Dare to go dairy-free – Viva! asks the public to ditch dairy
Date: Monday 21 August 2017
Time: 12pm – 2pm
Location: Outside Barclays Bank, Broadmead, Bristol City Centre
Bristol based animal welfare organisation Viva! are asking the public to ditch dairy as part of their Scary Dairy Week of Action (21-28 August) and World Plant Milk Day (22 August). The Week of Action is a joint initiative organised by animal welfare groups Viva!, Animal Aid, Vegnuary and ProVeg. It is a collaborative campaign which encourages the public to consider the suffering caused by the dairy industry and promote plant-based alternatives.
During this week of action campaigners in Bristol and across the country will be distributing free literature to the public highlighting the plight of dairy cows and the health implications surrounding dairy consumption.
On Monday 21 August Viva! will be in Bristol city centre with a range of dairy-free information including free recipes booklets, health and nutrition information and dairy-free mini guides. One member of the Viva! team will be wearing a larger than life dairy cow costume and the rest will be handing out free samples of delicious dairy-free ice cream, although supplies are limited so please arrive early to avoid disappointment!
How much dairy is the UK consuming?
A recent report published in 2016 by Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) states milk production in the UK has reduced by 87 million litres and overall dairy consumption is down by 490 million tonnes[1].
In recent years global sales of plant-based milk and dairy-free cultured products such as yogurt, frozen desserts and ice-cream, creamers and cheese have grown exponentially.
Whether it’s because of an allergy or a lifestyle choice, people are ditching dairy. Viva!’s founder and director, Juliet Gellatley, explores the reasoning behind this shift in consumer choice:
“The public are beginning to open their eyes to reality of the dairy industry. We don’t need to consume cow’s milk for strong bones and it is not beneficial to our health! In fact, cow’s milk contains a cocktail of 35 different hormones, such as oestrogen and progesterone, and 11 growth factors that are meant to turn a small calf into a fully grown cow in a year. But these hormones can wreak havoc in your body and have been linked to cancer, acne and more. Dairy protein is hard to digest and can causes cow’s milk allergy, while dairy fat is linked to heart disease, stroke and diabetes type 2.
In addition to this the dairy industry subjects dairy cows and their calves to a life of misery. Standard practice is removing baby calves from their mothers and male calves being routinely shot shortly after birth.
Whatever the claim, don’t forget you are being sold 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!”
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. We’re the only species in the world to do so and what’s more, we consume milk of a different animal!
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 clear: we are meant to consume breast milk only in infancy and then stop.
There’s so much research on the consequences of consuming milk and dairy products on human health, you have only to scratch the surface to learn the truth. We have produced a comprehensive and fully-referenced report White Lies where you can find all the details about milk and your health.
If you have doubts about healthy bones on a dairy-free diet or want reassurance, see our campaign Break Free, focused specifically on this issue and offering practical advice. Or if you’d prefer a summary on calcium alone, have a look at our calcium fact sheet.
For information about all aspects of dairy consumption and production, in an easy-to-read format, see the brilliant all-rounder – Why You Don’t Need Dairy guide.
For more information visit www.whitelies.org.uk or call 0117 944 1000.
ENDS information:
For more information about this media release, contact Viva! PR Manager, Siobhan Dolan emailing siobhan@viva.org.uk or calling 0117 944 1000 or email the press office press@viva.org.uk.
