The protein content of each yogurt pot ranges from 16g to 23g per 350g. All are free from both dairy and soy, and are suitable for vegans. The yogurts come in six flavors: strawberry, raspberry, blueberry, vanilla fudge (a brand-new addition), and natural.

The natural flavor packs the highest protein content, while raspberry contains the lowest. All yogurt pots are now available to buy from Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, Ocado, Marks & Spencer, Planet Organic, Whole Foods Market, and select independent health stores. They are priced at £3.25 for a 350g pot and £1.90 for a 120g pot.

Read more: Tiba Tempeh Launches New Smoky Block As Distribution Expands

The UK’s ‘first-ever’ high-protein, soy-free yogurt?

Nush Foods is a UK-based dairy-free brand founded in 2016 by former London police officers Bethany and Paul Eaton. Motivated by Bethany’s personal health journey and her background in nutrition, the couple set out to create a plant-based yogurt alternative that matched the taste and texture of traditional dairy products. They began by crafting almond milk yogurts in their kitchen, eventually launching Nush as the UK’s first producer of nut milk yogurts.

The new range is believed to be the first high-protein, soy-free vegan yogurt available in the UK. The products are said to be creamier, tastier, and more nutritious than previous versions.

Read more: You Can Now Buy Lion’s Mane Mushrooms In UK Supermarkets

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

UK-based company Vegan Food Group (VFG) has collaborated with San Francisco food tech brand Eat Just to secure exclusive European rights to its flagship product, Just Egg. The product, which is currently seeing skyrocketing sales in the US, will be manufactured at VFG’s site in Lüneburg, Germany, later this year. VFG, which also owns Meatless Farm, VFC, Tofutown, and Clive’s Purely Plants, will be investing £11.5M (USD $15.2M) into manufacturing and distributing Just Egg.

VFG chairman Matthew Glover said he was “thrilled” to be bringing this “game-changing” product to the UK and EU for the first time. “This partnership is a huge leap forward in transforming plant-based food across Europe,” he added. “Welcome to the future of eggs. No chickens required.”

Read more: Tiba Tempeh Launches New Smoky Block As Distribution Expands

What is Just Egg?

Just Egg is a realistic egg alternative product made from mung beans. It’s free from cholesterol and is typically sold in liquid form, allowing it to be poured directly into a pan and cooked like traditional eggs. It’s designed to replicate the texture and function of scrambled eggs, and is commonly used in breakfast dishes, baking, and other recipes that call for eggs.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Just Egg is becoming increasingly mainstream in the US due to rising prices of traditional eggs. The bird flu outbreak has caused egg shortages and record prices in recent months. This led Just Egg sales to soar at five times the rate of the year before. 

Europe has a large plant-based market, so it’s likely that Just Egg’s arrival on the continent will see sales rise even further. “European consumers clearly desire innovative, sustainable food options, and collaborating with VFG is key to meeting that demand effectively,” Eat Just co-founder Josh Tetrick told The Grocer. “This investment in the Lüneburg facility represents a crucial step towards making high-quality plant-based egg alternatives widely accessible to our global audience.”

Read more: Pinky Cole Hayes Announces Buy-Back Of Slutty Vegan

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

While the Met Office has not yet issued any weather warnings, it predicts that temperatures in Greater London could reach 24C on Friday, April 11. This would make it the hottest day of the year after last Friday’s 23C.

London Fire Brigade has urged people to “act responsibly” and follow safety advice, as the UK’s high temperatures and unseasonably dry conditions make wildfires far more likely. People should be particularly vigilant around BBQ safety, discarded cigarettes, and litter.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service issued an “extreme wildfire warning” for Thursday, April 10. The service previously published a warning at the start of April and another alert in mid-March. In all three cases, the Scottish fire service noted that human behavior is the cause of many wildfires and that responsible behavior is crucial in their prevention and mitigation.

An amber wildfire warning is currently in place for Northern Ireland, which has also experienced unseasonable conditions and unpredictable fires. Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) has been fighting a significant blaze in the Sandbank Road area of Hilltown since Sunday, which Sky News reported may have been caused deliberately.

Read more: Animal Ag, Not Fossil Fuels, Is The Leading Cause Of Climate Change, Says New Study

The UK’s 2025 wildfires so far

Scotland has had four wildfires in the last week, including a large blaze near East Ayrshire that required campers and other visitors to leave the area. In England, Dorset’s Moors Valley Country Park has had to close after several wildfires broke out on Wednesday.

There have been several moorland fires in Devon and Cornwall this week, preceded by a huge fire on Rosenannon Downs in March that Cornwall Wildlife Trust described at the time as an “attack on nature.” The total number of Cornish wildfires increased by 80 percent last year.

Overall, there have been 286 UK wildfires reported so far in 2025. That’s 100 more fires than were recorded during the same period of 2022, which saw record-breaking temperatures and an unprecedented number of wildfires nationally and throughout parts of Europe.

‘Wildfires are not a seasonal threat’

UK fire chiefs said at the time that the worsening climate crisis has created a “clear and present risk” of future fires. Rising temperatures, droughts, and extreme weather events linked to the changing climate have created optimal conditions for wildfires to get out of control.

The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) made several recommendations to the government about wildfires, resilience, and the future of the UK fire services last year. Earlier this month, the NFCC highlighted “rising pressures” on fire services and called for action once again.

“There is no getting away from the fact that climate change is driving increases in extreme weather events, such as wildfires,” said NFCC chair Phil Garrigan. “Wildfires are not a seasonal threat – they are becoming a persistent and growing risk to life, property, and the environment. We must adapt and invest now to ensure our services are equipped to meet this challenge.”

Read more: London At ‘Clear Risk’ Of Wildfires Caused By The Climate Crisis

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

The block is infused with a smoky marinade and can be used in a variety of dishes, including stir-fries, sandwiches, and pastas. It will be available on Ocado from April 18 and in Waitrose and Sainsbury’s at the end of the month. The 220g product, which retails at £3.00, is a new addition to Tiba Tempeh’s growing plant-based range, which also includes an Original Block and Sweet Chilli Pieces.

“We’re so excited to launch our new Smoky Tempeh as a natural extension to our best-selling Original Block,” said Alexandra Longton, cofounder of Tiba Tempeh, in a statement. “We’ve crafted the tastiest protein-packed tempeh,
which we know consumers will love. We think this is the tastiest tempeh on the market, and we can’t wait for people to try it.”

Read more: Pinky Cole Hayes Announces Buy-Back Of Slutty Vegan

Tiba Tempeh expands

The product launch coincides with increased retail distribution for the brand. From April 30, Waitrose will carry three of Tiba Tempeh’s products – Original Block, Sweet Chilli Pieces, and Smoky Block – in over 200 stores for the first time. The brand will appear under Waitrose’s “BrandsNew” platform, which highlights emerging brands in the food space. “We are delighted to be working with Waitrose to bring more naturally delicious and nutritious plant-based options to even more consumers,” Longton said.

Tiba Tempeh is currently the UK’s largest tempeh-only brand and has seen rapid growth despite a downturn in the overall meat-free category. The brand reports a 736 percent year-on-year increase in retail sales value, representing a £1.2 million (USD $1.5 million) rise over the past year. Longton attributes the growth to increasing consumer demand for minimally processed alternatives to conventional meat substitutes.

Read more: Vegan Restaurant Unity Diner To Return

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

The complaint, made by animal welfare non-profit A Bit Weird, was lodged on April 7 – the same day the CMA was granted new consumer protection powers. Under the new powers, the CMA has authority determine if key consumer protection laws have been breached without going through courts. This means that it’s able to “act more swiftly and directly to protect UK consumers.” According to A Bit Weird, this marks the complaint as a “landmark.”

The Happy Egg Co and marketing

The Happy Egg Co, which is owned by British food supplier Noble Foods, is one of the UK’s largest “free-range” egg producers. It’s known for its depictions of seemingly well-cared-for chickens living in green fields with lots of space. According to the complaint, The Happy Egg Co’s marketing and imagery of its farms is at odds with the reality for many hens that provide its eggs.

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A post shared by The Happy Egg Co (@thehappyeggco)

Examples cited in the complaint include The Happy Egg Co’s claim that it provides “calming and enriching environments” for hens. This is despite previous investigations documenting overcrowded conditions on farms with limited enrichment items. 

Marketing materials for The Happy Egg Co tend to show healthy and fully-feathered hens. Investigations, however, have uncovered “injuries, feather loss, and beak trimming” affecting some Happy Egg hens, according to A Bit Weird. Beak trimming is standard practice in the UK egg industry.

Other allegations include misleading use of the slogan “Happiness First” to refer to hens, and claims that hens have “lots of room to roam, relax and play.”

In response to the complaint, a spokesperson for Noble Foods told Plant Based News: “We strongly refute these allegations which do not reflect the conditions on our farms or the values of our brand. We are committed to ensuring transparency with our consumers, and work closely with our farmers to ensure they meet our stringent welfare standards, with each farm independently audited by third parties including the RSPCA Assured.

“The welfare of our hens is our highest priority, and each hen has daily access to ranges, for eight hours or more, and our ranges provide a minimum of 20 percent tree cover, which is significantly above free-range standards. We also provide enriching indoor environments with perches and toys, and all housing meets or exceeds RSPCA Assured standards.”

Read more: ‘The Drew Barrymore Show’ Features Segment On Egg Alternatives

Is The Happy Egg Co ‘duping British consumers?’

This isn’t the first time The Happy Egg Co has come under fire for its marketing. In May 2024, animal rights charity Animal Justice Project filed a complaint with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) over the company’s allegedly “misleading” TV, radio, and internet adverts. 

In October, Veganuary founder Matthew Glover accused the company of “welfarewashing” after an advert featuring actor and farmer Kelvin Fletcher stated that hens in a lush green field “certainly do look very happy.” 

A 2021 investigation by PETA documented conditions on three farms supplying The Happy Egg Co. Birds were kept in large, overcrowded sheds, which investigators said could prevent them from engaging in natural behaviors like foraging, flapping their wings, and roosting comfortably. Birds were also subjected to mutilations like debeaking. 

Many people believe that “free-range” farms house birds in green fields, but the reality is often very different. At one of the farms investigated, the outdoor space was a “bare, muddy ground with only a few dilapidated wooden shelters,” according to PETA. 

Speaking about the new CMA complaint, A Bit Weird founder Andy Shovel said: “74 percent of UK adults consider animal welfare when they decide which groceries to buy, so it’s unsurprising that brands try to tap into this huge driver of purchase intent. But we believe that The Happy Egg Co is duping British consumers with cartoons of lush green meadows and smiling hens that are jumping for joy, when the reality is quite grisly. That’s just a bit weird.”

To coincide with the complaint, A Bit Weird has launched a petition calling for The Happy Egg Co to change its name. You can sign the petition here. 

Read more: Brits Being ‘Systematically Misled’ About Meat, Dairy, And Eggs, Study Finds

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

The British supermarket chain and American-style restaurant produce an entire range of frozen, co-branded meals. The Iceland x TGI Fridays line now includes these two latest plant-based additions and is available at most Iceland and Food Warehouse stores nationwide.

The “melt-in-the-middle” cheeseburger combines a thick, beef-style patty with a layer of plant-based cheese in the middle. Meanwhile, the popular “No Chick Sesame Strips” feature a Tennessee-style glaze and are back in stock. Both are produced by the No Meat Company and both are certified vegan, with the newer burgers bearing a Vegetarian Society logo.

In mid-March, plant-based blogger @vegan_junk_food_uk shared a photo of the cheeseburgers on Instagram and reported a price of £3 per 240g two-pack. More recently, fellow blogger @_sunflowerseeed shared a picture of the updated No Chick Sesame Strips. According to Iceland, these RRP at £5 per 480g box, which includes glaze and sesame seeds.

Plant Based News reached out to Iceland and TGI Fridays for more information.

Read more: How To Eat Vegan At TGI Fridays: Every Plant-Based Option

Vegan junk food and ‘clean’ eating

The new Iceland x TGI Fridays fakeaway products are notable in that they prioritize rich-tasting comfort foods like cheeseburgers and chicken strips. While vegan “junk food” dominated new product launches for years, the last 12 months have seen an increasing number of brands lean into the clean eating trend amid pushback against “processed foods.”

The first three months of 2025 alone have seen new mycelium, tempeh, and tofu products, with brands like Squeaky Bean citing demand for “natural ingredients.” Regardless of type, studies indicate that plant-based meat is significantly healthier than animal products. It’s also more sustainable, with an 89 percent smaller impact on the environment than traditional meat.

Read more: Plant-Based Meat Market ‘To More Than Double In Value’ By 2030

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Dubai Chocolate traditionally combines milk chocolate, tahini paste, pistachio paste, and knafeh, a spun pastry dough popular throughout the Middle East. The pistachio and knafeh filling is flaky with a vibrant green color, and the chocolate shell often includes distinctive green marbling.

The recipe was originally created by Dubai’s FIX Dessert Chocolatier. Speaking to the New York Times earlier this year, founder Sarah Hamouda explained that a pregnancy craving for knafeh, a dessert from her childhood, inspired both the business and the “Can’t Get Knafeh Of It” bar.

In 2023, TikTok user Maria Vehera posted an ASMR-style video (now with over 122 million views) of her sampling different FIX confections, including Can’t Get Knafeh Of It. Many commenters asked after the green filling, and the product became known as Dubai Chocolate.

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A post shared by FIX Dessert Chocolatier (@fixdessertchocolatier)

As of April 2025, the #DubaiChocolate hashtag has 265 thousand posts on Instagram and more than 355 thousand posts on TikTok. According to Yahoo News, luxury British travel agent Destination2 reported a recent 38 percent “jump” in Dubai bookings amid the current Dubai Chocolate “shopping frenzy” that is sweeping the UK and beyond.

Lindt has relaunched a previously limited edition version of its own Dubai Chocolate, and supermarket Waitrose introduced a two-bar limit to prevent customers from bulk-buying. Meanwhile, shoppers queued outside Lidl to purchase the new “Dubai-Style Chocolate” that just launched, and Aldi Ireland has promptly introduced a “Dubai Chocolate-style” ice cream.

Read more: Company Raises $30 Million To Scale Up Cocoa-Free Chocolate

Is Dubai chocolate vegan?

With a growing number of alternative options and imitations now available, there has been a flurry of interest in vegan Dubai Chocolate in the new year. Internet users have been asking for tips on Reddit and Googling questions such as “Is there vegan Dubai Chocolate?”

Authentic Dubai Chocolate from FIX Dessert Chocolatier is not suitable for vegans as it features dairy milk chocolate. Furthermore, knafeh can include a wide range of regional, traditional, and non-traditional ingredient variations, such as dairy cheese and honey.

In the UK, the most widely available Dubai Chocolate bars – including Lindt, Lidl, and many of the options sold on Etsy, Ebay, and other platforms – all contain dairy. (In fact, Lindt makes its bar using three different types of milk powder, milk fat, and dairy-derived lactose.)

There are, however, several vegan recipes available. Some creators are sticking as close as possible to a veganized version of the original ingredients list, while others are customizing.

The Little Blog Of Vegan, for example, combines shredded kataifi pastry with white and dark chocolate for a marbling effect. It also includes pistachio butter, but no tahini. The All Natural Vegan, meanwhile, adds raw pistachios and coconut-sweetened cacao nibs for extra body.

Read more: Catherine’s Originals Launches ‘UK’s Largest’ Vegan Easter Egg

Where to find vegan Dubai Chocolate bars

It can be tricky to find an authentic, vegan version of the classic Dubai Chocolate bar, but there are a few options available to folks in the UK and US. (Including Easter eggs.)

Kind Hearted Chocs

The newly founded Kind Hearted Chocs makes a Pistachio Kunafa Chocolate Bar, which the small company describes as the “UK’s first” of its kind. Kind Hearted Chocs makes pistachio paste from scratch. It blends this with vegan white chocolate and crunchy, toasted kataifi, and gives the chocolate coating a rippling texture and green and gold marbling pattern.

Kind Hearted Chocs says that the business is “committed to supporting charities that help women, support the LGBTQIA+ community, fight racism and advocate for animal rights.” Throughout March, 2.5 percent of every sale was donated to Women’s Aid via Work For Good.

Find out more here.

The Organic House

Canada’s The Organic House makes a vegan and gluten-free version of Dubai Chocolate. This product is currently available exclusively via the specialty shopping platform Basquet, which caters primarily to North American customers looking for allergen-free products.

The Organic House itself is an award-winning, vegan chocolate-maker, and a “Viral Dubai Knafeh Pistachio EGG with Raspberry Drizzle” is also currently available for pre-order. 

Find out more here.

Qoqoa Chocolate

Qoqoa Chocolate is based in Northampton, England, and the family-run business makes and sells both a vegan and a non-vegan version of the Dubai Chocolate bar. The vegan version includes “crispy knafeh and a generous layer of premium Zeina pistachio cream, all encased in a luxurious coating of Belgian dark chocolate.” According to Qoqoa, using vegan dark chocolate in place of milk gives the bar a “smooth richness” to balance the nutty center.

Find out more here.

Considerit

Considerit is based in Edinburgh, Scotland, and makes sweet treats like donuts, milkshakes, ice cream, and chocolate, all handmade with vegan ingredients. The small company is currently taking pre-orders for a “Dubai Pistachio Egg,” which Considerit says is the first of its kind in the UK. The egg includes the company’s “Own unique crunchy pistachio filling encased in perfectly tempered m*lk chocolate,” says Considerit in a description of the chocolate egg.

Find out more here.

Ombar

Ombar was founded nearly 20 years ago, but its presence in the UK’s plant-based market has grown significantly since 2021, when it launched a quartet of oat milk bars at Waitrose. The company is notable for its use of unroasted cacao, organic pistachios, and ethical suppliers.

While not technically a Dubai Chocolate bar, Ombar’s “Pistachio Cream” range might just be the most widely available option for vegan customers in the UK looking for a plant-based taste of pistachio-and-chocolate. A 70g version of the bar is currently available from Ocado, and a smaller 42g version is also available from Waitrose. The range combines organic dark chocolate with a pistachio paste center for a “creamy” and “delicate” flavor combination.

Find out more here.

Read more: 10 Dairy-Free Chocolate Easter Bunnies

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

A recent scientific journal entry by two leading plant-based healthcare professionals highlights how promoting plant-based diets could help tackle the “intertwined crises” of poor health, biodiversity loss, social injustice, and the climate crisis. However, a lack of nutrition education – particularly within medical training – hinders promotion and uptake.

“Why Is The Medical Profession Reluctant To Talk About Diet Change?” was published in the March issue of Future Healthcare, a peer-reviewed academic journal. Dr Shireen Kassam, a consultant haematologist, certified lifestyle medicine physician, and founder of Plant-Based Health Professionals UK (PBHP), and Dr Laura Jane Smith, a respiratory and internal medicine consultant at King’s College Hospital in London, wrote the journal entry.

Kassam and Smith emphasize that the current food system drives intersecting global crises. In contrast, a growing body of evidence shows how diets rich in plant-based whole foods reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), conserve biodiversity, and promote human health. Plant foods also prove that a secure and resource-efficient food system is possible.

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

Embracing plant-based diets is now an ethical imperative

March saw several newly published works reinforce the potential of plant foods to promote health and mitigate chronic illness. One study found that well-balanced plant-based diets could help people with cardiometabolic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease live longer. Meanwhile, an expert policy briefing found that emphasizing plant-based meals in schools and hospitals could save the struggling NHS £54.9 million (USD $70.8 million) per year.

A recent study carried out by PBHP analyzed 36 NHS hospitals and found that their menus showed “little alignment with sustainable practices.” Less than 50 percent of NHS Trusts plan to increase the availability of plant-based options in line with broader sustainability goals.

The new journal entry from Kassam and Smith recommends that healthcare leaders support the normalization of default plant-based options rather than high-impact animal products, promote and educate on the benefits of plant-based foods, offer plant-based catering for events and meetings, endorse the Plant Based Treaty, lobby decision makers to support a plant-based food system, and divest from companies that support animal agriculture.

“Healthcare systems, such as the NHS, can lead this transition by offering plant-based meals, promoting education and advocating for policy changes,” write Kassam and Smith. “Embracing plant-based diets is now an ethical imperative, with benefits spanning individual health, environmental sustainability, equitable resource distribution and global health justice.”

Read more: New Report On Why Healthcare Settings Should Go Plant-Based By Default

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Speaking at the London Assembly Mayor’s Question Time in March, Polanski called on Khan to “show climate leadership” and make a “good example” by rolling out plant-based meals as the default option at City Hall’s canteen, “the most local place possible.”

By “default,” Polanski explained that meat and dairy-based foods would still be available, but customers would have to request them specifically, as people do with meat-free options now.

He also said that he would “love to talk” to Khan about free school meals and how they could also be made plant-based by default. “This is the very first option though, just City Hall canteen, just making sure there are plant-based options that are the default options.”

Khan declined to take action. He told Polanski several times that his priority was ensuring choice and said that at the moment, City Hall and the city of London have a “good balance.”

Read more: UK Hospitals ‘Fall Short’ On Sustainable Meals, Study Finds

School dinners and plant-based by default

Polanski explained to Khan how he hosted an event with Viva! earlier this year at the all-vegan community restaurant Karamel in Wood Green, North London. Over 100 campaigners and experts in areas like food, climate, and anti-poverty attended, and that collective’s suggestions have been made into A Cruelty-Free Manifesto For London.

This manifesto includes five key recommendations for the Mayor of London, which include transforming public catering to plant-based by default, adopting a cruelty-free supply chain, promoting plant-based living through education and campaigns, creating a fund to support local food growing, and collaborating with London’s many plant-based health professionals.

“A third of human-caused emissions are caused by our food,” said Polanski in a video posted to Instagram. “That’s why it’s really important that we have targeted, specific food policy to help tackle the climate crisis.”

The publication of A Cruelty-Free Manifesto For London and Polanski’s exchange with Khan came shortly after a new policy briefing found that plant-based meals in schools and hospitals could save the NHS £54.9 million pounds per year. A portion of these savings could then be used to emphasize sustainable, British food from small and organic growers.

Nearly 20 percent of UK children experience food poverty, and a 2024 study found that free school meal allowances are often too low for children to buy healthy options like fruit. Meat is also currently compulsory on school menus, but removing this requirement – and making plant-based options the default – could make healthy, sustainable food more accessible.

Read more: Healthy Plant-Based Diets Lower Risk Of Death From Cardiometabolic Disorders, Finds Study

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

While no dairy cheese is suitable for vegans, many varieties are still suitable for vegetarians. However, traditional parmesan is unsuitable for either. Here’s everything you need to know about parmesan cheese, including some of the best cruelty-free and vegan alternatives.

Read more: ‘I Tried the Viral TikTok Vegan Mozzarella’

What is parmesan?

Parmesan is an aged, hard cheese that has been produced in Italy for around 900 years. Traditionally, each wheel of parmesan is made with heavily salted, unpasteurized cow’s milk, and aged for at least 12 months to create its rich, sharp, and complicated flavors.

The Italian name, Parmigiano Reggiano, applies exclusively to varieties from Parma, Reggio Emilia, Modena, part of Bologna, and part of Mantua, while “parmesan” is sometimes used for similar Italian hard cheeses and private label options produced elsewhere.

Because traditional Parmigiano Reggiano has a protected designation of origin (PDO), it must also be produced by industry experts using specific ingredients and methodology. This includes the protease chymosin – also known as rennin – an enzyme found in rennet.

Rennet is a liquid combination of enzymes found in the stomachs of calves and other ruminant animals. In animals, rennet aids nutrient absorption, and in cheesemaking, it helps produce curds, which are an integral part of the manufacturing process.

Why isn’t parmesan vegan or vegetarian?

Much like the use of gelatin in sweets, many people are only just realizing that rennet is included in parmesan and that it makes the hard cheese unsuitable for vegetarians. This also extends to popular products that include traditional Italian hard cheeses, such as pesto.

Furthermore, the rennet used in Parmigiano Reggiano is typically sourced from the veal industry, which sees very young calves confined and slaughtered before they can mature. Veal is particularly controversial, even amongst those who still eat other meat products.

Parmigiano Reggiano is also uniquely resource-intensive, as producing a single wheel requires 550 liters of dairy milk, which emits around 764.5kg of greenhouse gas – the equivalent of approximately 86 gallons of gasoline or 856 pounds of coal.

Read more: How Is Parmesan Made? The Grisly Truth Behind The Cheese

The 5 best vegan parmesan cheese brands

There are a variety of cheese alternatives that make ideal replacements for traditional parmesan. Some, like Violife’s Prosociano, are direct imitations that can be cut, grated, and nibbled just like the real thing, while others are pre-grated options ideal for the dinner table.

Simply V

Popular German brand Simply V announced last year that its ParmVegan would come to the online shopping platform Ocado. Simply V described ParmVegan as an “authentic parmesan experience” that has been in development for over a decade.

“Our mission at Simply V is to make delicious, plant-based alternatives that don’t compromise on taste or quality,” said Chiara Broeker, Marketing Director at Simply V, in a statement at the time. “We’ve created a product that not only satisfies the palate for cheese lovers, but also aligns with our commitment to sustainability and ethical sourcing. Based on research we know the UK are Italian food lovers, so we’d love for ParmVegan to be a fridge staple.”

ParmVegan is available to buy at Ocado now at an RRP of £2.95 per pack.

Find out more here.

Violife

Violife launched in the 1990s and has become one of the biggest dairy-free cheese brands on the market over the last five or so years. The company launched its grated Prosociano in 2022, followed by a wedge-shaped block that has a “firm and crumbly texture.”

Violife’s Prosociano costs £3.75 per 150g wedge, also from Ocado.

Find out more here.

I Am Nut OK

Hackney’s I Am Nut OK – one of the top artisanal vegan cheese brands in the UK – also secured an Ocado listing last year, including its hard cheese alternative “Oh, Grate!” The company says: “We cannot legally describe this as a vegan Parmesan, so we’re not! It’s not Parmesan in any sense – but it is a delicious alternative [to] something else.”

Vegan Oh, Grate costs £5 per 100g pack.

Find out more here.

GreenVie

Cyprus-based GreenVie Foods has won several prestigious awards for its plant-based cheeses, beating out dairy-based competitors with products like Greek Style, Cheddar, Gouda, Mozzarella, and Parveggio – available either grated or as a wedge.

Grated Parveggio is currently available from Balance Wholefoods at an RRP of £1.99 per 100g bag, and the wedge is stocked by Alternative Foodstores for £3.15 per 200g.

Find out more here and here.

Nurishh

Nurishh’s Gran Vegiano is a coconut oil-based parmesan alternative made in France. It is fortified with both calcium and B12, and the company describes it as “rich and bold.”

This cheese was previously listed by major supermarkets such as Asda, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose, and the Co-Op, with an RRP of £3.50 per 150g pack. While still available, Gran Vegiano is currently listed as out of stock by all but parent company Bel’s foodservice arm.

Find out more here.

What about nutritional yeast?

Nutritional yeast, or “nooch,” is an extremely nutritious, flavorsome, vegan staple. For many, it’s the go-to cheese replacement, whether that’s added to cheesy sauces, included in homemade cheese recipes, or just sprinkled over the top – as you would with parmesan.

Nooch has a cheesy, savory, nutty flavor. (The Daily Show’s Jon Stewart is a particularly big fan.) But some brands, such as the Notorious Nooch Co, also use natural flavorings to give their nooch an extra cheesy edge, making it a particularly good replacement for parmesan. 

Meanwhile, Pimp My Salad’s Parmesan sprinkles combine cashew nuts, sunflower seeds, nutritional yeast, kale, lemon, and Himalayan pink salt for another nooch-based alternative. UK-based Good Carma’s Flavour Fusion range combines nooch with almonds and oregano for a “parmesan cheese alternative,” but also offers garlic, chili, and original flavors.

To make your own nooch-based parmesan blend, try combining plain nutritional yeast with crushed cashews, a pinch of garlic powder, and salt. The cashews give the blend body and the creamy, nutty flavor of traditional parmesan, while the garlic and salt provide depth.

Nutritional yeast is also rich in protein, fiber, and essential vitamins like B12, and Medical News Today listed immune system support, improved glucose levels, healthy skin, hair, and nails, and boosted energy among the key potential health benefits of consuming it regularly.

Read more: This 5-Minute Vegan Parmesan Recipe Is Life-Changing

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

In addition to its flagship restaurant and cocktail bar in Notting Hill, Holy Carrot will be opening a new location in East London.

According to Holy Carrot, it offers “vegetable-forward dining with a focus on fire and fermentation,” and the menu focuses on organic produce from small farms, with no refined sugar. Holy Carrot was first launched as a pop-up in 2021 by entrepreneur Irina Linovich.

“I am thrilled to be bringing Holy Carrot to East London,” Linovich told Restaurant Online earlier this month. “I have always felt the energy and community there is aligned with our vision, bursting with creativity, culture, and forward-thinkers.”

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The new site will come to Old Spitalfields Market later in the year. While it will retain the plant-based and low-waste template of the flagship branch, Holy Carrot has said that it will also take inspiration from the history of Spitalfields and East London in general.

Read more: Vegan Restaurant Wins Michelin Star In UK First

Fire, fermentation, and ‘vegetable-forward’ dining

In 2024, Linovich and chef Daniel Watkins collaborated in creating the flagship Notting Hill restaurant, which is located on Portobello Road. Watkins previously showcased his signature fire and fermentation cooking at Dalston’s Acme Fire Cult, which he co-founded, and is behind the seasonal, nutritious, and low-waste menu at Holy Carrot.

The large Holy Carrot menu currently includes sections for brunch, lunch, and dinner, with options such as koji “honey’’ tofu on toasted brioche; coal-roasted leeks with corn, almond, and aji chili; iberiko winter tomatoes with almond ricotta and pickled walnuts; celeriac schnitzel with katsu Curry and pickles; and crispy mushroom wings with house buffalo sauce.

Refined sugar-free desserts include spiced amazake rice pudding with pumpkin jam, a matcha-flavored tiramisu, and sticky toffee pudding with carob-based caramel.

When he joined Holy Carrot last year, Watkins told The Caterer that the dishes developed for the restaurant are “entirely unique,” and created using the “very best seasonal produce available, showcasing beautiful bold flavors, unusual combinations, and kitchen techniques that ensure ingredients are used in their entirety and to their very best.”

Read more: Popular London Restaurant Launches ‘Vegan Bone Marrow’

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

Between March and April, the Swedish brand will hand out more than 20,000 free flat white coffees made with its signature oat milk in Bristol, Birmingham, Leeds, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. Oatly will bring its coffee-ready tour bus to Sainsbury’s car parks and town squares in each city, as well as partnering with local cafes who will be giving away additional drinks.

In addition to the upcoming giveaway, Oatly has also announced a multimedia advertising campaign centered on an Oatly taste test carried out by Cambridge MR. The test found that up to four times as many consumers prefer oat milk than are currently purchasing it.

The new ads include slogans like “I love Oatly in coffee if I don’t know it’s Oatly,” and feature images of people with their eyes covered. The campaign includes large billboards, as well as video adverts on social media, Spotify, Netflix, ITVX, and Channel 4.

Read more: Potato Milk Brand DUG Announces Further European Expansion

‘People love Oatly in their coffee, they just don’t know it yet’

Research published by The Vegan Society in January found that the UK is shifting away from animal products and towards plant-based options nationwide. Meanwhile, the Good Food Institute (GFI) found that plant-based milk, in particular, has become mainstream.

However, studies also indicate that the vegan label and its connotations still puts some people off. If Cambridge MR’s taste test is representative, it could mean that millions more Britons would enjoy the taste of Oatly’s plant-based milk – if they were willing to try it.

“People love Oatly in their coffee, they just don’t know it yet,” said Oatly’s executive creative director Filip Nilsson. “Our blind taste tests showed there are potentially millions of people missing out on a first-class taste experience, so we’re going on a journey to sample delicious Oatly coffees to people across the UK who may never have had the chance to try it before – proving what we know to be true. Our oat drinks taste delicious.”

In February, Oatly announced its full 2024 financial results. The statement details “significantly improved” profitability and stronger margins, and Oatly expects 2025 to be its first year of profitable growth as a public company.

Read more: Brits Being ‘Systematically Misled’ About Meat, Dairy, And Eggs, Study Finds

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

According to the UK-based brand, its organic tempeh now includes 44g of protein per 200g pack, which is the equivalent of six eggs, or 1 and ⅓ chicken breasts. Better Nature noted that the new recipe also means that its tempeh absorbs flavors better and has a juicier texture.

While the new tempeh is comparable to chicken in terms of protein, it also includes gut-friendly fiber and prebiotics. Better Nature launched in 2020, and co-founder and co-CEO Elin Roberts has said that the company aims to target flexitarians and meat-eaters with tempeh.

“For us as a brand, purely being plant-based no longer sells. It’s not drawing in the masses. Instead, we’re tapping into the growing number of meat-eaters who are looking for healthier ways to pack in the protein,” explained Roberts. She added that customers can flavor and cook Better Nature’s tempeh just like chicken. It also has a shelf life that’s seven times longer.

Read more: Better Nature CEO Says Brand Is ‘Leaving Veganuary Behind’ To Focus On ‘Broader Audience’

Alternative proteins in the UK

Recent research by The Vegan Society found that there is an increasing shift towards plant-based eating in the UK, while the Good Food Institute indicates that plant-based milk and meat, in particular, are now mainstream staples throughout the UK and Europe.

Around 23 percent of UK consumers follow some kind of “meat reduction diet,” and 16 percent describe themselves as “flexitarian.” Furthermore, 58 percent of the population has attempted meat reduction, and a significant 40 percent regularly use dairy alternatives.

Better Nature is the UK’s leading tempeh brand and was named the second fastest-growing meat-free brand of 2024 after Juicy Marbles. The brand has said that it aims to promote health by making whole food proteins the norm, not simply an alternative to animal products.

Better Nature’s “New & Improved Organic Tempeh” is available now from Tesco, Asda, and Ocado, with an RRP of £2.70 per 200g pack.

Read more: Juicy Marbles Unveils ‘Market First’ Plant-Based Pork Whole Cut

This article was written by Liam Pritchett on the PBN Website.

The funding will support Tiba Tempeh’s marketing, sales, and product development, with new products expected to launch in 2025. The investment round was led by Maven Capital Partners through the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund II, supported by the British Business Bank. Venture capital firm Perfect Redd, the investment arm of food manufacturer Samworth Brothers, also contributed follow-on funding.

“We’re incredibly proud to be the fastest-growing brand in the UK’s chilled meat-free category,” said co-founder Ross Longton in a statement. “The investment will help us accelerate our growth and support our mission to create a healthier world by inspiring people to enjoy more delicious, naturally healthy, and sustainable plant-based food.”

Read more: M&S Launches 1-Ingredient Corn Flakes

Demand for less processed meat alternatives drives growth

Tiba Timpeh was founded in 2019 by Alexandra and Ross Longton. It offers a range of tempeh products in UK supermarkets, including Original Block and marinated tempeh pieces. The company has expanded its retail presence in the UK, securing listings at Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Ocado. It has also entered the European market, launching in France and Spain with listings in Carrefour and other major retailers.

According to data from NIQ, Tiba Tempeh has seen a 736 percent increase in retail sales value over the past year, contributing £1.2 million in sales value despite a general decline in the overall meat-free category.

Read more: Vegan Pasty Wins ‘Pasty Of The Year’ At British Pie Awards

In recent years, consumers have been moving away from meat alternatives regarded as “ultra-processed,” a label often associated with vegan sausages, mince,burgers, and other meat analogues. While experts have pointed out that such products don’t necessarily deserve the negative reputation they have, consumers are increasingly seeking less processed animal-free proteins in their place. 

Tempeh, a fermented soy product, is generally regarded as a minimally processed food. It has its roots in Indonesia, but has recently surged in popularity in the UK and Europe. Tiba Tempeh is somewhat unique in offering accessible tempeh products to consumers who have previously been unfamiliar with the food. 

“Tiba Tempeh is an exciting brand, in a market where there is increasing demand for more natural and healthier meat-free alternatives, with a focus on higher nutritional and protein content, which Tiba Tempeh products provide,” said Rebecca MacDermid, investment manager at Maven, in a statement.

Read more: Demolish Foods Unveils ‘Unprecedented’ Plant-Based Whole Cuts Production Platform

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

The Phat Pasty Company’s Keralan Cauliflower, Chickpea & Onion Bhaji Pasty was awarded gold at the awards ceremony in Warwickshire earlier this month. The pasty consists of cauliflower, chickpeas, and onion bhajis alongside garlic, ginger, coconut milk, mango chutney, and Indian spices. According to the company, it was the first ever plant-based pasty to launch on the market six years ago. It beat 17 other pasties at the awards to be crowned winner. 

“We’ve always been at the forefront of the vegan food movement in savory pastry, and our Keralan Cauliflower, Chickpea & Onion Bhaji Pasty has been breaking ground since its launch back in 2018,” Paul Clark, Phat Controller at the Phat Pasty Company told Plant Based News. “It’s remained a best-seller, and now adds the British Pie Awards ‘Pasty’ winner to its growing list of accolades.”

Read more: Juicy Marbles Unveils ‘Market First’ Plant-Based Pork Whole Cut

While not a vegan brand, the Phat Pasty Company, offers a range of vegan products, including its Steak-Less Pasty, Butternut Squash & Vegan Feta Pasty, alongside a Vegan Mushroom and Bourgignon Pie and Spicy Cauliflower & Spinach Balti Pie. 

The British Pie Awards

Now in its 17th year, the British Pie Awards is regarded as the most prestigious competition in the UK pie sector. More than 900 pasties and pies were entered in a variety of categories, and the winners were chosen by 168 judges from countries including the UK, USA, and Japan. 

The pasty category was sponsored by Hankyu, a popular department store in Osaka, Japan. As part of the company’s prize, Phat Pasty will host a pop-up in-store at Hankyu’s British Fair in October.

If you want to try the pasty, you can buy it online from the Phat Pasty Company website. It’s also available at a number of cafes around the UK.

Read more: M&S Plant Kitchen Launches New Products And ‘Upgraded’ Items

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