposed by a New York Times report published two weeks ago. The story revealed that in 2014, several car-makers, including Volkswagen, commissioned now-defunct research organization European Research Group on Environment and Health in the Transport Sector (EUGT) to conduct emissions tests. The report exposed that the studies were conducted on both humans and monkeys—who were intentionally exposed to carcinogenic fumes. "We want to completely eliminate animal testing in the future so something like this doesn't happen again," Thomas Steg told said. The company put Steg, Volkswagen's chief lobbyist, on administrative leave shortly after he made the statement. (vegnews.com)
02/02/2018 SAUDI ARABIAN PRINCE TO OPEN 10 VEGAN EATERIES BY 2020
Vegan Prince Khaled Alwaleed bin Talal Al Saud announced this month on social media his intent to open vegan restaurants across the Middle East in an effort to combat the region's obesity epidemic. "By 2020 we are aiming to have a minimum of 10 restaurants/cafés," Prince Khaled said on Facebook. "Our region occupies parts of the top 10 most obese counties in the world. This is crazy and frankly a joke we have reached this level. I'm not saying opening 10 restaurants will solve this issue, but you better believe it's a step in the right direction." Prince Khaled joined JUST's Board of Directors last year to bring his expertise in the area of finance and animal rights to the food-technology company. "Industrial animal agriculture is poisoning our planet, depleting resources, contributing to a global health crisis, and causing animal suffering beyond anything most of us can imagine," Prince Khaled said in September. (vegnews.com)
02/01/2018 WORLD SURFING CHAMPION KELLY SLATER GOES VEGAN
World champion surfer Kelly Slater announced via Instagram stories this week that he no longer consumes animal products. "Been vegan nearly a month now," Slater captioned a photo of a fresh papaya. "Feeling good. Much better digestion and variety of healthy foods eating this way." Slater—who currently has 2.1 million social media followers—previously stated that he started his day with almond milk-based vegan smoothies but only recently eliminated all animal products from his diet. Fellow vegan professional surfer Tia Blanco won her second gold medal at the International Surfing Association (ISA) and will be participating in qualifying events in 2019 with the mission to compete in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics—which, for the first time, will feature surfing as a sport. (vegnews.com)
The number of news found: 14.
