Traces of Animal DNA Found in Two Supermarket Vegan Products
Traces of meat have been found in two supermarket vegan products, according to a report in The Telegraph.
While the discovery of meat traces in vegan ready meals will have come as a shock to many – including, we suspect, those producing these foods – the reality is that we live in a world where animals are routinely killed by the billions for their body parts, and worrying about trace amounts of animal-derived substances in vegan products won’t help them. Choosing these items is no different from eating a veggie burger at a restaurant that also serves meat or off the grill at a friend’s BBQ – there’s always a chance of cross-contamination. What we have to remember is that the packets of bacon and beef also sold by supermarkets are composed 100 per cent of dead animals’ body parts – so those are the products we should avoid if we want to help animals.
According to the newspaper, the animal DNA most likely came from animal flesh or skin, although it was present in such small amounts that the quantity couldn’t be measured exactly. As the recipes for the two own-brand products are both 100 per cent vegan, the traces may have been the result of cross-contamination by non-vegan products on the same production line.
Eating vegan isn’t about “perfection” or a quest for personal purity – it’s about achieving real change for animals suffering in the food industry. Choosing a vegan burger over a meat-based one is a win for them, the Earth, and one’s arteries, and we offer a free vegan starter kit for anyone wanting to make the shift towards a more compassionate way of living.
What You Can Do
Ditch all animal-derived foods by going vegan today. You can order one of PETA’s free vegan starter kits for recipes, tips on making the switch, and much more:
