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.
And it was Bletchley-based Veggie World that won in the category of Best Faux Fish for its vegan prawns!
"We've seen a growing interest in our vegetarian and vegan seafood products, and we're delighted if our Vegan Prawns help people make the switch to a vegetarian diet and leave the animals in the sea where they belong", says Jeckie Yee, director of Veggie World.
"Our Vegan Prawns are a stepping stone for meat eaters to move closer to a healthy diet," Jeckie said.
"Vegetarian food has come a long way, and we offer many interesting mock meats that show being a vegetarian is easier than you might think."
"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 on land and in the sea, raising and killing animals for food is catastrophic for the environment, and prawn farming is among the worst offenders. 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.
