Appetite For Justice

(English) Despite my efforts to curate a happy, positive vegan bubble, I have not been able to escape the massive increase in content promoting dairy that seems to have taken over social media over the past few years. Perhaps it was there all along and only recently felt emboldened to come out of the woodwork. The faces behind this content are primarily white millennials who tout and praise trends that fit into the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) worldview such as raw cow’s milk, the use of “beef” tallow in everything, avoiding seed oils, and even following a carnivore diet. Sometimes subtle and sometimes glaringly obvious, this content has seeped into social media and society.

(English) When I became vegan five years ago, I was overwhelmed by the amount of information and choices that I faced. Social media had filled my head with ideas about what being vegan “should” look like and what products I needed to buy. I was determined to stick with my commitment to be vegan, even if I didn’t have it all figured out. Along the way, I ended up finding affirmation of my choice in an unexpected place.

(English) One hundred and twenty years ago, The Jungle was published. This book would have a profound impact on food safety, but it didn’t have the intent the author, Upton Sinclair, had hoped for. He is quoted as saying, "I aimed at the public's heart, and by accident I hit it in the stomach."

(English) When I became vegan five years ago, I was overwhelmed by the amount of information and choices that I faced. Social media had filled my head with ideas about what being vegan “should” look like and what products I needed to buy. I was determined to stick with my commitment to be vegan, even if I didn’t have it all figured out. Along the way, I ended up finding affirmation of my choice in an unexpected place.

More than once, I have been in situations where I have looked at the myriad problems in the world, from the consumption of animals to the treatment of workers and how in general more importance is placed on property and wealth than on life. I have wondered how we got here and if it is possible to undo some of these issues. When I would start pulling on these threads I would see how connected everything is, so we have to look beyond the US and to the world as a whole.

Some might think that an organization like Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P.) would be applauding the creation of lab-grown chocolate as it would not only be better for the environment but also would not (as far as we know) involve enslaved adults or children. Since its inception 18 years ago, F.E.P. has worked to inform people about the atrocities taking place in the chocolate industry. It led us to create our Chocolate List and free app to help consumers who want to eat their ethics and not support slavery or child labor. And, of course, because F.E.P. is a vegan organization, each company on the list has to make at least one vegan chocolate.

(English) Our imagination, hopes, and dreams are things that can never be taken from us. Since I was young, I have envisioned spaces where all beings are liberated and free to express themselves and their aspirations as they please without fear of dismissal or derision.

Some might think that an organization like Food Empowerment Project (F.E.P.) would be applauding the creation of lab-grown chocolate as it would not only be better for the environment but also would not (as far as we know) involve enslaved adults or children. Since its inception 18 years ago, F.E.P. has worked to inform people about the atrocities taking place in the chocolate industry. It led us to create our Chocolate List and free app to help consumers who want to eat their ethics and not support slavery or child labor. And, of course, because F.E.P. is a vegan organization, each company on the list has to make at least one vegan chocolate.

As we enter 2025, I look ahead and realize that, as with every year, there are a lot of unknowns; but this year, I know there is a lot of darkness and fear. And for many, this is fueled somewhat by the lack of knowing what to expect and, for some, promises made by the incoming administration that can impact their entire families.