Blog

<a data-mce-href="https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2025-02-18/greyhound-racing-to-be-banned-in-wales" href="https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2025-02-18/greyhound-racing-to-be-banned-in-wales" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">Greyhound racing is over in Wales</a>. The country has become the first in the UK to outlaw the industry, following mounting pressure from campaigners who have long condemned it as exploitative and cruel.The ban follows a petition that gathered over 35,000 signatures and a government consultation in which two-thirds of respondents supported a phased ban. Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies announced the decision in the Senedd, stating:“I believe that now is the right time to move to ban greyhound racing in Wales. I want a ban to come into force as soon as practicably possible.”The government will establish an Implementation Group to manage the transition, ensuring that dogs currently in the industry are protected. Why the Ban? 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿Supporters of the ban cite serious welfare concerns, including injuries, overbreeding, and the routine killing of dogs who are no longer profitable. Greyhound racing has been widely condemned by animal advocacy groups, with Dogs Trust stating:“Greyhound racing is inherently dangerous for the dogs involved, and running at speed around oval tracks causes significant injury to many dogs. In some cases, the injuries are so severe that euthanasia is necessary.”The industry’s defenders argue that the ban will hurt the economy and could set a precedent for outlawing other animal sports like horse racing (YAY). But public opinion is clear - this is a step forward. A Global Trend 🌍&nbsp;Wales joins a growing list of regions rejecting greyhound racing. New Zealand (Aotearoa) announced a ban last December, which will take full effect by August 2026. Other countries have already turned their backs on the industry, recognising it for what it is - exploitation dressed up as entertainment.The question now is: when will the rest of the UK follow? Herbivore Club submitted a petition request to the UK wide government last month and it has yet to be approved for signatures.

Wales Bans Greyhound Racing – The First UK Nation to Do So

Buying a tin of tuna? You might be supporting forced labour.&nbsp;&nbsp;<a data-mce-href="https://www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/71744/us-tuna-cans-linked-to-reports-of-forced-labour-of-indonesian-fishers-greenpeace-southeast-asia-report/?_ga=2.230804123.548980893.1738954510-923657866.1738954502" href="https://www.greenpeace.org/international/press-release/71744/us-tuna-cans-linked-to-reports-of-forced-labour-of-indonesian-fishers-greenpeace-southeast-asia-report/?_ga=2.230804123.548980893.1738954510-923657866.1738954502" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A new report</a> by Greenpeace Southeast Asia and the Indonesian Migrant Workers Union links Bumble Bee canned tuna to fishing vessels accused of exploiting workers. Between 2019 and 2024, 10 Indonesian fishers filed complaints about 12 Taiwanese-flagged ships. Four of those vessels supplied tuna to Bumble Bee - one of the biggest seafood brands in the U.S.What does that mean? Workers catching the tuna in those cans have reported brutal conditions, deception, and even debt bondage. One fisher described working until he fainted - multiple times. Neither Bumble Bee nor the vessel operators have responded to the allegations.What’s happening on these fishing boats?&nbsp;&nbsp;- Deception and entrapment – Workers were lied to about pay and had their identity documents taken, making it nearly impossible to escape.- Debt bondage – Over 90% of migrant fishers reported being trapped in a cycle of debt and exploitation.- Illegal fishing – Half of the vessels were linked to illegal activities like shark finning, fishing in protected areas, and secret transfers at sea.It’s not just about workers - it’s about the whole industry.&nbsp;&nbsp;The fishing industry isn’t just a disaster for marine life. It’s built on exploitation - of fish, humans, and the oceans themselves. Reports of forced labor, trafficking, and inhumane working conditions are common, especially for migrant workers. And let’s not forget the environmental cost: collapsing fish populations, habitat destruction, and species being pushed to the brink.&nbsp;&nbsp;The solution? Stop funding this mess. Plant-based alternatives exist. The oceans don’t need to be emptied, and no one should suffer - human or nonhuman - for a sandwich.

Canned Tuna and Forced Labour

Labour’s pre-election pledge to ban foie gras imports is already <a data-mce-href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/13/ministers-stay-silent-on-pledge-to-ban-foie-gras-as-eu-talks-approach" href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/feb/13/ministers-stay-silent-on-pledge-to-ban-foie-gras-as-eu-talks-approach" target="_blank" rel="noopener">crumbling</a>. Ministers refuse to comment, dodging questions about whether Brexit negotiations with the EU will derail the ban before it even happens. Meanwhile, millions of ducks and geese continue to be force-fed in industrial torture chambers for a product that would be illegal to produce in the UK. A Ban Britain Won’t Commit ToThe UK has banned foie gras production for nearly 20 years, but still imports tonnes of the stuff every year - because, apparently, British values stop at the border. The current government had promised to end this double standard. Before the election, Environment Secretary Steve Reed said Labour would “ban the commercial import of foie gras, where ducks and geese are aggressively force-fed.” That was less than a year ago. Now? Silence.The problem? A looming veterinary agreement with the EU, aimed at reducing border checks and boosting economic growth. The deal would likely mean recognising EU production standards, making it difficult, if not impossible, to ban foie gras imports. If Labour goes ahead with the ban, it risks trade friction with France, the biggest foie gras producer in the world. The government’s non-response speaks volumes: this promise is on the chopping block. What Is Foie Gras and Why Is It Banned?Foie gras, French for “fat liver,” is made by force-feeding ducks and geese until their livers swell to up to ten times their normal size. This process, known as gavage, involves shoving metal tubes down the birds’ throats and pumping massive amounts of food directly into their stomachs multiple times a day. Their engorged livers press against other organs, making it hard for them to stand or even breathe. Many birds collapse under their own weight.In some cases, the feeding pipes leave holes in their throats. Many birds are left coated in their own vomit and waste, barely able to move. And it’s not just those force-fed who suffer - female ducklings, considered useless to the industry, are tossed alive into electric mincers or grinders within days of hatching.This level of brutality is illegal in the UK. But we import it anyway. The Public Wants It Gone - But Will Labour Listen?Polling suggests most UK voters want foie gras imports banned. A Humane World for Animals survey found that <a data-mce-href="https://www.humaneworld.org/en/news/over-three-quarters-77-uk-voters-want-see-government-ban-fur-imports" href="https://www.humaneworld.org/en/news/over-three-quarters-77-uk-voters-want-see-government-ban-fur-imports" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">77% of people</a> oppose importing products from animals subjected to practices that are already banned here. Yet despite this clear opposition, foie gras continues to be served in high-end restaurants and sold by upmarket stores.Animal rights groups, including Animal Equality UK and Animal Policy International, have warned that failing to uphold the promised ban would be a betrayal. An Industry in Decline - But Not Fast EnoughWhile some chefs and retailers have ditched foie gras, many continue to profit from this grotesque trade. Gordon Ramsay still serves it. Harrods and Fortnum &amp; Mason still sell it. Even eBay, one of the largest online marketplaces, allows its sale. Meanwhile, California has banned foie gras entirely, and countries like Germany, Denmark, and Italy have introduced laws against its production.Vegan alternatives - like Gourmey’s cultivated foie gras and plant-based versions from top chefs - prove that force-feeding is unnecessary. Michelin-starred chef Alexis Gauthier has created a decadent faux gras that removes the cruelty while keeping the flavour. But as long as the UK government stalls, the suffering continues. Time to Hold Labour AccountableFoie gras imports betray British values of compassion. The UK refuses to produce it for ethical reasons - so why is it fine to fund this industry abroad? The government must keep its promise and end foie gras imports once and for all. If it won’t act, we must. What You Can Do:🔹 Contact MPs and demand they support the ban.&nbsp;&nbsp;🔹 Call out restaurants and retailers that still sell foie gras.&nbsp;&nbsp;🔹 Support campaigns pushing for a foie gras-free Britain.&nbsp;&nbsp;🔹 Go vegan, because foie gras isn’t the only product of animal exploitation. Labour said it would ban foie gras. Now they’re backtracking. Let them know we haven’t forgotten.

Foie Gras: Diseased Livers and Broken Promises

The NHS claims to be moving towards sustainability, but hospital menus tell a different story. A new study by Plant-Based Health Professionals UK (PBHP UK) found that most NHS hospitals are failing to align their food offerings with their own net-zero commitments. Sustainability? Not on the MenuThe <a data-mce-href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jhn.70019" href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jhn.70019" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">study</a>, published in the Journal of Human Nutrition and Dietetics, analysed 36 NHS hospitals and their sustainability plans, grading them on the availability of plant-based options versus meat-heavy meals. The findings? Grim.&nbsp;▫️ Processed meat, a known carcinogen, was present on every single hospital menu.▫️Less than half of NHS Trusts had any strategy to increase plant-based food.▫️ Climate-wrecking meats like beef, lamb, and goat remained menu staples.All this, despite the NHS serving 140 million patient meals annually and pledging to reach net-zero by 2045.&nbsp; The Problem: Meat-Dominated MenusOf the hospitals studied, 42% had zero fully plant-based dinner options, while half offered no plant-based lunch choices. Most hospitals made no effort to nudge patients towards sustainable food choices.&nbsp;Interestingly, hospitals that outsourced catering performed better in sustainability than those running their own kitchens. So why is the NHS lagging behind on a problem they could be leading on? Public Support Is There – Where’s the Action?A 2024 survey of 2,000 UK residents found that over a third supported adding more sustainable plant-based meals to hospital menus. The demand is clear, yet hospitals remain stuck in outdated food systems.PBHP UK is now pushing the Plants First Healthcare initiative, working with climate and health organisations to get hospitals to take plant-based meals seriously.&nbsp;Will the NHS listen? Or will they keep serving up carcinogens and climate destruction on a tray?&nbsp; What You Can Do:▫️Mention plantbased meals on hospital feedback surveys.▫️Write to your MP.▫️Choose plant-based whenever you or a loved one are in hospital. Change isn’t happening fast enough. The NHS needs to do better.

UK Hospitals Lag Behind on Plant-Based Meals

The Western diet is killing people, and the evidence isn’t new. Heart disease, diabetes, stroke, obesity - entirely preventable diseases are the leading causes of death, and they all share a common denominator: animal-based diets. Meanwhile, those who reject them? Lower rates of disease, longer lives, and fewer trips to the doctor. This isn’t a fad. It’s biology. The Science Is Clear - But the System Is Rigged&nbsp;&nbsp;The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics (AND) recently <a data-mce-href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39923894/" href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39923894/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reaffirmed</a> what health experts have been saying for decades: properly planned plantbased diets are nutritionally adequate at all stages of life. Not only that, but they actively reduce the risk of chronic diseases.According to the AND’s latest position paper, plant-based diets are associated with:&nbsp;&nbsp;- Lower risk of heart disease- Better blood sugar control and reduced risk of type 2 diabetes&nbsp;&nbsp;- Lower cholesterol levels- Improved weight managementThe British Dietetic Association, the American Heart Association, and the World Health Organization have all reached the same conclusion. Yet the dominant narrative still revolves around “lean meat” and “low-fat dairy,” despite overwhelming evidence that eliminating animal products altogether offers the best outcomes.The meat and dairy industries don’t want this information to go mainstream. Billions are spent on marketing to convince people they need animal products, despite the fact that everything required for optimal health - protein, iron, calcium, omega-3s - is readily available from plants. The food industry profits from confusion. The more people doubt their ability to thrive on plants, the longer they remain trapped in a system designed to make them sick. The NHS Is Drowning - And the Solution Is Right in Front of Us&nbsp;&nbsp;Heart disease is the UK’s leading cause of death, responsible for 160,000 deaths per year. Every few minutes, someone dies from a heart attack or stroke. Meanwhile, diabetes has skyrocketed from 1.4 million cases in 1996 to over 5 million today.The NHS spends billions treating diet-related diseases, while the solution, plant-based eating, is ignored. If the UK switched to a plant-based diet, new research estimates the NHS could save <a data-mce-href="https://www.ohe.org/insight/could-plant-based-diets-transform-health-care-spending/" href="https://www.ohe.org/insight/could-plant-based-diets-transform-health-care-spending/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">£6.7 billion annually</a>.&nbsp;&nbsp;- 1.3 million fewer cases of type 2 diabetes- 2 million fewer cases of chronic disease overall- Fewer hospitalisations, fewer medications, and fewer preventable deathsBut instead of promoting real dietary change, governments tiptoe around the issue, pushing watered-down guidelines that keep people dependent on pills, surgeries, and a healthcare system buckling under the weight of preventable illness. The Myth of “Balanced” Eating&nbsp;&nbsp;The phrase “appropriately planned” appears in every official statement about plantbased diets. But here’s the reality: all diets need to be appropriately planned. A junk food diet - vegan or not - isn’t nutritionally adequate. But a whole-food, plant-based diet? It’s a powerhouse.Common concerns like B12, iron, and protein are easily addressed.There is no essential nutrient in meat, dairy, or eggs that is only found in animals. The only thing missing from a plantbased diet? The cholesterol, saturated fat, and inflammation that fuel chronic disease. Food Justice and Health InequalityNot everyone has equal access to healthy food. In many communities, particularly in the USA, fast food is cheaper and easier to find than fresh produce. Supermarkets push ultra-processed products while whole foods remain out of reach. The result? Higher rates of diet-related illnesses, particularly aamong poor and marginalised groups.This isn’t a coincidence. The food industry deliberately targets vulnerable communities with cheap, disease-promoting products. The people suffering most from diet-related diseases are often those with the least access to fresh, healthy food. From the Womb to the Dinner Table: Food Preferences Start Early&nbsp;&nbsp;Getting toddlers to eat their vegetables can be difficult, but what if the problem started before they were even born? <a data-mce-href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/toddlers-vegetables-pregnancy-study-babies-b2696860.html" href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/toddlers-vegetables-pregnancy-study-babies-b2696860.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-mce-selected="inline-boundary">New research</a> suggests that a mother’s diet during pregnancy shapes a child’s food preferences before they even take their first bite.A study from Durham University found that babies exposed to vegetables in the womb - through what their mothers ate - reacted more positively to those same foods after birth.Early exposure matters. Babies start developing taste preferences in utero. If they’re introduced to bitter greens before they’re even born, they’re more likely to accept them later. Meanwhile, the modern Western diet steers children towards hyper-processed, sugar-laden junk from day one, setting them up for a lifetime of poor health. The Industry Doesn’t Want You to Know ThisIf a pill could prevent and reverse heart disease, diabetes, and obesity, it would be headline news. But when the answer is simply not eating animals, it’s suddenly controversial.The science is clear. The solution exists. But governments, corporations, and the food industry are invested in keeping people sick because there’s no profit in healthy people. Time to Face the Facts&nbsp;&nbsp;We know the Western diet is killing people. We know plant-based eating prevents and perhaps reverses major diseases. The question isn’t whether we need to change - it’s why we haven’t done it yet.The good news? Every meal is a choice. Choose life. Choose health. Choose justice.

The Food Industry Lies to You

A <a data-mce-href="https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/health-and-fitness/human-case-bird-flu-nevada/" href="https://plantbasednews.org/lifestyle/health-and-fitness/human-case-bird-flu-nevada/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">farm worker in Nevada</a> has become the latest human to contract bird flu - this time, a new strain, D1.1, jumping from infected dairy cows. If that sentence sounds like something out of a pandemic horror script, that’s because it is. But this isn’t fiction. It’s the reality of an industry that treats animals as commodities, creating the perfect breeding ground for deadly viruses.&nbsp;&nbsp;Bird Flu in Cows?&nbsp;For decades, bird flu was mostly a poultry problem. Now? It’s spilling into dairy herds. The <a data-mce-href="https://www.sciencealert.com/new-strain-of-bird-flu-in-nevada-reveals-a-concerning-mutation" href="https://www.sciencealert.com/new-strain-of-bird-flu-in-nevada-reveals-a-concerning-mutation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">D1.1 strain</a>, which has been circulating in wild birds and farmed poultry, has now been found in milk. The virus has also been detected in raw milk samples, leading to recalls. And not forgetting the <a data-mce-href="https://plantbasednews.org/animals/cats-sick-or-dead-from-bird-flu/" href="https://plantbasednews.org/animals/cats-sick-or-dead-from-bird-flu/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cats that died</a> after drinking infected milk on farms across several states.&nbsp;&nbsp;The virus isn’t just jumping species; it’s mutating. The D1.1 strain has a genetic tweak that could make it better at spreading between mammals. If that doesn’t set off alarm bells, it should.&nbsp;&nbsp;Farm Worker Infected. What Next?The Nevada worker developed conjunctivitis, just an eye infection. Mild, right? That’s what they said about early COVID-19 cases, too. The problem isn’t just the individual cases - it’s what happens when a virus like this figures out how to move efficiently between humans.&nbsp;&nbsp;In January, the US saw its first H5N1 death, linked to this same strain. Yet authorities continue to push the line that “there’s no evidence of human-to-human transmission.” That’s exactly what they said before COVID-19 exploded. The playbook never changes.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Workers at the FrontlineWho’s most at risk? Not the average supermarket shopper. It’s the farm workers - overworked, underpaid, and often undocumented. These are the people handling infected cows, chickens, and raw milk. They’re also the least likely to have healthcare, PPE, or the ability to take time off if they feel unwell.&nbsp;&nbsp;Many won’t even get tested. If symptoms are mild, if they don’t speak English fluently, or if they fear deportation, they’ll keep working. That means cases slip through the cracks, and the official numbers mean nothing. The real count of infected people? No one knows.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Government’s Response: A Masterclass in Doing NothingTracking this virus should be a priority. Instead, the US is taking a scattered, state-by-state approach. Some states test aggressively. Others barely bother. If you don’t look for cases, you don’t find them - that’s convenient for keeping industries running but disastrous for public health.&nbsp;&nbsp;The US tracks bird flu through wastewater testing, symptom-based screenings, and random flu tests. Sounds good, except not everyone who tests positive for influenza gets checked for H5N1. In Iowa, for example, unless a patient fits a narrow set of criteria, they don’t get tested at all. In California, doctors are supposed to consider bird flu in patients with respiratory symptoms, assuming those patients can afford a doctor visit in the first place.&nbsp;&nbsp;The result? A virus spreading largely untracked, with unknown numbers of human infections, while officials claim everything is under control.&nbsp;&nbsp;Pandemic Potential? Absolutely.Right now, bird flu isn’t spreading efficiently between humans. But viruses mutate. That’s what they do. The more chances they get, the higher the risk of a mutation that changes everything.&nbsp;&nbsp;If that happens, we’re not ready. The infrastructure for testing, containment, and protection isn’t there. And if you think the US government will act swiftly to protect public health, just look at how COVID-19 played out.&nbsp;&nbsp;We’ve Seen This Before - And We’ll See It AgainWe act like these outbreaks are random, unfortunate events. They aren’t. This is what happens when you breed, confine, and exploit animals on an industrial scale.&nbsp;&nbsp;Factory farms are viral incubators. Cows, chickens, ducks, and pigs are packed together, genetically similar, and stressed - perfect conditions for disease to spread and evolve. H5N1, H5N9, COVID-19 - none of these are accidents. They’re the inevitable consequences of a system that prioritises profits over health, ethics, and common sense.&nbsp;&nbsp;The same industries responsible for these outbreaks are the ones most resistant to change. Their solution? Kill millions of infected animals and move on as if nothing happened. They don’t want you questioning why these outbreaks keep happening. They want you to accept culling as a necessary evil while continuing to buy their products.&nbsp;&nbsp;Voting for the Next PandemicEvery non-vegan purchase keeps this system alive. Every pint of milk, every egg, every piece of chicken or duck flesh is a vote for the conditions that make pandemics more likely.&nbsp;&nbsp;We know how to prevent future outbreaks. Stop using animals, and the cycle of zoonotic disease collapses. No factory farms, no high-density viral incubators, no endless mutations. This isn’t a radical idea. It’s a straightforward solution.&nbsp;&nbsp;The Bottom LineThe Nevada case is another warning. Another sign that our use of animals is a public health disaster waiting to happen.&nbsp;&nbsp;The government won’t save us. The industry won’t change on its own. But we don’t have to wait for the next pandemic to take action. We can reject this system now.&nbsp;&nbsp;Because if we don’t? The next pandemic won’t be a question of if - just when.

Herbivore Club

ARTICLES

Wales Bans Greyhound Racing – The First UK Nation to Do So

Canned Tuna and Forced Labour

Foie Gras: Diseased Livers and Broken Promises

UK Hospitals Lag Behind on Plant-Based Meals

The Food Industry Lies to You

Bird Flu Confirmed In Nevada