London, April 1st 9am BST 
Reacting to news that the UK Government is now considering extending the ban on smoking in cars with passengers under 18 (to include processed meat products for Stoptober 2017), Starbucks have revealed their intention to be 100% vegan by the end of the 2017. This also supports NHS efforts to encourage people to eat at least 5 a day portions of fruit and vegetables following revision of ‘The Eatwell Plate’ and Dietitians recommendations on cutting back on meat to no more than twice a week.
Crest of a Vegan Wave
UK Vegan guru and health food consultant chef Tony Bishop-Weston from Foods for Life Health and Nutrition Consultancy says “Starbucks are not alone. Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream, Guinness, Quorn, Zizzi Restaurants, Pizza Express, Linda McCartney, Tesco’s, Asda, Waitrose, Morrisons, Costa Coffee and Loving Hut had all added new vegan products recently. Tesco have a wide range of dairy free vegan cheeses. Grocery retailers were awash with vegan chocolate Easter eggs this Easter.”
Fear of Litigation
Starbucks UK is apparently nervous that if the meat free Stoptober plans go ahead one of their customers could be prosecuted for consuming a Starbucks processed meat product in their car just because they like carcinogenic food and they have a child passenger. This would be a PR nightmare and these days with all the mobile phones and in-car videos it’s only a matter of time before someone is captured risking their life and a huge fine by eating a processed meat product with Starbucks branding.
Bishop-Weston announced that “Starbucks UK vice president Jess Star called early Friday and said ‘We’ve taken the bold step to go completely vegan!’. Commercially and logistically it makes sense” said Bishop Weston “if Starbuck’s offer is suitable for vegans, then by default it’s suitable for vegetarians, those following the 5 a day diet, Jewish or Muslim patrons (who don’t eat pork) and vegetarian Hindus (who don’t eat egg) thus suitable for everyone, even Veggans sometimes called ‘Conveniegans’ but are actually vegetarians who eat eggs but not cheese”.
New Starbucks Vegan All Day Breakfast Muffin
“We have struggled, not to find vegan alternatives, but to find vegan products at the very low prices that Starbucks need to make a profit in such a competitive market.” admits Bishop-Weston. “The solution was for Starbucks to make some of the new vegan products themselves using Aquafaba (a versatile bean juice froth discovered by Goose Wohlt in the USA) and 5 portions of fruit and vegetables. We have managed to make delicious egg free fried egg, soysages, dairy free cheese and meat free bacon all from Aquafaba and put them all together into an all-day vegan breakfast muffin which will be Starbucks new flagship vegan product”
Boaty McBoatface Vegan Iceberg Fruitcake
Other new products could include a dessert tribute to the ‘Boaty McBoatface’ National Environment Research Council (NERC) £200 million polar research vessel with a meringue iceberg made with Aquafaba and a berry fruit cake boat cracking through it. Also planned is a dark chocolate Dunkin Doughnuts style vegan chocolate mars bar fruitcake.
- Image with thanks FlavourPhotos.
Tony Bishop-Weston E.A. to Nutritionist Yvonne Bishop-Weston
Foods for Life Health & Nutrition Consultancy Personal & Corporate Services
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