Positive Vegan & Animal Advocacy News No. 2
And silver linings related to the US election.
Hi friend,
While the results of the US election are disappointing news for animal advocates (and many other people), there are plenty of positive developments happening, too.
In this newsletter, I will share positive news that touch upon vegan and animal advocacy related topics. For positive news about the wellbeing of people and the environment, I can highly recommend Fix the News.
Positive developments for animals
Many Americans want to consume fewer animal products
A November 2024 report identifies a growing trend towards plant-based food alternatives, particularly when it comes to milk, cheese, and meat. The report, based on Kroger retail data, reveals that factors like rising costs, health concerns, and environmental considerations are driving this shift.
Even though most plant-based products are still more expensive than their animal-based counterparts, the gap is shrinking every year. In 2023, some plant-based categories (such as butter, seafood, and meat) already reached or went beyond price parity.
The report leverages Kroger retail data from 7.8 million households. 45% of shoppers are actively seeking to consume less animal products. 🎉
That we are seeing a trend towards price parity, and increased interest in plant-based products in the world’s biggest economy is amazing news!
Speaking of grocery shopping:
For the first time, a plant-based shopping cart is cheaper than an animal-based one in Germany
A recent study conducted by ProVeg in Germany compared prices at six major grocery chains. It discovered that the price difference between plant-based alternatives and their animal-based counterparts has decreased significantly (from 53% in 2022 to 16% this year).
The study found that for the grocery chain LIDL, a plant-based shopping cart was now actually slightly cheaper than an animal-based one! Once again, LIDL is breaking new ground for a plant-based lifestyle. 🤩
Given that Germany is the most populous country in the EU (and the third-largest economy in the world), I am hoping these changes in cost will eventually lead to similar changes in other countries, too.
How did this happen? In the fall of 2023, LIDL became the first retailer worldwide to slash the prices of its own-brand vegan line, with the aim of reaching price parity with animal products. Just a few days later, the German retailer Kaufland followed suit. Some other retailers also reduce the prices of their plant-based products.
(Excuse my language: I’m so f*cking appreciative of them and as a German vegan, I’m so proud of the leading role Germany is taking in the global transition to a plant-based lifestyle!
I’m writing this in public in a gym near Washington, DC, with happy tears in my eyes.
Given how this week has been going, people who see me are probably thinking that I am crying for very different reasons… but I think it’s important to let ourselves be impacted by positive news, and to give at least as much attention to them as to negative developments.
So, happy tears it is!)
Speaking of firsts:
Proposed Changes to US Dietary Guidelines: Prioritizing Plant-Based Proteins
The U.S. Departments of Health and Human Services and Agriculture are reviewing proposed updates to the 2025 Dietary Guidelines. These updates would prioritize plant-based proteins over meat for the first time!!! 😮
Sarah Booth of Tufts University explains:
“Instead of starting with meat, poultry, and eggs to seafood, we’re proposing to flip it so that the nuts, seeds, and soy products are listed first, then seafood, and then meat, poultry, and eggs.”
The proposed guidelines would re-categorize legumes as protein sources, potentially shifting societal views on protein consumption.
Unsurprisingly, the meat industry has pushed back, arguing that plant-based proteins are less nutritionally rich. The final recommendations are due early next year.
(Why is this good news, even though there’s not a final recommendation yet? Because the fact that there’s even a proposal like this shows that things are changing.
Basically, it’s like a soccer match: if one team just keeps on taking shots towards the goal, at some point it’s quite likely that a ball will go in. When a team scores, they often get momentum, which can lead to them scoring goals. And unlike soccer matches, we have more than 90ish-minutes to win the match. Plus, at some point, the referee, the spectators, and even the other team might like to join our team.
Okay, so it’s really not like a soccer match at all.)
Beyond Meat returns to growth
Beyond Meat has reported a return to growth in the third quarter of 2024. Revenue increased by 7.6%. Gross profit was $14.3 million (compared to a loss of $7.3 million the year before). Beyond Meat has updated its outlook for 2024, expecting continued growth in net revenue and improvements in gross margins.
Vietnam’s effort to end bear bile farming are getting close to the finish line
Vietnam’s ongoing efforts to reduce the number of bears kept in captivity are nearing completion. Within less than 20 years, their number has decreased from about 4,000 individuals in 2005 to just 192 (a 95% reduction!).
Silver Linings
While this newsletter is supposed to be about good news for vegans and animal advocates, I also want to include some news that are more neutral, or talk about the silver lining in negative news.
So, here we go:
The American election might not negatively change things for animals
Most animal advocacy organizations and publications have stated that Kamala Harris would be a better president for animal advocacy issues.
On the other hand, the CEO of VegTech Invest, Elysabeth Alfano, argues that the election will probably not impact US food policy one way or the other.
Here’s how she put it:
“I think there are arguments on both sides for food systems transformation. On one side you have climate change, but on the other side you have food insecurity, which is an issue of national security. So as you look at things like the Department of Defense spending just about 20% of its recent R&D grant on alternative proteins, sustainable oils and egg replacements and the Better Meat Company.
[…]I think both sides are quite capable and even willing to bend over to the meat lobby. I just think they have so much power, more than I even realized a year ago. Nothing happens unless they say it happens. So I think neither of them is going to put their political career online by going up against the meat lobby. So there are arguments to be made for both sides that they could make progress, and there’s arguments to be made, that neither of them will make progress.”
You can find the podcast here and the transcript here.
Vox’s Kenny Torella has written a great article about the potential election impact on animals. Here are the silver linings he sees:
“… some of the people high up in Trump’s orbit, despite their reactionary views on other social issues, have indicated relatively pro-animal welfare or anti-factory farming beliefs. Some in a second term could wind up in positions to advance animals’ interests, like Lara Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — though Kennedy could do plenty of damage to human beings if put in a position of authority on health.
Whether they’ll use their influence to help animals in a second Trump term is unknown to unlikely. But there’s a sliver of precedent they could build on, as Trump’s first term wasn’t all bad for animals. For example, his Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Secretary Andrew Wheeler sought to significantly reduce animal testing with the goal of replacing most of it with alternative methods by 2035, and other federal agencies cut back on kitten, dog, and monkey testing.
And for all the very real differences between President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris, the truth is that when it comes to animal welfare, there’s not much daylight between the parties…”
Ballots loses (and one symbolic win) for animal-related topics
As you might know, animal advocacy issues also lost during the election. For instance, Denver voters rejected ballot measures that would ban businesses from making or selling fur-based products and outlaw slaughterhouses within city limits.
While this is disappointing, we should also acknowledge that the ballot measures were a far shot at this point. However, public opinion can shift rapidly, so a few years from now, similar ballot measures might do a lot better. Even just starting this discussion is a sign that things are changing and might encourage people to start thinking more about animal suffering.
So, there’s a big silver lining to this. Instead of being sad that the ballot measures didn’t win, let’s celebrate that they even made it this far!
According to a Vox article, the group behind the Denver ballot measures (emphasis added):
“… celebrated the fact that more than a third of the city’s voters were willing to vote for a far-reaching measure as banning slaughterhouses — even as the campaign was outspent 6-to-1 by a coalition of national and state meat industry groups, restaurants, and labor unions.
‘This was a bold campaign, and no one said changing the status quo was going to be easy,’ Pro-Animal Future spokesperson Olivia Hammond said in a press release. ‘Over 100,000 meat eaters voted for a world without slaughterhouses, and that’s a foundation we’ll continue building on. Voters aren’t used to seeing animal rights on the ballot, and we are paving the way with this campaign.’”
The idea of “paving the way” is why we should celebrate the lone animal advocacy ballot win I’m aware of (if I missed something, please let me know!): a ban on concentrated animal feeding operations in Berkeley, which passed with 59.3%!
You can read more about it here.
In some ways, this win is more symbolic than practical, given that the only operation it would have directly affected has already shut down. But symbols matter (a national flag is a symbol that some people are willing to die for…), so it’s great that this ballot measure passed. Also, this ballot measure has already inspired similar ballot in measures elsewhere.
Onward and upward!
(Remember, the whole soccer game analogy? Or, to quote Wayne Gretzky: “You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” Well, shots are being taken left and right, and we are gaining momentum.)
How to Help Animals
It feels great to read through positive news. What’s even better is to contribute to them!
Remember, the whole animal advocacy movement is still in its early phase, and we can use all hands on deck. That means that your contribution is uniquely valuable and important at this time.
Here’s how you can be a part of the solution:
You can donate to an organization that effectively advocates for animals, such as the Humane League (I have donated to them before and had a great experience). You can find out more about effective animal welfare donations here.
You can volunteer for animals. If you don’t have a lot of time, the Humane League’s Fast Action Network might be a good choice, as it allows you to contribute when you can (for instance, while waiting in a queue).If you have more time, you can find a lot of volunteering opportunities here.
If you are not yet a vegan, you can become a vegan ally (see this YouTube video for an explanation) and support the cause by reducing your consumption of animal products. If you want support in becoming more vegan, there are many vegan challenges, such as this one.
If you would like community, you can join Hive Newsletter’s Slack channel and connect with 3000+ animal advocates. I recently joined and it’s amazing! My only regret is that I didn’t join earlier. :)
Warmly,
Louise