Latest news with #Veganuary
Daily Mirror
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Philomena Cunk star calls for farms to be licensed like zoos to protect animals
Best known for role of Philomena Cunk, Diane has teamed up with organisation Animal Equality to demand a licence scheme for farms to give better protection to chickens, cows, pigs and sheep After Life, Motherland and Mandy have helped turn Diane Morgan into one of our best loved actors. Now the Bolton-born comic is using her platform to give animals a voice after backing a campaign calling on the Government to introduce a zoo-like licensing scheme for farms to protect chickens, cows, pigs and sheep. We meet at The Retreat, a sanctuary near Ashford, Kent, which rescues ex-farm animals, where Diane, 49, tells me about the most important animal in her life - her rescue dog. She said: 'When I first got Bob I was doing Afterlife and took him on set. He was incredible. It was like he'd been on set his whole life. He was like Judy Garland. He would be quiet the minute they shouted action and he'd go and sit behind the cameras. 'He's a toy poodle, so they're very intelligent. It's almost like having a small, furry man, like Ronnie Corbett following you around.' READ MORE: Moby shares the reason why he went back on tour - and it's incredibly on-brand Diane, perhaps best known for role as Philomena Cunk, now lives in London with her partner Ben. She told how they are both completely obsessed with Bob, who was rehomed by the Blue Cross after his previous owners kept him in a cage for 10 hours a day. She said: 'We got him just after my dad had died and he really helped with the grief. If I was sad, he'd pick up on it and come over to me. He is our best friend. I think if you have a pet and you have that connection, it means you look at other animals and think "oh they're not that different.' In 1998, the UK became the first country to ban experiments on animals for cosmetics products and their ingredients. But some brands still sell products made in regions where animal testing is still legal. While on set filming BBC two comedy series Mandy, Diane ensured the whole production used cruelty-free make-up and said she would like to see all sets follow. Another issue she would like to see fixed is clearer labelling on products. She explained: 'It is annoying that things like a handwash are labelled vegan but that just means it doesn't contain animal products. It doesn't mean it hasn't been squirted in the eyes of a rabbit. The labels are very confusing labels. There needs to be clearer messaging.' Asked whether drama and comedy shows should tackle more environmental issues, she said: 'Definitely. I mean, I had an episode of Mandy that was about a fatberg. I was surprised at how many people didn't know what one was. They are an absolute nuisance.' After being vegetarian for 10 years, she participated in Veganuary - a global campaign that encourages people to try a vegan lifestyle for the month of January - last year with Peter Andre.' I found it hard because I loved cheese so much but this year I said to myself, right I am going to put an end to this. Weirdly I have gone off cheese now.' Earlier this year she also contributed a voiceover to a TV advert which encourages people to choose compassion and move away from dairy products - the first of its kind to be aired in cinemas and on Sky and Channel 4. Her passion for animals has seen her team up with Animal Quality who are pressuring the government to bring in licensing for farms and slaughterhouses. She said: 'We are fed this story about all animals running around fields but the reality is most are kept in intensive conditions. Most are not checked and those are done infrequently. 'Anyone can just have a farm. I think if people knew that and knew how animals were treated, more would put pressure on the government to make change. 'I know most people don't want to look at horrible footage, and I understand that. It'll really put a crimp in your day. But I'd much rather be aware and try to do something about it.' A recent report by the The Animal Law Foundation found that fewer than 3% of the UK farms are inspected each year on average, while just half of complaints made against farms in the UK are investigated. When wrongdoing is found, most farmers receive little more than a written caution Abigail Penny, Executive Director of Animal Equality UK, said: "Pubs, taxis, beauticians, and many other sectors are required to have licences to operate - why not farms too? The animal agriculture industry breeds and slaughters over one billion animals every year – we expect far greater scrutiny, transparency, and meaningful consequences when laws are broken. It's the least these animals deserve.'
The Sun
16-05-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Greggs axes popular bake from menu and customers are gutted
GREGGS has axed a popular bake from its menu and customers are gutted. Veggies across the UK have shared their devastation after learning the no-frills bakery chain has stopped selling its Spicy Veg Curry Bake. The bargain delight, packed with peppers, carrots, chickpeas, potatoes, broccoli sweetcorn and spices, first launched in stores back in November 2023. It has featured on menus a number of times since then and returned for Veganuary at the start of this year and usually retailed for around £2.10. Over the past few days, fans have taken to Reddit to find out where the beloved snack has gone. One customers said: "Does anyone know if the spicy veg bake at Greggs has been stopped? "My youngest was gutted we couldn't get it last weekend and I don't want to take him in again if they've stopped selling it." Others were quick to chime in and agree they had noticed it was no longer in stores. Another fan wrote: "It looks to me like they have discontinued it. It's not listed on their website anymore." [vegan] steak bake is coming back. A Greggs spokesperson said: 'The limited-edition Spicy Veg Curry Bake has now come off the menu to make room for our brand-new Red Pepper, Spinach and Feta Bake, which has landed in shops as part of our summer menu." Greggs will raise prices next week in hikes branded a 'theft tax', as Sun reporters again witnessed brazen thefts across UK It's not the first time Greggs has axed a menu item leaving fans upset. Last May, the high street chain axed it's vegan stake beak last and in March this year in confirmed it would no longer serve its ham salad baguette. The lunch item has dropped off the menu in favour of other fresh baguettes, despite regulars insisting it was popular. It is not uncommon for the bakery giant to switch up its menu to make way for new products. WHAT IS NEW AT GREGGS Just this week, the firm unveiled a whole new summer menu. A wave of new options have landed across its 2,600 stores, including a new Korean Chicken Burger and Korean BBQ Chicken Flatbread. Punters can also get their hands on a new Caramelised Biscuit Latte (hot) from £2.75 or an iced verison of the drink from £3.10. The new menu includes a Red Pepper, Feta & Spinach Bake, which has already been dubbed 'lush' by excited followers on Instagram. The Mediterranean-style pastry will cost £2.10. HOW TO SAVE MONEY AT GREGGS Every now and then Greggs will offer freebies and limited time rewards for customers - particularly if it's got new products to introduce. At Greggs you can get a FREE treat on your birthday, but you need to have signed up for the rewards app to claim it. It's a free app and once you've added your birthday you'll get voucher on the day to show in-store for one free cupcake, cream cake or doughnut. There's no need to panic if you don't make it to a Greggs on your actual birthday, as it's valid for one month afterwards. There are other ways to enjoy Greggs' baked goods while watching the pennies. Iceland sells Greggs products you can heat at home - and you'll often find it's a much cheaper way to get your pastry fix. You can grab a box of four sausage rolls for £3 - a saving on buying four separate rolls from Greggs. Greggs new summer menu items and prices All items will be available in shops nationwide from Thursday May 15 Drinks Caramelised Biscuit Latte (hot) – from £2.75 Iced Caramelised Biscuit Latte – from £3.10 Sweet Treats Fat Free Greek Style Yogurt with Strawberry Compote – from £1.55 Lemon Meringue Muffin – from £1.55 (Part of Sweet Treat & Hot Drink Deal) Wellness Shots Plenish Ginger Immunity Shot 60ml – from £1.55 Plenish Turmeric Recovery Shot 60ml – from £1.55 Hot Food (Part of Hot Sandwich, Wedges & Drink Deal) Korean Crispy Chicken Burger – from £4.00 Korean BBQ Chicken Wrap – from £3.80 Spicy Korean BBQ Chicken Baguette – from £3.60 Red Pepper, Feta & Spinach Bake – from £2.10 Cold Sandwiches (Part of Cold Sandwich & Drink Deal) Korean BBQ Chicken Flatbread – from £3.50 Roast Chicken Salad Sandwich – from £2.75 Roast Chicken Salad Roll – from £3.30 Roast Chicken with Honey Mustard Mayonnaise Oval Bite – from £3.50 Cheese & Onion Roll – from £3.30 Pizza (Available after 4pm – Part of Pizza & Drink Deal) Chicken, Sweetcorn and Red Onion Pizza – from £2.40
New York Post
14-05-2025
- Health
- New York Post
Disgusting reason why so many vegetarians won't eat meat
That moo makes 'em eww. A new UK study has uncovered the real reason vegetarians have so much beef with, well, beef — and it's enough to make your stomach turn. 3 A new study has uncovered the real reason vegetarians have so much beef with meat — and it's enough to make your stomach turn. franz12 – Meat-shunners will often tell you they turn down animal flesh for ethical reasons — and while that may be part of it, researchers found there's something far more visceral going on. What they discovered was that vegetarians experience a profound sense of disgust when considering meat consumption, akin to the reaction meat-eaters have toward substances like human flesh, dog meat or poop. Yes, poop. The study, published in the journal Appetite, involved 252 vegetarians and 57 omnivores. Participants were shown images of various foods and were asked to rate their reactions based on two distinct emotions: distaste — a simple aversion to taste, texture or smell — and disgust — a deeper, more visceral repulsion. The findings revealed that while disliked vegetables — such as olives, sprouts, raw aubergine and beetroot — elicited feelings of distaste, meat prompted a strong response among vegetarians, one that was comparable to the disgust meat-eaters felt when presented with images of human flesh or feces. It's worth keeping that image in your mind next time you innocently offer a vegetarian a hot dog. 3 Vegetarians feel the same way about meat as meat-eaters feel about poop, the study says. Angelov – 'This is the most robust evidence to date that we reject meat and vegetables that we find repellent based on different underlying processes,' Natalia Lawrence, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Exeter in the UK, said in a statement. 'Obviously finding meat disgusting can help people avoid eating it, which has health and environmental benefits. Other research we've conducted suggests that these feelings of disgust may develop when people deliberately reduce or avoid eating meat, such as during Veganuary.' 3 The research shows the aversion of meat-shunners may go deeper than a simple sense of ethics. rh2010 – Much like Dry January, Veganuary is a UK-led initiative that encourages Brits to follow a vegan diet for the entire month of January. Research on the health benefits of vegan diets has been mixed. While some studies have found that a plant-based diet can shave years off your biological age, other research indicates it can make you more likely to suffer nutritional deficiencies. The researchers behind this new study believe there's something much more evolutionary at play. 'Meat eaters responded to the idea of eating these truly disgusting substances like feces in the same way that vegetarians responded to images of meat that they didn't want to eat, and this was very different from the way they responded to vegetables they rejected,' said Elisa Becker, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Oxford. 'Although we may think we're rejecting a food simply because we don't want to eat it, we showed that the basis for this rejection is quite different — and we think that's evolved to protect us from pathogens that can lie undetected in meat.'
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The reason why vegetarians are repelled by meat
Many vegetarians feel disgust towards eating meat similar to the aversion widely felt towards cannibalism, research has found. A study set out to investigate whether there was a difference in the psychological mechanisms by which people reject meat compared with vegetables. In an online study involving 300 people, who were mostly vegetarians, researchers found people who rejected vegetables did so because they felt distaste – a simple aversion to the taste, texture or smell of a food. In contrast, when people disliked and rejected meat that would be considered appetising by omnivores – such as roast chicken or beef steak – they felt the more complex emotion disgust, in a similar way that meat-eaters were disgusted by the idea of eating human meat. Professor Natalia Lawrence, of the University of Exeter, said: 'This is the most robust evidence to date that we reject meat and vegetables that we find repellent based on different underlying processes. 'Obviously, finding meat disgusting can help people avoid eating it, which has health and environmental benefits. 'Other research we've conducted suggests that these feelings of disgust may develop when people deliberately reduce or avoid eating meat, such as during Veganuary.' The study recruited 252 people who reject meat and 57 omnivores who eat meat. Researchers tested responses to images of 11 different foods, such as palatable meat, olives, sprouts, aubergine and beetroot. Participants were asked several questions about how eating each of the foods would make them feel. Each question was linked to either disgust or distaste, which allowed the researchers to make a distinction between what people felt when they rejected different foods. To compare reactions, the meat-eating participants were also shown images of substances overwhelmingly considered disgusting to eat, such as human flesh, dog meat and faeces. Where participants said they would not eat the item pictured, they completed questions to investigate the grounds for rejection. Consistently, people rejected vegetables they did not like based on distaste, and rejected meat and disgust elicitors in a strikingly similar disgust pattern. Dr Elisa Becker, the study's lead author, said: 'Meat eaters responded to the idea of eating these truly disgusting substances like faeces in the same way that vegetarians responded to images of meat that they didn't want to eat, and this was very different from the way they responded to vegetables they rejected. 'Although we may think we're rejecting a food simply because we don't want to eat it, we showed that the basis for this rejection is quite different – and we think that's evolved to protect us from pathogens that can lie undetected in meat.' The paper is published in the journal Appetite. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Telegraph
13-05-2025
- Health
- Telegraph
The reason why vegetarians are repelled by meat
Many vegetarians feel disgust towards eating meat similar to the aversion widely felt towards cannibalism, research has found. A study set out to investigate whether there is a difference in the psychological mechanisms by which people reject meat compared with vegetables. In an online study involving 300 people, who were mostly vegetarians, researchers found people who reject vegetables they dislike do so because they feel distaste – a simple aversion to the taste, texture or smell of a food. In contrast, when people dislike and reject meat that would be considered appetising by omnivores – such as roast chicken or beef steak – they feel the more complex emotion disgust, in a similar way meat-eaters were disgusted by the idea of eating human meat, faeces or dog meat. Reaction helps people avoid eating meat Professor Natalia Lawrence, of the University of Exeter, said: 'This is the most robust evidence to date that we reject meat and vegetables that we find repellent based on different underlying processes. 'Obviously, finding meat disgusting can help people avoid eating it, which has health and environmental benefits. 'Other research we've conducted suggests that these feelings of disgust may develop when people deliberately reduce or avoid eating meat, such as during Veganuary.' The study recruited 252 people who reject meat and 57 omnivores who eat meat. Researchers tested responses to images of 11 different foods, such as palatable meat, olives, sprouts, raw aubergine and beetroot. Participants were asked several questions about how eating each of the foods would make them feel. Each question was linked to either disgust or distaste, which allowed the researchers to make a distinction between what people felt when they rejected different foods. Subjects also shown disgusting images To compare reactions, the meat-eating participants were also shown images of substances overwhelmingly considered disgusting to eat, such as human flesh, dog meat and faeces. The team recorded 557 rejections of meat and 670 rejections of vegetables. Where participants said they would not eat the item pictured, they completed questions to investigate the grounds for rejection. Consistently, people rejected vegetables they did not like based on distaste, and rejected meat and disgust elicitors in a strikingly similar disgust pattern. Dr Elisa Becker, the study's lead author, said: 'Meat eaters responded to the idea of eating these truly disgusting substances like faeces in the same way that vegetarians responded to images of meat that they didn't want to eat, and this was very different from the way they responded to vegetables they rejected. 'Although we may think we're rejecting a food simply because we don't want to eat it, we showed that the basis for this rejection is quite different – and we think that's evolved to protect us from pathogens that can lie undetected in meat.' The paper, Disgust And Distaste – Differential mechanisms for the rejection of plant- and animal-source foods, is published in the journal Appetite.
