The new year is beginning well for vegans in the UK. This week, Marks & Spencer released more than 50 new vegan dishes, as part of their Plant Kitchen range. It can also be confirmed that they have also introduced a labelling system for all of their own-brand vegan products.
Marks & Spencer joins Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Iceland and Waitrose in their committment to clearly and consistently labelling their own-brand vegan products, following the launch of Animal Aid’s #MarkItVegan campaign.
The #MarkItVegan campaign was established to urge all major UK supermarkets to label their own-brand vegan products, something that was already done by Sainsbury’s and the Co-op.
Animal Aid Campaign Manager, Tod Bradbury, commented: ‘Marks & Spencer have certainly gone that extra mile to ensure that their offerings of plant-based foods are extensive, exciting and easy to identify. The Plant Kitchen range ticks all the boxes when it comes to exciting foods.
‘We also extend our thanks to them for introducing a labelling system for their own-brand vegan products. Such labelling helps not only vegans, but also vegetarians, those reducing their animal product consumption, people wanting to try plant-based foods and those who purchase vegan products for their family members.
‘Clearly and consistently labelling products as vegan in some way has benefits for the business as well as the consumer; firstly, it enables those of us who avoid animal products entirely to easily find which products are vegan. Secondly, it also helps non-vegans realise how many delicious vegan options there truly are to choose from. When veganism is presented as something that is normal, those who may be a little sceptical are more inclined to give it a try.’
As of now, Lidl is the only UK supermarket which has not committed to introducing clear and consistent labelling for its own-brand vegan products.