In this month's issue:
 
»

Virginia Chefs Meeting
» HSUS " No Battery Eggs" Campaign
» "Certified Vegan" Spotlight
» What you can do...
 

Vegan Action Director presents at Chefs Meeting

Our Executive Director, Krissi Vandenberg, presented at the annual Virginia Chefs Association meeting this year in Richmond, Virginia. The event was help on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). She gave an introduction to the vegan diet, vegan food replacements, questionable ingredients, and basic food preparation to over 25 chefs and food service providers in the state of Virginia.

In addition, she has been working with VCU and the Humane Society of the US to support a switch to cage-free eggs for the dining hall on the VCU campus. The event was a great success as food providers were educated about the benefits of the vegan diet as well as the humane reasons for switching to cage-free eggs.

Krissi's Latest Column: Humane Ways to Celebrate Spring with Kids

 

Humane Society of the United States
Cage-Free Egg Campaign

The HSUS "No Battery Eggs" campaign encourages retailers and consumers to leave eggs from caged birds off supermarket shelves and shopping lists altogether. Since February 2005, the campaign has worked with grocery and restaurant chains, as well as with universities and culinary schools, to phase out the use and sale of eggs from birds confined in battery cages. The successes for egg-laying hens have been far-reaching.

In 2005 alone, Whole Foods Market, Wild Oats Natural Marketplace, Earth Fare and Jimbo's...Naturally implemented exclusively cage-free egg policies. Food-service provider Bon Appétit-which purchases 8 million shell eggs for the more than 55 million meals it sells annually in nearly 200 dining facilities in 26 states-initiated a one-year phase-out of all shell battery eggs. And Trader Joe's announced that it will convert all of its house brand eggs to cage-free.

After working with The HSUS, American University, George Washington University, Marist College (New York), MIT, Vassar College (New York), University of Rochester (New York), and more than 65 other schools have all ended or dramatically reduced their use of battery eggs.

More infomation on the No Battery Eggs Campaign

 

Certified Vegan Spotlight

Vegan Action is proud to announce Endangered Species Chocolate as one of the newest companies that has been approved to use the "Certified Vegan" logo on their vegan products.

Endangered Species Chocolate was founded in 1993 in an effort to spread awareness and to make an impact on the growing number of plant and animal species that are disappearing from Earth. Endangered Species Chocolate donates 10 percent of it's net profits to organizations that are committed to protecting endangered animal and plant species.

Endangered Species Chocolate is fully committed to providing valued customers with premium all-natural chocolate that is prepared from the seeds of cacao trees that are naturally shade grown on small family-owned properties. All ingredients are ethically traded, ensuring a fair wage and humane working conditions for the farmers.

For more information on the "Certified Vegan" logo
 

Vegan Action's Director of Operations
models her Easter hat

Spread the Veg Message this Spring

Spring is a great time to spend a beautiful day outside handing out pro-veg leaflets. Turn off that TV, get some fresh Spring air in those lungs, and do something to bring about a more humane planet!

  • Hand out free recipes to encourage folks to try meat-free alternatives.
  • Make a "Take Yummy Veg Food to Work Day" to share veg food with your co-workers for lunch, or take a co-worker or friend out to a nice veggie lunch! Be sure to bring a veg starter guide to send home with them!
  • Host a " Feed-In" on your local college campus and pass out free food samples and information on vegetarianism.
  • Host a video screening of Peaceable Kingdom and a veggie potluck at your house, your college campus, or local community center.
  • Run in a local race and wear a Pro-Veg T-shirt. Win the race and you might get a photo in your local paper (not to mention the adoration of others).
  • Make a fun and humorous vegetarian message hat and wear it to your towns local Easter Parade or Earthday event. Don't forget to hand out leaflets!

Thank you for reading our e-newsletter. Vegan Action is dedicated to tree preservation, waste reduction, and use of funds for our campaigns therefore, we no longer publish a paper newsletter.

Vegan Action is a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the animals, environment, and human health by educating the public about the benefits of a vegan lifestyle and encouraging the spread of vegan food options through our public outreach campaigns.

Vegan Action
PO Box 4288
Richmond VA 23220
ph 804.502.8736
fax 804.254.8346