Latest news with #VegNews
Yahoo
30-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
New report reveals disturbing tactics used by major food companies to mislead their customers: 'There is a serious concern'
Most consumers in the United Kingdom have a false impression of how animals are raised for food. The Animal Law Foundation found that over 84% of producers use misleading imagery in their advertising and packaging, VegNews reported. A comprehensive investigation of nearly 50 producers of animal products found widespread use of deceptive marketing. While most companies show animals living healthy lives outdoors, the reality is starkly different — about 85% of the U.K.'s farm animals are brought up in factory farms. The report, titled Food Chain Misinformation, examined websites, advertisements, and products from major food producers and supermarkets. All nine major supermarkets showed healthy animals outdoors on their websites, creating a pastoral image that rarely exists in modern farming. "The reality for millions of animals is not what is reflected on the food market, where the dominant image for the public is of happy and healthy animals," said Edie Bowles, Animal Law Foundation executive director, according to VegNews. This type of marketing, which experts call "humane-washing," similar to greenwashing, misleads consumers who care about animal welfare. Per VegNews, the report states: "There is a serious concern that the way farmed animals' lives are depicted and the way animal products are sold contribute to the prevalent impression that all farmed animals in the U.K. live in high welfare conditions. This type of content can be misleading to consumers and interfere with their purchasing decisions." A survey found that nearly three-quarters of consumers are highly concerned about animal welfare in food production, making these misleading images particularly problematic. The problem affects more than just animal welfare. Factory farming harms our environment in multiple ways, contributing to rising global temperatures, air pollution, and deforestation, according to Plant Based News. These industrial facilities also create serious health risks. Cramming animals together in unhygienic conditions breeds disease and increases pandemic risk. Health experts worry that bird flu is only a few mutations away from spreading among humans. Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. New regulations may help address this issue. The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act 2024, which just took effect in April, will prohibit using false or misleading information to sell products. For consumers wanting to make informed choices, look beyond marketing images. Seeking third-party certifications with strict standards can help identify companies with good animal welfare practices. Reducing the consumption of animal products altogether is the most effective way to avoid supporting factory farming. Plant-based alternatives are much gentler on our planet — plus, they continue to improve in taste and variety. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Boxing legend Mike Tyson backs new ice cream with unexpected ingredients: 'Something that I am truly passionate about'
Due to a rise in environmental concerns and awareness of animal cruelty, veganism has grown from a small niche diet to an $8.1 billion industry in the U.S. alone in the last 15 years, according to SPINS data shared by the Good Food Institute. The rise in popularity also has a lot to do with accessibility to fast-food favorites like Beyond Meat and Impossible Burger, as well as restaurants like Mr. Charlie's in Los Angeles — which has been dubbed the "vegan McDonald's." To celebrate the third anniversary of Mr. Charlie's, the restaurant partnered with its newest investor, none other than boxing legend Mike Tyson, by introducing a vanilla ice cream made from potatoes called "Mr. Fluff-Head." The ice cream is topped with a "Mike's Bites" ear-shaped chocolate. "When we started Mr. Charlie's, we set out to shake things up, and this launch is no different," co-founder of Mr. Charlie's, Taylor McKinnon, shared with VegNews. "Mr. Fluff-Head is the kind of innovative product we stand for: big on flavor, better for you, and made with real ingredients." While Swedish brand DUG has been a pioneer behind potatoes as a milk alternative in the E.U., potatoes have yet to hit the mainstream like soy and oat milk have in the U.S. But the production process is quite similar to the options we know and love. Potatoes are boiled, blended, and then mixed with water, rapeseed oil, and a few other ingredients to go from starchy to creamy. Tyson made his investment through his holding company, Carma HoldCo, as he is a long-time fan of the plant-based diet as well as giving back to the community. Mr. Charlie's offers employment opportunities to those who are overcoming hardships, and Tyson wants to accelerate the company's expansion plans to nurture both the plant-based and struggling communities. "Mr. Charlie's is a natural choice for Carma HoldCo, as we diversify into the food industry," Tyson told VegNews. "I very much believe in the healthy benefits of a vegan diet and [I] was a strict vegan for many years. "I'm proud to align myself with partners bringing healthy alternatives that taste good to the fast-food space. Mr. Charlie's mission to help and hire those from the homeless community is something that I am truly passionate about, and I look forward to helping many people and communities with the expansion of Mr. Charlie's across the globe." Why do you eat plant-based foods? The health benefits It's cheaper It's good for the planet I prefer the taste Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Mr. Charlie's says its impact has included saving 70 million gallons of water, 1.4 million pounds of CO2, 2 million square feet of forest, and 100,000 animals. Vegans are responsible for 75% less planet-warming gases than those who eat meat, according to a University of Oxford study summarized by the New York Times. Vegan diets are associated with low cholesterol, lower body fat, higher fiber intake, lower blood pressure, and less brain fog. While Veganuary has passed for the year, maybe a plant-based burger and ice cream at Mr. Charlie's would be a good way to celebrate Earth Day. Join our free newsletter for easy tips to save more and waste less, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
