An audience question read out by Maher was directed to guest Jon Tester, the former Democratic Senator for Montana and a crop and beef farmer. The question was: “Are you concerned about bird flu and the Trump administration’s ability to respond to another pandemic?”

Tester said that “we should learn something from COVID and we should treat these things seriously.” In response, Maher said: “All the diseases come from animals, and it’s because of the way we treat them… badly.”

Tester agreed there “there’s no doubt” that the current bird flu situation is due to the “concentration of livestock in small areas, in this case, chickens.” Bird flu has become a global catastrophe for both wild and farmed animals, spreading rapidly through poultry farms until mutations allowed it to jump to a growing number of species.

Read more: Bird Flu Jumps To Sheep For First Time

Maher said that the cruel conditions that chickens are kept in are to blame for bird flu. “When you torture animals, it winds up coming [back on us],” he said. Maher has been a PETA board member since 1997, though he continues to eat meat.

‘We should deal with it’

Maher asked whether Tester, in his capacity as a Senator, had ever done anything about the way chickens are farmed. do anything about that?

“Look, we have a hard enough time getting a farm bill passed in Congress, for Christ’s sakes, much less dealing with those kind of issues in our food system,” said Tester. The farm bill is a legislative package that expires and is updated every five years in the US. It covers matters such as financial support for farmers and nutrition programs to help low-income families.

“Does that mean we shouldn’t deal with it?” Tester went on. “No, we absolutely should deal with it in common sense ways.” But he said instead, the political conversation ends up fixating on issues like which bathrooms trans people should be able to use.

Currently, the global response to bird flu is focused on containment through killing infected animals and implementing biosecurity measures on individual farms. However, intensive animal farms continue to proliferate across the globe. Experts have warned that countries must start preparing for a potential bird flu pandemic among humans, including developing vaccines and public communication programs.

Read more: First Human Case Of Bird Flu Confirmed In Nevada As New Strain Circulates

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

After impressing the panel with their pitch, founders Dr Guy Sandelowsky and Shiv Sivakumar took a joint investment from their “dream” Dragons – Steven Bartlett and Deborah Meaden – in exchange for a 2.5 percent equity stake in the company. 

Bartlett is a popular investor in the Den due to his marketing expertise, while Meaden – who is plant-based – has a particular interest in sustainable and animal-free brands. Meaden described Omni as one of the “most successful businesses to come into the Den”. Bartlett was full of praise for the entrepreneurs themselves, saying: “I have to try and invest in this business. I have to.” 

Both Dr Sandelowsky and Sivakumar have described themselves as Dragons’ Den “superfans” who were “thrilled” to be on the show. “As entrepreneurs, Dr Guy and I have watched almost every episode of Dragons’ Den,” Sivakumar said in a statement. “It was exciting and incredibly surreal to suddenly find ourselves face-to-face with the five Dragons in their studio, sharing the story behind our pet care brand as well as the steps we’re taking to revolutionise the industry.”

Read more: Deborah Meaden Raises Concerns Over Goat Milk Skincare Range On Dragons Den

The rise of Omni

Established in 2020, Omni specializes in animal-free food and supplements for companion dogs. 

Dr Sandelowsky and Sivakumar were inspired to start Omni after recognizing the significant health and environmental impacts of many conventional dog foods. 

Read more: Cultivated Dog Food On Sale In The UK In ‘World First’

“Skin complaints, gut issues and obesity are soaring in our pets, and they are suffering as a result,” said Dr Sandelowsky. “Despite how widespread the issues are, there are few comprehensive feed and supplements solutions out there to help. Many are bland in flavour and heavily reliant on CO2 polluting ingredients. Omni is changing this with its complete collection of solutions centred around future proofing pet health – without ever compromising on flavour, or the joy of eating.”

Omni products are made from novel proteins derived from yeasts, algae and pulses. According to Omni, their ingredients tend not to trigger allergies or sensitivities. 

A large body of research has indicated that plant-based diets – built on well-formulated food – can be both safe and beneficial for dogs. A major 2022 study found that plant-based dogs had fewer health issues than dogs fed traditional meat diets. Last year, the British Veterinary Association ended its longstanding opposition to vegan diets for dogs. 

Read more: This Isn’t Good Enough!’: Deborah Meaden Slams UK Government For Failing To Ban Farm Cages

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Three NHS trusts across the UK are thought to be taking part in the annual challenge. Among them is Wirral Community Health and Care Trust, which has organized events to help people learn more about the benefits of a healthy plant-based diet. According to GB News, the trusts are also aiming to promote diversity and inclusion through Veganuary.

Juliet Gellatley, founder and director of Viva!, appeared as a guest on the GB News programme. She argued that the NHS would save millions of pounds if more people adopted plant-based diets. She also said that a dietary shift would help NHS trusts to cut their greenhouse gas emissions and protect wildlife.

Read more: One Third Of Brits Back Plant-Based Shift In Hospitals

Mo Metcalf-Fisher, Director of External Affairs at the Countryside Alliance, also appeared as a guest. He argued that no publicly funded institution should support a campaign that “calls for the end of animal farming,” which he described as “a deeply deranged political position to take.” He said that instead the NHS should be promoting “our brilliant British farmers, whether that’s arable or livestock.” He also described the idea that Veganuary improves diversity and inclusion as “nonsense.”

Plant-based food in health care

Numerous environmentalists and health experts have urged the NHS to adopt a plant-based by default approach in its catering.

In October 2024, gut health expert Tim Spector and naturalist Chris Packham, along with 1,000 experts, wrote an open letter to the NHS. If the NHS served plant-based food, the letter said, it could encourage healthier eating habits at home, saving money on treating people for diet-related diseases.

An analysis by the Office of Health Economics found that a country-wide shift to plant-based diets in England could save the NHS £6.7 billion a year. This is because such a shift could result in 2.1  million fewer cases of disease across England, and a gain of more than 170,000 quality-adjusted life years. Another report by the Conservative Animal Welfare Foundation found that the improved health outcomes for British people if they all are meat-free lunches on weekdays could save the NHS £2.2 billion annually.

However, a 2023 report showed that hospitals in England are still serving patients carcinogenic processed meat products such as bacon.

Read more: Mayor Adams’ Plant-Based Hospital Initiative Sees High Patient Satisfaction Rate

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

Read more: Black-Owned Plant-Based Meat Brand Lands $300,000 Investment On ABC’s ‘Shark Tank’

Cofounders Zoya Biglary, an established chef, and Alix Traeger, who formerly wrote for BuzzFeed Tasty, aim to create a healthier and sustainable alternative to fish with their products containing iron, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Biglary writes on the Fysh Foods website that, as someone who doesn’t eat raw fish, she wanted to plug the gap she found at her favorite restaurants. “I believe non-fish eaters deserve more than just avocado rolls and random assorted veggies. So, I created Fysh,” she wrote. 

“Fysh contains the cleanest plant-based ingredients without the use of any food coloring, soy, or chemicals. It’s the most sustainable option in the seafood aisle — without having to worry about mercury, parasites or microplastics. It’s also freaking delicious.”

Read more: What Is Vegan Seafood, Is It Healthy, And What Brands Are Best?

A healthier and more sustainable option

Rather than going straight for the financial jugular, Biglary and Taeger took the opportunity to highlight issues blighting the seafood industry, such as pollution and overfishing, and offering that plant-based alternative brands such as Fysh Foods are the sustainable solution.  

The series regular Sharks declined to invest in Fysh Foods, but it was with guest Shark Daniel Lubetzky that Fysh Foods got what it came for on the show. Lubetzky, founder of KIND Snacks, offered USD $150,000 for a 40 percent stake. After negotiating, they agreed on $150,000 for 30 percent, providing Fysh Foods with the money required to expand operations. 

Read more: Wicked Kitchen Just Bought A Second Vegan Seafood Company

This article was written by Adam Protz on the PBN Website.

Read more: ‘Emily In Paris’ Star Lucas Bravo Wants His Character’s Restaurant To Go Vegan

Strictly Come Dancing – popularly known as Strictly – is one of the BBC’s most well-known shows. It has been running for 20 years, and sees a group of celebrities dance with a professional partner each week to compete to win the coveted “Glitterball trophy.” This year, contestants include singer Shayne Ward and reality star Pete Wicks. 

A key aspect of Strictly is its elaborate and lavish costumes. These sometimes include real feathers, which are widely regarded as a product of animal cruelty.

Read more: Gavin & Stacey’s Pam Urged To Go Vegan For Final Episode

PETA’s open letter to ‘Strictly Come Dancing’

In a new open letter to the show’s executive producer Sarah James, the group highlights the reality of the feather industry. “Real birds’ feathers are a product of extreme cruelty to animals and have no place on your dance floor,” the letter reads. “They are gory, not glamorous.”

A 2015 investigation into an ostrich farm in South Africa found that workers were striking birds in the head and forcibly restraining them. On some occasions, feathers were ripped out of their skin while they were still conscious. 

The letter goes on to state that “marabou” feathers (which have a soft, fluffy consistency) generally come from chickens or turkeys raised intensively in factory farms. “When you consider that factory farming birds to rob them of their plumes also increases the very real risk of a deadly bird flu pandemic, feathers are definitely something you don’t want to touch with a limbo stick!,” the letter states. 

The letter, which was signed by PETA vice president of corporate projects Yvonne Taylor, says that “feathers are falling out of fashion” much like fur is. It cites high-profile designers like Stella McCartney, who have moved away from animal products in their designs. The 2024 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, which took place earlier this month, also exclusively featured faux feathers for the first time in its history. “We hope Strictly Come Dancing will follow their lead by foxtrotting away from feathers – fast,” the letter concludes. 

Plant Based News has reached out to the BBC for comment. 

Read more: Deborah Meaden Raises Concerns Over Goat Milk Skincare Range On Dragons Den

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Read more: Gavin & Stacey’s Pam Urged To Go Vegan For Final Episode

The French actor has starred in the show, which is written by Darren Star, since its inception in 2020. As well as being the neighbor and love interest of Emily (played by Lily Collins), Gabriel is also the owner of a French restaurant where many of the scenes take place. The name of the restaurant changes throughout the series: it was introduced as “Les Deux Comperes,” and it’s also been called “Chez Lavaux” and “L’Espirit de Gigi.” One constant in each series, however, is that the restaurant serves a lot of meat. 

Speaking to Sharp magazine, Bravo said that he would like to see a few changes made to the eatery’s menu.

“I would love for his restaurant to become a vegan restaurant, and for him to get a green Michelin star,” he said. “It’s something I’ve been talking about with Darren and producers for two years now, and I hope it’s going to happen.”

Read more: Vegan Chef Wins Fish Challenge On Great British Menu

Is Lucas Bravo vegan?

Bravo has confirmed that he is vegan, having been raised on an animal-free diet since birth. 

In a another interview, this time with Grazia, he stated that his aspirations for Gabriel extend further than the romantic relationships we’re used to seeing from him on the show. 

“I’d really like to use him as a platform to spread a little awareness about the climate. I’m a vegan and in season three Gabriel slowly used more vegetables and more organic cuisine at his restaurant,” he said. “I have a few jackets on the shows that are made from very [eco]-conscious materials. I know it’s about entertainment and escapism, but he’s the character on the show that is working class and pretty down to Earth.”

Emily in Paris tells the story of a 20-something marketing executive named Emily Cooper who moves from Chicago to Paris for work. The show has been praised for its lighthearted humor, as well as being somewhat ridiculed for its unrealistic dialogue and one-dimensional characters and themes (many of the show’s storylines concern the characters’ dating lives). Reviews have praised the “escape fantasy” of the show, and the Guardian recently called it “delightfully delulu.”

Emily in Paris season four is available to stream on Netflix now.

Read more: Netflix Documentary Tracking Identical Twins Inspires People To Ditch Meat

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Read more: Brian May Urges UK Government To End ‘Hideous’ Culling Of Badgers

In an earlier statement, AHDB said that Brian May: The Badgers, the Farmers and Me was “missing key evidence that would have helped to inform viewers on the facts about bovine TB.”

It took four years to make the documentary, which followed the Queen guitarist and animal activist’s efforts to understand the bTB crisis. Since 2013, a quarter of a million badgers have been slaughtered in a bid to stop the disease spreading to cows. Around 20,000 infected cows a year are also killed each year. Advocates of the badger cull say it has been effective, but critics say it isn’t supported by the science.

On Wednesday, May responded to accusations of bias in the documentary. In an Instagram post, he explained why focusing on badgers for spreading bTB makes no sense. “There can be no bias in the programme because all ‘sides’ are represented in our team,” he said, which included “one dairy farmer, one farm vet, one wildlife expert and myself, a curious and doggedly persistent scientist.”

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A post shared by Sir Brian May (@brianmayforreal)

A disease of cows, not badgers

The documentary drew on 12 years of research into bTB and the cull at a farm in Devon, concluding that badgers are not the main route of disease transmission. Rather, it’s poor biosecurity and the spreading of slurry (cow manure) on fields where cows end up grazing. Cows become infected through eating the pathogen that’s found in the manure, according to the research. May also finds that government-provided tests for the disease are not very accurate, identifying only about half of infected cows.

Read more: AHDB Relaunches Meat And Dairy Campaign Despite Criticism From Doctors

AHDB claims that before the documentary aired that it “went to some effort to highlight to the BBC the importance of including peer reviewed evidence about how the disease is spread, the positive impact of badger culling on TB in cattle herds and the effectiveness of the current 25-year eradication strategy.” It said that “this was not reflected in the final edit.”

Farmers Weekly reports that the British Cattle Veterinary Association (BCVA), the Countryside Alliance, and NFU Cymru have also “expressed disappointment and concern over the documentary’s portrayal of bovine TB and the badger cull.”

In another article, Malcolm Bennett, a professor of zoonotic and emerging diseases at Nottingham University, told Farmers Weekly that the documentary is generally correct. It’s “central argument that bovine TB is primarily a cattle disease that spreads largely within and between herds, sometimes over long distances through cattle movements, is generally agreed,” he said.

A BBC spokesperson told Plant Based News that the documentary “features numerous voices in the debate on badger culling, including farmers and academics.”

“It follows Sir Brian on his journey over a decade to understand the crisis caused by Bovine Tuberculosis and his opposition to the controversial badger cull,” they added. “The BBC adheres to strict editorial guidelines on impartiality on this matter.”

As an alternative to culling, regional Wildlife Trusts and volunteer groups run badger vaccination programmes. A cow vaccine has also been in the works for years but is still not ready for use. Keir Starmer’s government has described the cull as “ineffective” and pledged to end it, but is still allowing existing cull licenses to continue.

Read more: Campaigners Call for An End To Meat Advertising In The UK

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

Show writers James Corden and Ruth Jones recently confirmed that the hugely popular BBC sitcom will be returning for its final episode on Christmas Day. In response to the news, PETA wrote a letter urging them to give Pam a “compassionate character arc” by making her vegan.

Read more: Kevin Smith Praises UK Vegan Cake To Over 2 Million Followers

Pam going vegan ‘could get everybody talking’

Gavin & Stacey follows the lives of the two married title characters and their very different families. It ran for three seasons after first airing in 2007, and it has a huge and loyal fanbase. 

Read more: Jane Goodall And Leonardo DiCaprio To Produce Live Action Film Told From Dog And Wolf’s Perspective

Fans of the show will be aware that a running joke in the series is that Pam, who is the mother of lead character Gavin, pretends to be vegetarian. After becoming flustered in an early episode when meeting the parents of Gavin’s new fiancée Stacey, she accidentally says that she’s stopped eating meat, and then becomes too embarrassed to go back on her words.

Elisa Allen, vice president of programmes at PETA UK, wrote that the Pam vegan storyline would “get everybody talking.” She added that in the four years since the last Gavin & Stacey special aired, “we’ve learned more about how eating meat affects animals, the environment, and human health – so it’s only right that Pam should put a vegan turkey on the table.”

‘Three Tofu Blocks Pam’

One of the most quoted lines from the show is Pam saying that she’s worried she’ll become known as “Three Steaks Pam” if her friends find out she planned to eat three steaks while on the Atkins Diet. Referencing this scene, Allen wrote: “By adopting the nickname ‘Three Tofu Blocks Pam’, the character would be a champion for animals and the planet – ditching animal derived foods spares the lives of nearly 200 living, feeling beings every year.”

Allen pointed out that more than one billion animals are killed for food each year in the UK, many of whom are “languishing on filthy factory farms.”

“By making Pam vegan for the finale, you’ll ensure that – whether or not she gets ‘drunk, drunk’ this Christmas – she’ll enjoy a ‘well lush’ spread while sparing clever pigs, curious turkeys, and industrious fish suffering. This act of compassion promoting a better tomorrow for everyone would be a wonderful note on which to end such a beloved series.”

Read more: ‘Cowspiracy’ Co-Director Announces New Film: ‘How To Make Drugs’

This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

On episode 10 of the 21st series of the show, Nick King and his sons Daniel and Ricky presented their Somerset-based business Goats Of The Gorge to the panel of angel investors. They brought a two-week-old baby goat with them, who was passed around and fed by the panel. King explained that the idea for the skincare came when his doctor recommended drinking goat’s milk for his osteoporosis condition. Goats Of The Gorge claims that their products are cruelty-free. 

Dragon’s Den is a popular British television programme, in which startup companies and aspiring entrepreneurs have an opportunity to pitch their business to a panel of experts and attempt to procure investment from them. 

One of the show’s longest-term stars and investors, Deborah Meaden, was the “dragon” who raised concerns about the company’s animals, and how ethical they could claim to be alongside their plans to grow and expand their manufacturing.

Deborah Meaden raises concerns

Meaden took the discussion in a new direction when she explained that she is plant-based. She initially said she was vegan, but then corrected herself as she is not “strict about her use of skincare products.” 

She told the family: “I don’t eat any animal product, whether dairy or animal, I’m not so strict on the skincare as long as it’s high welfare animals, so what sits behind this in terms of welfare?” They claimed that all their animals were “very well looked after,” and that they use milk from “show goats” which was otherwise going to be thrown away. Meaden was impressed by this, saying it was a “good answer.”

She decided not to invest, saying “I’m not that supportive of the dairy industry, or the goat industry. I would cause you a problem because right now you’re quite small scale and you can see the goats that you’re buying from. But, as you get bigger, I suspect you’re going to have to think about those things, and I’m going to be standing in your way saying ‘you can’t do that.’”   

Viewers criticize the company

Writing online, several people further questioned the “cruelty-free” claims. Cruelty-free is generally used to refer to products that aren’t tested on animals, and companies that use animal products in ingredients often promote themselves as cruelty-free.

“Hmm, not sure about cruelty-free. Where you use animal products, there’s cruelty”, was one comment.

Another said: “This is a dairy industry business so without a doubt it is not cruelty-free!”

A third commented: “No deal for goat’s milk beauty products! Thank goodness! Goat’s milk is for baby goats – not slathering on human skin!”

And a fourth said: “Talking about goat products such as goat milk and soap and bringing on a goat, is that ethical?”

The goat milk industry is inherently exploitative, and it’s also on the rise. Find out more about the ethical costs of goat farming here. 

More like this:

• You Can Now Buy Vegan Goats Cheese In UK Supermarkets
• Is ‘Dragons Den’ Star Deborah Meaden Vegan?
• Person Shouting ‘Help’ Was Actually A Dairy Goat Crying Out For Her Babies

This article was written by Adam Protz on the PBN Website.

Kirk Haworth won the north west England heat last week. He secured his place in the finals with a vegan lasagna, a “fish” dish, and a dessert judges called “phenomenal.”

Haworth, co-founder of vegan restaurant Plates in London, is the first plant-based chef to compete on the programme. His 38/40 score in this round of the competition is the joint-highest in the history of the Great British Menu regionals.

No fish needed

To make it to the finals, the contestants had to create a series of dishes in the theme of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Haworth’s main dish was named The Feast of Farah after the athlete Mo Farah. It featured a lasagna made with beans served under a shoe box to symbolize Farah’s achievements as a runner. Judge Michael O’Hare, who is also a chef, said that he didn’t “miss for a second the lack of dairy or the fact that it is plant-based.”

The judges were especially impressed by Haworth’s efforts in the fish round of the challenge. The second course in his menu was titled “a celebration of table tennis.” He made it using whipped crème fraiche, fermented cheese, seaweed caviar, and crackers. It gained him a perfect score of 10 out of 10 from O’Hare.

“The presentation was excellent,” O’Hare told Haworth. “The skill you have implemented in this is extraordinary.”

A perfect finish

Haworth’s dessert for the challenge also scored a 10. He took inspiration from the five Olympuc rings, with each one in the dessert flavored to represent a different continent. 

O’Hare said the dessert “looked and tasted incredible” and praised Haworth’s “world-class” cooking.

“This has turned the competition on its head because it is the first ever fully plant-based menu through to finals week of the Great British Menu, so congratulations,” said judge Ed Gamble, the comedian and food podcaster.

Haworth started on his plant-based journey after being diagnosed with Lyme disease in 2016. “Who I am now as a chef is determined by my health challenges,” he has said. “It has completely changed the way I create, cook, work. At Plates what I am trying to do is create a new genre of cookery to showcase fruits and vegetables in a new way, with lots of creativity, innovation and deliciousness.”

More like this:

• Plant-Based Chef Crowned Winner Of MasterChef Portugal
• Pamela Anderson To Host New Plant-Based Cooking Show
• ‘Celebrity Bake Off’ Line-Up Features Two Plant-Based Contestants

This article was written by Claire Hamlett on the PBN Website.

The four-part documentary series, named You Are What You Eat: Twin Experiment, follows four pairs of identical twins in the US for eight weeks. In each pair, one twin follows an omnivorous diet and the other an animal-free diet.

The documentary allows viewers to visualize the randomized control trial published last month by the Stanford University Department of Medicine.

After seeing the documentary, some omnivore viewers reacted with surprise. “Watching You Are What You Eat: Twin Experiment and I am shoooooook,” one wrote on X (formerly Twitter).

“Mannnn I’m really going vegan after watching this,” another declared. “Watching ‘You Are What You Eat’ on Netflix…and am now seriously considering eating little to no red meat from now on,” added a third.

Netflix documentary shows benefits of vegan eating

Released in time for Veganuary 2024, when many people sustain a plant-based diet for the first time, the documentary provides a rundown of the main benefits of veganism.

The results of the study provide a compelling case for eating a plant-based diet for personal health. Participants following a vegan diet saw visceral fat – the bad kind of fat that builds up around organs – reduce significantly. In contrast, the meat-eaters experienced small increases in visceral fat.

Moreover, after eight weeks, the plant-based twins had significantly lower LDL cholesterol (known as “bad” cholesterol) than the omnivores. Both omnivores and those on a vegan diet lost weight. However, the latter lost an average of 4.2 pounds (1.9 kilos) more than the omnivores.

Viewers shaken by realities of animal agriculture

As well as dramatizing the results of the experiment, the documentary also outlines some of the effects of animal agriculture on the environment, people, and animals.

An explainer on the salmon farming industry revealed the realities of intensively farming fishes*. In the episode, disease-ridden salmon disgusted the twins and made them vow to be more careful with what they are eating.

Another section explored the environmental racism of large-scale pig farms in North Carolina. In majority Black and poor neighborhoods, residents suffer adverse health effects from farmers spraying pig manure near their homes.

Cultural heritage to eating meat

Making a research study into a Netflix documentary allowed viewers to see the participants as more than a statistic. This meant seeing some of the barriers to moving towards plant-based eating.

Two sisters with South African heritage discussed the importance of meat to their culture. After seeing positive health outcomes and learning some of the effects of animal agriculture, they started to explore alternatives. In the final episode, they prepared vegan biltong for their friends and family.

From reducing your greenhouse gas footprint to boosting your own fitness, swapping from meat to plant-based food has been linked with many better outcomes for the environment and health.

*While the English language usually refers to multiple fishes as “fish,” we have chosen to use “fishes” to emphasize their individuality

More like this:

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• Veganuary 2024: The Best New Food Launches In The UK
• World Health Organization Head Calls For Plant-Based Diet Shift

This article was written by Daniel Clark on the PBN Website.

In the letter, which has been widely shared on X (formerly known as Twitter), Packham calls the show an “anachronistic embarrassment” and tells Ant and Dec that he and many others are “sick of your perceived disregard for animal welfare.”

The long-running ITV show sees a group of celebrities live in a camp in the Australian outback for around four weeks. Campmates take part in tasks – known as “Bushtucker Trials” – to earn food. Many of these trials involve the exploitation of a vast number of animals and insects.

According to Packham, the show’s “continued exploitation of animals for entertainment […] betrays a dangerous disconnect between a world increasingly concerned with an environmental crisis, and a reckless and marginalized part of the media which doesn’t appear to give a sh*t.” 

This year’s opening episode aired with two million fewer viewers than last year. Packham’s letter was liked more than 20,000 times within the first 24 hours.

Cruelty masquerading as entertainment

The show’s model has barely changed in more than 20 years.

I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! brings together a group of more-or-less-well-known celebrities, which this year includes former politician Nigel Farage and social media star Nella Rose, for winter escapism and light entertainment.

Amid the jokes and joviality however, sentient beings have been eaten alive, crushed, thrown, confined to small spaces, and subjected to unnatural environments in the show’s two-decade history.

“The cruel exploitation of wildlife for gratuitous entertainment on your programme continues to damage the great reputation of the UK as a ‘nation of animal lovers,’” Packham writes.

Moreover, he highlights the juxtaposition between a world “seriously imperiled by climate breakdown and biodiversity loss” and a programme that uses the “wilful abuse of animals” for laughs. At present, one species is dying every 10 minutes, research from last year showed.

A long history of concern

In the letter, Packham says that he has written to Ant and Dec about the show’s animal abuse in the past and never received a reply. “I’ve tried to be polite but my patience has run thin,” he wrote on X.

Animal rights groups have criticized I’m A Celebrity for years. Last year, campaigners at PETA called on Ant and Dec to step down to avoid being complicit in animal abuse. In 2019, it was reported that the show had implemented a ban on eating live insects.

“Read the writing on the wall”

To highlight the show’s outdated model, Packham lists other examples of animals being used for entertainment that the UK public generally condemns. This includes dancing bears, cock and dog fights, and performing dolphins.

“Look at the world, listen to the voices of concern, read the writing on the wall,” Packham urges. Instead of abusing animals, I’m A Celebrity could use its popularity to “celebrate wildlife and its conservation,” he suggests.

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• After 20 Years, I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! Is Still Exploiting Animals
• A Major US Meat Producer Has Invested In Insect Proteins – What Happens Next?
• Chris Packham ‘Immensely Proud’ As He’s Named RSPCA President

This article was written by Daniel Clark on the PBN Website.

Directed by Stephanie Soechtig, Poisoned: The Dirty Truth About Your Food looks at how the US food industry manages deadly pathogens, including E. coli and salmonella. The film is described as a “shocking indictment of the food industry and its regulators.” It looks at how “decades of apathy and malfeasance” has led to the US population to be vulnerable to disease and death caused by these pathogens. It’s based on a 2011 book by Jeff Benedict called Poisoned: The True Story Of The Deadly E. Coli Outbreak That Changed The Way Americans Eat. 

“The film unearths food companies’ cover-up attempts, reveals disturbing truths about America’s food supply system, and details criminal prosecutions that have resulted from these contaminations,” the film’s description reads. “Unfortunately, things like E. coli, salmonella, and toxic waste simply aren’t listed on the label of ground beef chuck.”

‘Poisoned’ viewers swear off meat

Taking to social media after watching the film, many viewers stated that they planned to cut out animal products. “This Poisoned documentary on Netflix makes me wanna turn vegan,” wrote one. “Just watched Poisoned on Netflix. Thinking imma go vegan, boy was I wrong,” added another. 

In reference to one scene that demonstrated how chicks were treated in the food system, one viewer wrote: “The Poisoned Netflix documentary makes me contemplate switching to a vegan lifestyle perdue [a chicken supplier] tossing those lil chicks like rags.”

E. coli and the meat industry

The first outbreak of food-related E. coli in the US was in 1982, and was linked to ground beef. In 1992, a major outbreak linked to 73 Jack in the Box fast food restaurants in California, Idaho, Nevada, and Washington led to the deaths of four children. It infected 732 people across the four states, the majority whom were under 10 years old, and 178 were left with permanent injuries like kidney and brain damage. The outbreak was described as “far and away the most infamous food poison outbreak in contemporary history.”

Almost three decades later, E. coli continues to be a problem in the US. The pathogen often lives in the intestines of animals, and their meat can become contaminated with it during the slaughtering process. Those at most risk of death from E. coli are very young children, the elderly, and those with weak immune systems. The disease can also cause symptoms like diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pains, and cramps. E. coli is also found in some vegetables, as infected manure from farms can pollute rivers used to irrigate crops. 

Earlier this year, it was reported that E. coli found in meat was behind half a million urinary tract infections (UTIs) in the US every year. “People are carrying the strain of E. coli that causes the UTI in their gut, so the bacteria has traveled from the anus [into the urinary tract to cause the infection],” explained Lance Price, one of the study’s authors and a professor of antibiotic resistance at Washington DC’s George Washington University’s Milken Institute School of Public Health, at the time.

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Takeaway the Meat, which comes from animal advocacy organization Viva!, first hit screens in February 2022. It depicts a couple, who are snuggled on the sofa with their dog, ordering a pulled “pork” takeaway. When the doorbell rings, they are confronted by a delivery person bringing them a live piglet and a cleaver.

The ad was praised for its messaging and aim to encourage viewers to make the connection between animals and the food on their plates. It won two awards at the 2022 Drum Roses Awards for Marketing, and Viva! stated that it was “inundated” with messages from people saying the advert made them go vegan. 

Viva! is now crowdfunding to bring the advert back to TV screens where, according to the charity, it will be seen by up to 18 million Brits. Viva! is aiming to raise £40,000, which an anonymous donor will double to £80,000. At the time of writing, the campaign has brought in nearly £20,000.

“Britain frequently describes itself as a nation of animal lovers, from the dogs and cats we live with, to the birds and other wildlife we watch for outdoors,” Viva!’s founder and director Juliet Gellatley said in a statement.

“But to be a truly compassionate country, we must stop eating animals. Takeaway the Meat highlights the hypocritical nature of loving one animal while eating another but provides an easy solution: try vegan!” 

Vegan advert sparks controversy

Despite the fact that the advert provides an accurate depiction of where “pork” comes from, many Brits rushed to complain about its message. In fact, it became the second-most complained about advert of 2022.

It was accused of being “offensive,” “distressing,” as well as “vilifying meat eaters.” Some social media comments referred to the ad as vegan and “vegetarian terrorist propaganda.”

Some viewers praised the ad, however, with one writing: “Woahhhh did anybody else just see the vegan Viva advert?! Amazing work guys getting that out! Wow really powerful.”

Channel 4, on which the advert appeared, said at the time: “We believe it’s up to our viewers to make their own judgment about the adverts they see across Channel 4’s platforms. 

“All adverts that appear on our channels are cleared against the relevant regulatory codes by Clearcast prior to transmission.”

The pig flesh industry

Pigs like those seen in the advert suffer tremendously for “pork” products. Mother pigs (also known as sows) are often housed in farrowing crates for up to six weeks after giving birth, which don’t allow her any room to turn around. Her piglets nurse from a small area next to her known as “the creep,” but the sow cannot access her children. Piglets will also have their tails docked and teeth clipped without pain relief. This is to stop them injuring each other due to their stressful environment. 

At the slaughterhouse, around 86 percent of UK pigs will be gassed to death with a high concentration of carbon dioxide. This gas is highly aversive, and forms an acid on wet surfaces it touches (like the pigs’ eyes, throat, and lungs). Experts have stated that this means they burn from the inside out.

The pigs who aren’t gassed will in theory be stunned before having their throats cut. Stunning pigs is complicated, however, and improper stunning is rife. Many animals will still be alive when they have their throats cut, and some will be conscious when put into scalding tanks of extremely hot water.

Those interested can visit Viva!’s crowdfunding campaign here

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This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.

Some of the sisters have promoted plant-based food brands on Instagram. They have also publicly discussed the health benefits of meat-free eating. As of 2023, here’s what we know about their diets, as well as history of animal advocacy. 

Is Kim Kardashian vegan?

Perhaps the most famous of all the family, Kim Kardashian’s diet is regularly the subject of media attention. She has regularly promoted meat-free eating, but is she really vegan?

At the time of writing, it isn’t thought that Kim is vegan. She does, however, reportedly follow a “mostly plant-based” diet that includes meat very rarely. It’s thought that Kim cut out meat over health concerns. The star suffers from psoriasis, a skin condition that causes itchy and flaky patches of skin. 

She previously wrote on her sister Kourtney’s website Poosh that her diet had helped her symptoms clear up “immensely.” Kim added that her plant-based transition made her “more mindful about how what I put in my body affects me—not just psoriasis, but also my mood, my stress levels, my energy, everything.”

In a 2022 episode of The Kardashians, Kim was seen eating a number of animal products in a restaurant in Italy. She later cleared up any confusion about the diet she follows. “I’m not sure if I’ve ever clarified this, but I’m what I think they call a flexitarian, which is, like, vegan sometimes and just not other times.”

Being vegan is a lifestyle, not a diet, and entails avoiding animal exploitation in more aspects than just food. Kim has seemingly worn animal-derived materials in her clothing, including leather. She has also previously worn fur, but is thought to have replaced her real fur garments with faux alternatives (after encouragement from Pamela Anderson).

Kim Kardashian promotes Beyond Meat

Despite not following a completely vegan diet, Kim has regularly promoted meat alternatives on Instagram. Most recently, she promoted Beyond Meat chicken nuggets to her more than 330 million Instagram followers.

“As a busy mom, I’m always looking for quick and easy options to feed my family that are both healthy and delicious,” she said in the video. She went on to call the nuggets her “go-to,” saying they’re a “delicious plant-based protein option.”

Kourtney Kardashian’s diet

Like her younger sister Kim, it’s thought that Kourtney eats mostly plant foods. According to Poosh, she follows a “mostly” vegan diet. Other reports suggest that she is “95 percent vegan” (nb: it’s impossible to be partly vegan, as veganism is an all-encompassing philosophy). Kourtney also has a number of plant-based recipes on the site, including Vegan Chickpea Tuna Salad and Vegan Butter Candles. 

Kourtney is thought to have cut fish out of her diet after watching Netflix documentary Seaspiracy, which looks at the huge environmental and ethical costs of fishing. “I haven’t eaten meat in a few months at all but was still eating a little fish. But after watching this …,” she wrote in 2021. 

Kourtney’s husband, Blink 182 drummer Travis Scott, is a long-term vegan, and the two also starred in an advertisement campaign for Daring chicken in 2022. She also previously opened up about being influenced by his way of eating. 

“I’ve been on a health and wellness journey for the past 13 years, which has made me super conscious of what I put into my body and my kids’ bodies.

“I’m not fully vegan, but Travis has helped me keep to a mostly plant-based diet, which is so much easier with Daring,” she continued. “I honestly cannot believe how much it tastes like chicken. There are a lot of plant proteins out there, but we’re always looking for options that are super clean with all-natural ingredients.”

Khloe Kardashian and veganism

Unlike her older sisters, Khloe has never claimed to eat a plant-based, or mostly plant-based, diet. In February 2021, however, she did reveal that Kim had convinced her to add more vegan food to her diet. Kim tweeted that she had “converted three of her family members” to plant-based eating. She then posted a meme stating: “Me judging people who aren’t plant-based!!! JK I don’t judge JK I do.” To this, Khloe replied: “Listen cutie pie, you’ve been plant-based for a few months. Calm down, we are trying to catch up.”

It is thought that Khloe followed a mostly vegetarian diet during her pregnancy with daughter True, who she gave birth to in 2018. “Before pregnancy I really only ate chicken or turkey – no pork, red meat, most fish, lamb etc…,” she previously revealed in a blog post for her app. “But now I find meat absolutely disgusting, LOL.”

However, reports have stated that since she gave birth, Khloe eats meat such as steak and chicken.

While Khloe isn’t vegan, she has in the past advocated for some animals exploited by humans. She appeared in a campaign for PETA in 2008, posing alongside the words “I’d rather go naked than wear fur.” She distanced herself from the organization in 2012, however, after her sister Kim had flour thrown at her by an anti-fur activist. 

Is Kendall Jenner vegan?

Kendall isn’t thought to follow a plant-based or vegetarian diet. Speaking previously to Harper’s Bazaar, she confirmed that she often eats chicken in her daily diet. 

“I typically eat lean chicken and brown rice, and am always snacking on raw veggies with dip and hummus. I wish I had more time to do grocery shopping because I like picking out my own vegetables.”

Is Kylie Jenner vegan?

The youngest sister in the Kardashian-Jenner family has regularly dipped her toe in the plant-based lifestyle. In 2021, she told her 223 million Instagram followers that she was “really trying” to not eat meat. She also posted on Snapchat that she was “trying out this whole vegan thing.”

In 2022, Kylie announced on social media that her hugely successful make-up brand Kylie Cosmetics would be going vegan. The brand was already cruelty-free, meaning it was never tested on animals. 

Kylie has been blasted in the past for wearing fur, however. In January 2020, she posted a photo of her new Louis Vuitton slippers, which contained mink fur. 

What has Kris Jenner said about veganism?

While the family matriarch Kris isn’t thought to be vegan herself, she has publicly endorsed plant-based food. In April 2023, she promoted Plant Butter from Country Crock, and discussed the benefits of moving away from dairy. 

“What I love about Country Crock, it’s the one thing I have in my refrigerator that’s older than I am,” she said in a video for the campaign. “I have had this around since the dawn of time.”  

She added that her daughters were “trying” to get her to “eat the way they eat.” 

“I don’t want to taste a difference,” she continued. Kris also said that she’s been “trying to do less dairy” and find swaps where you “don’t taste the difference.”

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This article was written by Polly Foreman on the PBN Website.