Dear Reader,
A recent article in The Guardian considered the difficulties faced by vegan restaurants faced with online abuse and an apparent fall in demand. Some have removed the “V-word” from their publicity or chosen to add meat dishes to the menu in order to attract more omnivore customers, while others have closed some or all of their sites, including the Neat Burger chain, backed by Leonardo DiCaprio and Lewis Hamilton, which closed half its London stores last December. However, as the article points out, more than 10,000 independent restaurants in the UK have closed since the Covid-19 pandemic began, while big chains such as Pizza Express, McDonald’s and Wagamama are offering more vegan dishes. Indeed, Wagamama became the first UK high street restaurant chain to make half its menu plant-based in 2021, an aim shared by Viva!, which has just launched 50by25, an ambitious campaign to make 50% of every restaurant menu plant-based by 2025. So, it seems there are still plenty of choices for veg*ns when eating out if you know where to look.
Best Wishes,
Paul Appleby, Editor
LIST OF CONTENTS:
1. Members’ News and Feedback
2. Veg*news
3. Food stuff
4. Dietary advice from the ‘experts’
5. It’s a mad, mad world
6. Animals and Us
7. Book review
8. Forthcoming Events
9. And finally …
1. Members’ News and Feedback
BBC Radio 4’s Moral Maze debated “The moral case for veganism” on 21 February. Paul Freestone writes: “It was pretty much what I expected, but worse in some respects. However, I would recommend listening even though some of it is excruciating.” (You can read Paul’s review of the programme on the OxVeg blog.) Paul also recommends the 22 February edition of BBC Radio 4’s Inside Science, which included a 15-minute item on laboratory-grown meat. Vegetarian presenter Ben Garrod discussed the topic with Mark Post, creator of the first lab-meat burger in 2012, who warned that lab meat is not entirely vegan, and Jenny Kleeman, author of Sex Robots & Vegan Meat, who welcomed the development of a product that she claimed “offers the perfect solution.” Both programmes are available on BBC Sounds for over a year.
2. Veg*news
A new study funded by The Vegan Society and carried out by the Office of Health Economics suggests that the NHS could save £6.7 billion per year if everyone in England adopted a plant-based diet, with 2.1 million fewer cases of disease and a gain of more than 170,000 quality-adjusted life years across the population. The money saved would be enough to cover the full yearly budget of up to seven of England’s hospitals, or the annual salaries of 64,990 consultants or 184,920 nurses. However, it should be noted that the study is currently awaiting peer review. Meanwhile, the Society has certified all Body Shop products after the company became the world’s first global beauty brand to achieve 100% vegan product formulations across all its ranges including skincare, body care, haircare, makeup and fragrance. With the retailer’s UK business now in administration it will need all the support it can get!
Andrea Rymer, Registered Dietitian at The Vegan Society and Rohini Bajekal, Nutritionist & Comms Lead at Plant-Based Health Professionals UK, co-presented an informative, hour-long webinar on Evidence-Based Vegan Nutrition and Myth-Busting on 24 January. You can watch a recording of the webinar here. If you don’t have the time to watch, four vegan nutrition myths are answered in this article on the Vegan Society blog, while the year’s first episode of The Vegan Pod asked (and hopefully answered) the question “Is vegan cooking difficult?”.
Viva! have published a new cookbook. Everyone Can Cook Vegan by Maryanne Hall contains 100 recipes “aimed at all levels of skill” and is reasonably priced at £12 plus postage. The campaign group are also looking for people to join their local outreach network. Viva! have 28 outreach teams around the country in towns and cities such as Sheffield, Leeds, Norwich, Liverpool, Exeter, and Brighton. If you are interested or would like further details, please email jo{at}viva.org.uk.
The Plant-Based Universities campaign has had another success after Falmouth and Exeter Students’ Union voted for 100% plant-based catering across the campuses. The vote means that the catering at all Students’ Union events will be fully plant-based. This is the tenth success for the campaign, following in the footsteps of universities including Cambridge, UCL and Warwick.
A long article on the Vegan for the Animals website by Jordi Casamitjana, the author of Ethical Vegan, asks what happens to vegans in care and nursing homes. The author estimates that there are 4,000 vegans currently living in UK care homes. According to V for Life (VfL), the advocacy charity for older vegans and vegetarians, there are only three vegetarian care homes in Britain, and none of them are exclusively vegan, so vegan residents must get along as best they can, often with the help of family and friends, choosing a care home on VfL’s approved list where possible.
Compassion in World Farming (CIWF) are campaigning against plans to open an octopus farm in the Canary Islands, potentially forcing up to 1 million octopuses every year into the cruel world of factory farming. Octopuses are sentient, complex, intelligent animals, with amazing cognitive abilities, making them uniquely unsuitable for intensive farming. There is currently no legislation to protect their welfare in farms. You can send a message protesting against the plans here.
CIWF are also drawing attention to the disturbing increase in large-scale “mega farms” across the UK, where 85% of farmed animals are reared in factory farms. (According to their interactive map, Oxfordshire has 2.2 million factory farmed animals and 16 mega-farms.) Factory farming is the single biggest cause of animal suffering on the planet and is driving climate change, biodiversity loss and river pollution (agriculture is the number one cause of river pollution in the UK), but local authorities are unclear whether they can take animal welfare and climate change issues into account when considering planning applications for factory farms. You can send a letter to the Secretary of State at Defra, asking him to strengthen the law to ensure that local authorities can reject planning applications where communities are overwhelmed by factory farms, here.
Oxfordshire Wildlife Rescue need to raise £250,000 to build and open the county’s first and only wildlife hospital after they were given 12 months’ notice to vacate their current rented site in Blewbury last November. Details of the appeal and how you can help can be found here.
England’s hedgerows would stretch almost ten times around the Earth if lined up end to end, according to a new study. Aerial laser scanning found 390,000 km of hedges measuring between 1 and 6 metres in height, with a further 185,000 km of overgrown hedges above 6 metres tall. Hedgerows are a haven for plants, nesting birds, small mammals, and insects, and they can store large amounts of carbon, but about half of Britain’s hedgerows were lost between the 1940s and 1990s, mostly in England, due to intensive farming and development. The government has promised to create or restore 48,000 km of hedgerows by 2037, and 72,000 km of hedgerows by 2050, under its Environmental Improvement Plan of 2023.
Compiled by Paul Appleby, with thanks to Linda Newbery and Malcolm Horne
3. Food stuff
The Story Museum, 42 Pembroke Street, Oxford, took part in Veganuary 2024, offering a range of plant-based baguettes, salads, and vegan treats. Communications Manager Sarah Lacey writes: “Ingredients are largely locally sourced; we also recycle our coffee beans and take part in the Too Good to Go scheme. Everyone is welcome at our family-friendly café, both passers-by and museum visitors. The café is accessible via the Pembroke Street entrance and is open Tuesday to Sunday.” According to the museum website, “vegan options [are] always available” at the café.
While Veganuary celebrated its tenth anniversary, the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) launched its fifth multimedia advertising campaign to promote the consumption of British red meat and dairy products. The AHDB is a “non-departmental public body” appointed by the UK government’s Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) and is largely funded by levies paid by farmers. Their “Let’s Eat Balanced” advertising campaign, estimated to have cost around £4 million, focused on younger people and aimed to reach nine-tenths of adults by the end of February, with support from leading supermarket chains including Tesco, Sainsbury, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl, Waitrose and the Co-op. The campaign has been criticised by environmental groups, with nearly half of diet-related greenhouse gas emissions in the UK coming from the consumption of meat and dairy products. The UK government’s expert advisory body the Climate Change Committee recommends reducing meat and dairy consumption by 20% by 2030, and meat intake by 35% by 2050, in order to reach the UK’s legally binding climate targets, while the government-commissioned National Food Strategy for England (NFS) calls for a 30% reduction in meat consumption by 2032, compared with the 2019 level. (Ravenous, by NFS author Henry Dimbleby and Jemima Lewis, which shows how the food system is responsible for a third of global carbon emissions and is the biggest cause of biodiversity loss, deforestation and water pollution, and offers a better way forward, is now available as a paperback.)
The Surprising Map of Plants is an informative, 20-minute YouTube video that traces the evolution of plants from green algae to mosses and ferns, seed plants, and flowering plants (angiosperms) with both flowers and fruits. In the video we learn that fungi are genetically closer to animals than plants (although they are generally grouped with the latter), and that 90% of our food comes from just 30 species of plant, with cereal grains alone providing half of our dietary energy.
Edible flowers may not be high on your shopping list, but this year’s RHS Chelsea Flower Show (21-25 May) will feature an “edible meadow” designed to improve gut health by being eaten or simply walked past. Although the “microbiome garden” will emphasize diversity, three key plant species to be grown are Persicaria bistorta, Camassia and the nitrogen-fixing legume Lupinus luteus (lupins). Persicaria bistorta has been used to make ‘dock pudding’ since the mid-1800s, Camassia bulbs have been harvested by Indigenous tribes across America for hundreds of years, and lupins have been grown across the globe for at least 4000 years. However, it should be noted that not all lupins are edible and many need a long-soaking process before being eaten, so it might be wise to simply walk through the garden rather than trying to sample the contents!
Compiled by Paul Appleby, with thanks to Kevin Harris
4. Dietary advice from the ‘experts’
An interesting article in The Guardian in mid-January explored 10 simple ways to revolutionise your diet, most of which were veg*n-friendly, with input from various ‘experts’. Among the contributors was genetic epidemiologist Tim Spector, author of Food for Life and co-founder of the personalised nutrition programme ZOE. Spector recommends eating 30 different plants a week – not as daunting a prospect as it seems because this can include nuts, seeds, herbs and spices, and even coffee. (Read the full article by Paul Appleby on the OxVeg blog.)
5. It’s a mad, mad world
It’s a mad, mad world, and it’s getter madder by the day. Protesting French farmers block the roads with enormous shiny tractors, complain about how poor they are and angrily demand more financial support, forcing the French government to capitulate within days. Reporters didn’t ask the farmers about the massive EU subsidies they receive, or the unsustainability of meat and dairy production. (Read the full article by Paul Freestone on the OxVeg blog.)
6. Animals and Us
I asked two Oxfordshire animal welfare charities whether they would like to submit an article for this slot. One did not bother to reply, while the other is still “working on it.” So, I’m taking the opportunity to publicise author and OxVeg supporter Linda Newbery’s Animals and Us blog. As the name suggests, the focus is mainly on animal welfare, with news of campaigns and interviews with inspirational people who try to make the world a kinder place. There have been seven Animal Advocate interviews to date, all of which can be accessed from Linda’s home page (scroll down and you will see them on the right-hand side of the page). These include interviews with Rob Pownall of Protect the Wild, and Catherine Cannon of the Plant-Based Councils Campaign.
Paul Appleby
(Do you have a favourite veg*n or animal charity/NGO that you would like to publicise? If so, please send us your article, maximum 400 words, to 321oxveg+news{at}gmail.com.)
7. Book review
Black Ops and Beaver Bombing by Fiona Matthews & Tim Kendall. Oneworld Publications, 2023, 368 pp; hardback, £17-99
Black Ops and Beaver Bombing celebrates eight of Britain’s best loved and, in some cases, rarest wild mammal species, and the measures taken to conserve and protect them. The species covered include water voles (classified as “endangered” in Britain in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s Red List), hedgehogs (rated “vulnerable”) and the titular beaver (“endangered” in Britain overall and “critically endangered” in England, despite being “a keystone species” that can play a key role in flood prevention). Vegetarian couple Fiona Matthews – Professor of Environmental Biology at the University of Sussex and founding Chair of Mammal Conservation Europe – and mammal-spotting spouse Tim Kendall, have written an informative, entertaining, humorous, and often outspoken book that does not shy away from taking a swipe at the authorities. For example, the National Farmers Union “remains trapped in a discredited philosophy that impoverishes the very landscapes it claims to protect,” while the Government must answer to the fact that “when it comes to biodiversity intactness Britain ranks 189th out of 218 countries”.
Black Ops and Beaver Bombing was shortlisted for the 2023 Wainwright Prize for writing on conservation. It didn’t win*, but ecologist, bumblebee conservationist and bestselling writer Dave Goulson, borrowing the authors’ penchant for puns, described Black Ops as “weasely my favourite book of the year”. I can think of no better recommendation.
Paul Appleby
* The winner was The Lost Rainforests of Britain by Guy Shrubsole (Harper Collins, 2023)
8. Forthcoming Events
Saturday 16 March, 4pm – 5pm. Sheldonian Theatre, Broad Street, Oxford. Transforming Food Production: The Peter Roberts Memorial Lecture. NHS GP, author and television personality Dr Amir Khan discusses his passion for wildlife conservation and support for wildlife friendly and healthy farming practices with Philip Lymbery, CEO of Compassion in World Farming. Tickets £15 – £20 (students and under-18s £8 – £10). (Click here for details of other Oxford Literary Festival talks on a related theme taking place on the same day, including a discussion on The Politics of Food with National Food Strategy author Henry Dimbleby at 2pm.)
Sunday 17 March, 7pm. Amey Theatre, Abingdon School, Park Road, Abingdon, OX14 1DE. How we can all rewild and save the world. Isabella Tree, author of Wilding, explains how we can all do our bit to restore the life-support system on which all species, including our own, depend. Part of the Abingdon Festival of Science & Technology. Tickets £5 (18-and-under £2-50).
Saturday 23 March, 12pm – 1pm. Weston Lecture Theatre, Broad Street, Oxford. Go Vegan: A Guide to Delicious Everyday Food. Marlene Watson-Tara explains why a vegan diet is good for you, your family and the planet and offers some easy and nutritious recipes. Tickets £13-50 (students and under-18s £7). Other relevant talks at the Oxford Literary Festival on 23 March include How to Eat Right and Save the Planet with Bill Tara at 10am, and Eat Like You Care: An Examination of the Morality of Eating Animals with Gary Francione at 6pm.
London Vegans online speaker meetings via Zoom:
Wednesday 27 March, 7pm – 8pm. Vegan Health: watching and discussing some of the videos made by physician, author and advocate of a wholefood, plant-based diet Dr Michael Greger.
Wednesday 24 April, 7pm – 8pm. Keren Papier, Senior Nutritional Epidemiologist at Oxford Population Health, describes the Feeding the Future study (FEED) of contemporary plant-based diets. To ‘attend’ a meeting you need to join the LV email list; all welcome, no charge.
Saturday 30 March, 11am – 6pm. Document, 30-64 Pennywell Rd, Bristol, BS5 0TL. Bristol Vegan Fayre. Live music, comedy, talks, stalls, and catering. Tickets £5, under-16s free.
Saturday 6 April, 9:45am – 5pm. Rewley House, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA. Animals: Rights and Wrongs. A day school introducing the basic elements of animal ethics, with Gary Francione and Daniel Came. Course fee £99 (enrolment closes at 23:59 on 3 April).
Saturday 20 April, 11am – 4pm. Forbury Gardens, Reading, RG1 3BB. Reading Vegan Fiesta. Organised by Sparkle Vegan Events. Free entry.
(Also see the Events section of the OxVeg blog for any updates or additions.)
9. And finally …
“The right-wing media loves to bash vegans. The reality is that, in comparison with meat, the vegan alternative is better for you and the planet.” Matthew Glover, co-founder of Veganuary, quoted in The Guardian, 4/1/2024. (Despite the scepticism shown in some parts of the media, official Veganuary campaigns were held in eight countries this year, with similar campaigns run by partner organisations in six other countries. However, a study of 154 Veganuary participants by Elizabeth Eveleigh of the Vegan Society Research Network underlined “the importance of providing nutritional guidance or supplementation for individuals undertaking short-term vegan diets.”)
“I believed that being vegan was quite extreme, so I wasn’t sure where to start. That’s when my friend suggested Veganuary. The experience was fascinating and challenging. … There have been some bumps along the way – eating dairy by mistake – but I am still vegan and love it!” Claire Hardman of Leicester, describing her conversion to veganism in 2018, The Guardian, 31/1/2024.
“Every chapter includes a list of actions that would make a difference. On farming, for example, we need to improve crop yields around the world, eat less meat, invest in meat substitutes, replace dairy with plant-based alternatives, and waste less food.” Bibi van der Zee, in a review of Not the End of the World by Hannah Ritchie (Chatto & Windus, 2024), The Guardian, 4/1/2024. (Ritchie is a senior researcher at the Oxford Martin School and head of research at Our World in Data.)
“Despite the claims of the ‘sustainable meat’ lobby, going vegetarian or vegan and hence reducing the numbers of grazing livestock remains the most effective tool for bringing down [greenhouse gas] emissions related to the food system.” Jen Elford, Head of Policy and External Affairs, The Vegetarian Society, 10/1/2024.
“The UK Government seems more intent on creating a climate of fear than tackling the climate crisis.” Sacha Deshmukh, Amnesty International UK chief executive, reacting to criticism of the government’s crackdown on environmental protest by UN special rapporteur Michel Forst, quoted in The Guardian, 23/1/2024.
“Conventional wisdom holds that early human economies focused on hunting – an idea that has led to a number of high-protein dietary fads such as the paleo diet. Our analysis shows that the diets [of 24 individuals from two burial sites in the Peruvian Andes dating from 9,000 to 6,500 years ago] were composed of 80% plant matter and 20% meat.” Dr Randy Haas, archaeologist and senior author of the study, University of Wyoming, quoted in The Guardian, 24/1/2024.
“Scientists can offer to rewind some of these dramatic mistakes made by humans. We don’t play God. We try to preserve what God has created. We only bring back what was on this planet and was destroyed by people.” Prof Thomas Hildebrandt, head of the rhino BioRescue project, quoted in The Guardian, 27/1/2024. (The project aims to bring the northern white rhino back from ‘functional extinction’ – the only two remaining members of the subspecies are infertile females – using a bank of frozen eggs, sperm and embryos and gene-editing technologies.)
“Zoos only have to announce or declare an animal has escaped … as the animal leaves the perimeter of the zoo. So the number of escapes that actually occur is probably much higher than [we know about].” Chris Lewis, captivity research officer at the Born Free Foundation, quoted in The Guardian, 2/2/2024. (Serious incidents often lead to the escaped animal being shot and killed.)
“I am pessimistic about humankind, but optimistic about the planet.” Sebastião Salgado, legendary photojournalist whose work has documented people and nature for the past 50 years, quoted in The Guardian, 10/2/2024.
“Cutting methane [emissions] is the only solution to meet the global 1.5C temperature target.” Carlos Silva Filho, president of the International Solid Waste Association, quoted in The Guardian, 12/2/2024. (Methane gas traps 86 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period, and is thought to be responsible for one-third of global heating. Human activities cause about 60% of methane emissions, with animal agriculture accounting for 30% of these, primarily due to enteric fermentation by ruminant animals such as cattle and sheep.)
“For me, sustainability has always been a big thing. It is something I take into account in every single decision in my life.” Hector Bellerin, vegan professional footballer at Real Betis in Spain, BBC Sport, 16/2/2024. (The former Arsenal player takes an active interest in Betis’ Forever Green initiative, which has seen them become the greenest club in the top level of Spanish football, and he is a major shareholder at Forest Green Rovers of League Two, where all the catering is vegan.)
(This edition of OxVeg News was compiled and edited by Paul Appleby, who thanks all named and unnamed contributors.)
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