Happy New Year to you all, any new year’s resolutions, or lifestyle changes to start 2022?
After the Christmas over-indulgence many take on the Veganuary challenge to improve their health and start the year with a new challenge.
However according to famers some of the Veganuary messages being delivered about food, farming and the environment are misleading.
What is Veganuary?
An annual challenge, encouraging people to follow a vegan lifestyle for the month of January. Veganism is abstaining from the use of animal products particularly in the diet, which becomes mainly plant-based, free of meat, dairy, and other animal products.
The health benefits.
A vegan diet can be richer in certain nutrients as you rely on other foods.
Can help you lose weight.
It appears to lower blood sugar levels and improve kidney function.
A vegan diet may protect against certain cancers according to the World Health Organization. About one-third of all cancers can be prevented by factors within your control, including diet. https://www.who.int/health-topics/cancer#tab=tab_2
It’s linked to a lower risk of heart disease.
A vegan diet can reduce pain from arthritis.
Veganuary Marketed differently.
Not everyone is shouting about the benefits of Veganuary and becoming Vegan.
In 2019 FarmingUk produced an article raising farmers concerns about the annual tradition. https://www.farminguk.com/news/farmer-concern-over-veganuary-and-the-spread-of-fake-facts_51017.html
It seems 3 years later the issue still has not been resolved.
And its not just farmers, a butcher local to Stripy Fig has reported how on a few occasions they have been verbally abused and called “murderers” whilst just going about their day-to-day business at the shop.
Farmers “Beef up” confidence.
In preparation of the Veganuary trend Britain's red meat levy groups met at the end 2021 and have collaborated on a new toolkit to 'beef up' farmer confidence.
The toolkit has been created to positively manage the reputation of British red meat at a time when the spotlight is on a vegan lifestyle.
Lesley Cameron, director of marketing at Quality Meat Scotland, said that the toolkit will help farmers add their voice to a common - and positive – narrative for the red meat sector. "The purpose of this toolkit isn’t to ‘fight back’ or target those with a different lifestyle, but to add the voices of all aspects of the red meat industry," she said.
The toolkit focuses on the sustainability, health and wellbeing, and the power of buying local.
Liam Byrne, head of meat marketing at Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, explained that British farmers have a 'great story' to tell the public. British farmers could demonstrate that meat and dairy produced have a lower carbon footprint than the global average, while adhering to high standards.
We Eat Balanced.
From 4th January and throughout until the end of February a new TV advert marketing the We Eat Balanced campaign will be run on terrestrial and digital tv.
The campaign launched by the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board, encourages the public to add British-produced meat and dairy to their diets.
The advert features Nancy, an inquisitive little girl, along with her grandad and focuses on the goodness within British red meat and dairy, particularly as a natural source of vitamin B12.
Take a look at the advert here https://youtu.be/1kQjzQ7uz0s
At the end of the day farmers put food on our plates and they need our support.
Stripy Fig will provide support in all areas of your business, specialising in the fresh produce and farming industry.
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