Vegans rejoice! According to a press release, U.K.-based supermarket chain Tesco announced that it would begin selling a vegan steak at the end of May.
Vivera, creator of the steak, expects to produce several million in 2018 alone. The company currently produces more than 1 million meat replacements a week. Tesco, the first supermarket chain in the world and the largest supermarket chain in Europe, will sell the plant-based steak at more than 400 locations. The company is set to expand its range to the Netherlands in June and to other countries, including Germany and France, toward the end of the year.
Vivera’s Gert Jan Gobert stated:
The smell, taste and bite can hardly be distinguished from real steak and we are convinced that this product will meet a large need of consumers. It is very important that we eat less meat, both for our own health, animal welfare and for our planet. Innovative and high-quality plant-based products can make a significant contribution here.
Plant-based diets are certainly better for the environment than meat-heavy ones, according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Nutrition. Because of the high energy requirements and greenhouse gas emissions of factory farming, many organizations, including the United Nations, are urging people to adopt more environmentally friendly diets.
Vivera, which has been developing vegan and vegetarian meat replacements since 1990, sells more than 40 different high-quality vegan products already available in 23 European countries and about 25,000 supermarkets.
Watch the company’s video introducing the product.
This is not just great for the environment and human health—more plant-based alternatives means more animals spared a lifetime of suffering at factory farms. While many European countries have some of the world’s strictest animal welfare laws, undercover investigations by numerous groups prove that animal cruelty still runs rampant at farms in Europe. Swiss animal rights group Pour l’Egalité Animale recently exposed workers fighting with animals who were desperately trying to save themselves. At one point, two workers struggle to hold down a goat battling for his life.
See for yourself.
Each of us has the power to say no to animal abuse by replacing inherently cruel animal products with compassionate vegan alternatives. With more plant-based options than ever before, there has truly never been a better time to ditch animal products. Click here for more information on going vegan. And click here for our Pinterest page with thousands of recipe ideas!