Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Vegan Diet Goes Viral In Israel

A vegan affair: Independence Day without meat | JPost | Israel News



It all apparently started in 2011 when producers of an online TV show Animal Log, added Hebrew subtitles to an American lecture by Gary Yourofsky about veganism and posted it on YouTube titled 'the best speech you'll ever hear'

Now apart from all the usual vegan services and support we take for granted in the UK Israelis now have a Vegan fast food chain as Vegetarian Shawarma joined forces with Israeli vegan-hamburger chain Buddha Burgers.

Who's next?





VegFest UK National Awards Please Vote

VegFest UK National Awards

London VegFest :: VegFest UK - The UK's biggest and best Vegetarian/Vegan Festival

http://www.london.vegfest.co.uk/vote  Please vote in the vegfest uk awards. If you want to vote for us (please) as the best blogger site then we are listed as News For Vegans . Please

Please vote for news for www.news.for-vegans.co.uk

http://www.london.vegfest.co.uk/vote

Friday, April 26, 2013

PEA Business Awards Vegfest UK

PEA Business Awards

About time! Tim Barford and Vegfest have been shortlisted for a PEAB Award, People and Environment Business Award

Can we think of anyone more deserving for this category?

Great that vegfest UK has finally got mainstream recognition for helping so many thousands of people live a healthier more sustainable lifestyle.

In this year of all years when vegetarian and vegan charities are recording a 40% increase in interest in vegan lifestyles it's very apt that Vegfest should win an award.

Some way to go yet as there are two other contenders but  with the explosion of veganism in 2013 it would be a crime if Vegfest didn't win.Especially as it's Vegfest's 10th Anniversary

Tim should win an award just for surving ten years of organising vegfests still as optimistic as ever, but he's done more than that. Each year Vegfest just gets bigger and better


Thursday, April 25, 2013

Vegfest UK Predicts 55% of Population on Mainly Vegan Diet by 2020

RushPRNews: Statistics: 55% of Population on Mainly Vegan Diet by 2020 Predict Vegfest UK

Organisers of the largest Vegan Festivals in the world Vegfest UK say over half of the UK could be mainly vegan by 2020 based on reports from the UK Vegetarian Society, The UK Vegan Society visitors to Vegfest and feedback from Vegfest UK sponsors.

Tickets to London Vegfest are currently on a special buy one get one free offer so a family of four can go for only £12

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

Anila Muhammad: Vegetarian Muslim: Turning Away From Meat

Anila Muhammad: Vegetarian Muslim: Turning Away From a Meat-Based Diet

Interesting article in Huff Post on  Islam and vegetarian and vegan diets? Can you be Muslim and be Vegan?

Some Muslim scholars suggest that as animal are a gift from God / Allah and that humans are superior to animals and to refuse that gift by not eating it is rude.

An interesting standpoint, but then surely one you could then excuse yourself to take cocaine, drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes.

The overriding theme of Islam like most other religions is a respect for the gift of life, all life, and a responsibility as a dominant species on the planet not to abuse that position and to be wise and charitable as well as nurturing, cherishing, respecting and looking after that gift of life with due reverence.

To eat food that increases your risk of disease surely contravenes basic Muslim principles.

To eat food that ensures the destruction of our beautiful planet surely contravenes Muslim principles.

To eat food that causes suffering, torture and death to other living creatures, just for fun, is surely in breach of the basic  teachings of Mohamed.

Kosher and Halal laws are there to create reverence of life and ensure the taking of life is not flippant, nor yours as an ordinary person to take. These laws stipulate that only a representative from God / Jehovah / Allah is allowed to take life in a strictly controlled way that on paper is meant to be far more civilised and respectful of the animal than a  normal slaughterhouse.

With knowledge comes responsibility. Knowing that a vegan diet is healthier, more sustainable, abundantly pleasurable and avoids unnecessary harm, abuse and death of an animal leaves you with only one conclusion.

There's no excuses not to be at least mostly vegan for most of the time if not all the time.


Friday, April 19, 2013

Bird Flu back at Bernard Matthews Farm in Suffolk

BBC News - Bird flu found at Bernard Matthews farm in Suffolk

Bird flu is back

A company spokesman said: "Bernard Matthews can confirm that Defra have undertaken tests for avian influenza on one of its farms following notification by the company after some birds showed signs of ill health over the weekend.
"The tests have detected the presence of an avian influenza virus, but Defra have confirmed it is not the highly pathogenic types H5 or H7."
At least there's no horsemeat in their Turkey

Wednesday, April 17, 2013

Veganwiki - a vegan wikipedia

Veganwiki

A vegan version of wikipedia - get editing !

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

Vegan Futures by Bill Gates - Recipes for Survival

Bill Gates Talking Vegan Diets
Future of Food

Bill Gates makes the case for a vegan diet. "We can't make everyone vegetarian but we can feed them vegan meat."

He admits he can't tell the difference between chicken and the chicken free strips made from plant proteins.

He says meeting the demand for meat using animals just isn't sustainable


iTunes - Books - Vegan Recipes, Food , Cooking


iTunes - Books - Vegan Food and Cooking by Tony Bishop-Weston & Yvonne Bishop-Weston

Vegan cookbook Vegan recipes Now on iTunes ;-)

With interest in Vegan Diet up by 40% it's good we are now fully digital with  vegan recipes ready to roll on Kindle and iPad, iPhone, iWall - whatever.

£1.99 ? what a bargain! - shame we'll never see a penny ;-)

Vegan diet attracting more people

Vegan diet attracting more people, according to Birmingham based society - Birmingham Mail

Google says it , Amazon says it,  Vegfest says it, The Vegan Society says it.

More vegan cookery books, more vegan searches on google, more vegan pledges. more visitors to vegfest, more vegan manufacturers at Natural Products Trade Show - We are facing a vegan revolution ladies and gentlemen.

The number of cookery books sold by amazon.co.uk with 'vegan' in the title also increased from 145 books in 2011 to 255 books in 2012, demonstrating a growing market for animal-free cookery.

Tuesday, April 09, 2013

Manchester Challenges Glasgow in Vegfest UK Awards

Northern Vegan Festival | Food and Drink Preview | The Skinny

Manchester's vibrant Vegan scene is challenging Glasgow for the title of  Vegfest UK City of the year in the Vegfest UK 2013 Awards

Vegan Cookbook Author Tony Bishop-Weston (Ultimate Book of Vegan Cooking now in paperback for under £10) says "When I worked for The UK Vegetarian Society I was amazed there was no local vegetarian vegan group so we set one up with help from a number of employees, other organisations, local restaurants and a computer savvy vegsoc trustee. Now there seems to be a whole range of vegan support and social groups in not just Manchester but also Liverpool where people from the original group went off and set up similar groups. I'm loving the sound of the Manchester based Cake Liberation Front CLF .

CLF kind of had to happen as a splinter group as hunt saboteurs and ALF members are notorious for discussing the best vegan diet recipe for Victoria sponge, chocolate cake or chocolate brownies, in the back of the van before donning their balaclavas.

Like Glasgow it seems Manchester is also seeing a number of new vegan cafes and restaurants pop up based on quality and enjoyment rather than just vegan ethics. Places you can take your friends to rather than just feel obligated to support.

See more - Vegfest UK Awards - vote for your favourite veggie friendly city


Friday, April 05, 2013

Vegan Cookbook Author Reveals Dairy Free Vegan Cheese Recipes

vegan cookbook
Vegan Cookbook Author Reveals Dairy Free Vegan Cheese Recipes

 Tony Bishop-Weston author of The Ultimate Book Of Vegan Cooking (now out in paperback) is at Olympia London on Sunday showing chefs how to cater for Vegan Diets with 5 minute dairy free cheesy ideas

Natural Products Europe

He will be back at Olympia later in the year for Vegfest London


World Vegan Day - Vegan News

Thursday, April 04, 2013

London Nutritionist - Vegan Diet Key in Recipe for Health

Recipe for Health; Vegan Diet Key Ingredient Says London Nutritionist



Leading Nutritionist in London,Yvonne Bishop-Weston said “It’s time dietitians stopped suggesting meat is an essential part of the diet, it’s a lie.” Following statistics from Google trends, The Vegan Society , The UK Vegetarian Society and Vegfest UK  that reveal a 30-40% increase in interest in vegan diets worldwide Yvonne suggests it’s time health professionals had a little more courage and stopped thinking of vegan diets as restrictive and extreme. “Having your chest sawn open for open heart surgery is extreme, eating more fruits and vegetables is natural, logical and sensible!” she argues.

Yvonne will be helping to create a UK manifesto for health at Natural Products Europe at Olympia

 

Tuesday, April 02, 2013

Vegan Pizza Shows Dominos / Pizza Hut / Pizza Pizza How

Vegan Meatless Feast 7" Pizza 207g - Cheese & Tomato Vegan Pizza - Ham & Pineapple Vegan Pizza

Vegfest UK Sponsors The Redwood Wholefood Company have been selling their Vegan pizzas for nearly a year now and have no doubt enjoyed a boost in sales from the fuss about horsemeat in our food chain.

It is quite frankly a surprise that no UK Pizza chain has launched a vegan pizza given the 40% increase in interest. Even Pizza Express who were working on this back in 2004 for the Vegan Society Diamond Jubilee haven't yet sorted the problem.

We asked top  London Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston, ex Operations Director for Cranks Restaurants to think about the issues for a high street vegan pizza.

" The main issue seems to be the mess that working under such tight time sensitive conditions causes means the cross contamination issues are seemingly an endless list. There's bits of cheese everywhere and it's not unheard of to get a bit of extra free chicken or ham in your vegetarian pizza that's fallen off someone elses.

The first step is to make an authentic Italian pizza dough without the whey powder and other milk products typically used in Pizzas by Dominos and Pizza Hut.

You'd then need a seperate production area for making vegan pizzas that is clear of contaminants.Alternatively you could have a seperate quarantined risk area where the main allergens,  dairy cheese, meats, fish and nuts are added.

Thirdly you'd need to only cook the vegan pizzas on specially colour coded trays and only on the top shelf of the oven to avoid contamination from risk pizzas higher above.

Finally it would be best to cut out the point where it's practically impossible to avoid cross contamination in a busy commercial pizza kitchen, where they cut the pizza up into segments.The solution would be to just allow the customer to cut their own pizza up at the table with colour coded pizza wheels."

Interestingly the Canadian Pizza franchise Pizza Pizza, who don't add milk to their pizza base, is trending in Google. We wonder if dairy contaminated Dominos Pizza and Pizza Hut will be the biggest loser in the race to please a new generation of vegans and part time Flexivegans if they don't change their basic recipe.

If you are going to order a heap of pizzas for a group of friends you are not going to bother to phone another company for the one or two  vegans in the group , you'll just use the company that looks after all their customers won't you?  Pizza Pizza seems well placed to steal the fluffy rug from under Dominos and Pizza Hut and knock them off their cheezy perch.

BBC horsemeat investigation: 'unidentifiable' meat in lamb takeaway

At least it's not human: BBC horsemeat investigation uncovers 'unidentifiable' meat in lamb takeaway - News - TV & Radio - The Independent
"an Indian lamb curry was found to contain no trace of lamb - and the meat it contained was neither chicken, beef, pork, horse or goat. Rumours are rife that the unidentifiable meat could be dog, but it is confirmed not to be human."
Thank goodness for vegetable curry. Many more meat eaters choosing the Vegetarian / Vegan diet option from now on we think! Votes on a post card on best guess which meat was in the lamb free 'Lamb Curry' ?

o  Dog ?
o  Cat ?
o  Fox ?
o  Badger ?
o  Pidgeon ?
o  Rabbit ?
o  Deer ?
o  Pheasant ?
o  Kangaroo?
o  Random captive wild animal from London Zoo?

For those wishing to explore how delicious, fun, healthy and sustainable meat free options can be you are advised to attend Vegfest UK at Bristol or London.

See Vegfest London

Monday, April 01, 2013

Google Trends - vegan diets - still rising

Google Trends - Web Search Interest: vegan - Worldwide, 2004 - present

Interest in Vegan Diets still rising



Want to know more about why?, what? and how? Go to Vegfest

McDonalds Vegan Diet Monster Burger 'Better Than Meat' !

40 Years of Loch Ness Marked with 'Better Than Meat' Vegan Diet Burger | PRLog

Better than meat burgers - new vegan diet alternative recipe

A new Monster Vegan Burger said to be better than meat has been launched by McDonalds to celebrate 40 years of the Loch Ness Monster Project. The Sea Horse flavour dairy free cheeseburger suitable for those on a vegan diet and made with a secret vegan recipe approved by both the Vegetarian Society and The Vegan Society that is rich in omega 3 DHA and EPA

It's being launched in response to reports by Vegfest UK London, Veggie and Vegan Societies and google that there is a 40% increase in demand for vegan diet foods

It's said to be unconnected with the Dutch launch of the new Mc2 burger by a Dutch Vegan Butcher ( vegetarianbutcher.com and also said to be better than meat.

A London Nutritionist says "The recipe is higher in vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and omega 3 DHA and EPA than beefburgers and hamburgers"

Sunday, March 24, 2013

Vegan Explosion – Vegan diet up 30-40% points on Google

Vegan Explosion in UK – Vegan diet surge averaging 30-40% points up on Google in 2013 | PRLog

Google - from Vegan Society World Vegan Day Voogle Campaign
We are looking at an unprecedented phenomenon  - dramatic increase in interest in vegan diets and vegan recipes that now seems unstopable. Bring your friends to Vegfest in London - it's a very good place to start and there's never been a better time

Friday, March 15, 2013

Ocado: vegan diet section with vegan chocolate cake

Ocado:  vegan food shop

2013 certainly is the year of the vegan - vegan is so the new black. I was just reading about Ricki Lake dipping her toe in vegan waters when I noticed a link to an Ocado Vegan Shop.

It's some sort of affiliate scheme I think but nonetheless it seems Ocado do now have an extended range of Vegan stuff. As well as the usual Vegfest sponsors wares and vegan food I spotted some awesome looking Vegan Chocolate cake / cupcakes.

Veganism really has hit the mainstream. I noticed a whole shelf full of dairy free vegan easter eggs in a high street shop yesterday. What's to miss by going vegan these days?

Plenty of things for a full monty vegan breakfast too , delivered to your door....

Lets keep our fingers crossed the new Morrisons online shopping experience is as good!


Thursday, March 14, 2013

Glasgow Nominated for Vegan Award - Best City

Glasgow Nominated for Vegan Award - Best City

vegan awards 2013

I'll bet Daily Record readers are shaking their heads in disbelief! Of all the things Glasgow could get nominated for an award for?? Best UK City for Vegans to live in? Hoards of Glasweigans woke up this morning muttering "Has some sneaky wee bampot been hidin vegetables in oor food like?"  Turns out they have

Craig Tannock who runs a number of 100% vegan cafes and restaurants in Glasgow, says
“None of the current Glasgow vegan establishments make a big deal about being vegan, but rather concentrate on being good.”
This has led to unsuspecting food critics praising vegan dishes at 100% vegan restaurants without even realising they are vegan.

You know your getting it right when that happens! Clearly other UK cities should follow the Glasgow example because if they can not just survive but flourish and thrive in a city more famous for deep fried chocolate mars bars, square sausage, white pudding, Haggis , Tennants lager and Scotch Mutton Pies then they deserve a vegan award!

Other UK Cities nominated in the Vegfest Awards include Liverpool ( home to Scouseveg ) London (home to PETA UK) , Brighton ( home to many ghettos of old hippies), Nottingham ( home to Veggies catering campaign), Birmingham ( home to The Vegan Society)  Bristol (home to Viva!) , Swansea ( home to Govindas Hare Krishna restaurant), Sheffield ( home to Uncaged ), and Manchester ( home to The UK Vegetarian Society and National Vegetarian week)

Vote Now for your vegan favourites http://www.london.vegfest.co.uk/vote

Editors Notes
http://www.vegfest.co.uk/
http://brighton.vegfest.co.uk/
http://bristol.vegfest.co.uk/
http://london.vegfest.co.uk/
http://www.vimeo.com/channels/487033
http://www.twitter.com/vegfestuk
http://www.facebook.com/vegfestuk
https://vimeo.com/61737815