All you need to know about dairy and going dairy-free

Why be dairy-free

Going dairy-free is one of the most natural changes to your diet. Why? Simply because drinking milk past infancy is not what nature intended.

Whilst consuming milk and dairy products is common in some countries, not everyone is able to stomach it. Most people lose the ability to digest the milk sugar lactose after weaning – about two thirds of the world’s adults are lactose intolerant. The message is loud and clear: we are meant to consume breast milk only in infancy and then stop.

However, as milk is our first food, we tend to view it with a certain emotional attachment and the dairy industry are well aware of it. Their marketing has got us convinced that cow’s milk is a perfect food, that we need it for healthy bones and, most importantly, we need to consume it several times a day. Whatever the claim, don’t forget they are selling you a product, even if it’s disguised as health advice. Not long ago, cigarettes were recommended by doctors – clever marketing bolstered by excessive funding is capable of reaching everyone!

Animals & environment

To meet the demands of modern high yielding dairy farming we push Britain’s farmed animals to the limit.

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Health

Milk is no miracle food and dairy consumption has been linked to a number of health issues and diseases.

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How to be dairy-free

Going dairy-free is a smart move not just for ethical reasons but also because it will very likely improve your health in several ways. Try going dairy-free and see for yourself!

Cheese lovers
Milk drinkers
Chocoholics
Butterlies
Vegan butter
Photograph by Sarah Sullivan

Campaigns & investigations

Our campaigns and investigations into the dairy industry have exposed horrors beyond belief. Click on the images below to learn the truth about what is considered ‘standard practice’ in British factory farms and see the positive impact of our outreach.

Dairy - Corporate Cruelty
Investigation: Tafarn Y Bugail
Müller Killer
YogHURTs Tour
Investigation: Zero Grazing
Investigation: Home Farm
Viva! Exposé of Home Farm, 2022
MooFree May
Mother's day of action
Viva!shake
Viva!ccino bike tour
UK's first vegan YouTube ads
TRASH
UK Dairy Day
Viva!licious ice cream tour
Face Off
Cadbury
The dark side of dairy
Nanny state
Biosecurity

 

 

 

Resources

We offer a wide range of resources, most of which are free to download or available to order online.

White Lies

The research is clear – the consumption of cow’s milk and dairy products is linked to the development of multiple diseases and conditions. Read the evidence for yourself here.

Read the report »

The Dark Side Of Dairy report

Everything you need to know about the dairy industry, life of dairy cattle and other issues such as goat farming.

Read the report »

Everyone’s Going Dairy-Free

Everyone’s Going Dairy-free gives a stylish shake-up to one of Viva!’s most popular guides, the old How to Be Dairy Free.

Read the report »

 

 

If you’d like to use these for your activism and organise events, please have a look at the Take Action page for more information on upcoming events and contact details for events.

Feel free to use and share but please always credit Viva!

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