Food Policy and Nutrition: Cause for Concern

The Vegan Society has described the findings of the UK government’s latest National Diet and Nutrition Survey as “very concerning”. The survey followed the confirmation of the Food Strategy Advisory Board, which includes the chairman of Cranswick PLC, one of the biggest factory farming companies in the UK.      Vegan Society Senior Dietitian, Emily Angus, and Public Affairs and Policy Manager, Alistair Currie, join Damian Watson to discuss why the UK is in a perilous place when it comes to food policy.

Is the future vegan? That's certainly our hope at The Vegan Society - and it's the subject of one of our ongoing campaigns and a major part of our 80th anniversary exhibition at the Library of Birmingham.   But what might a vegan future look like? Animal rights author, scholar and curator, Kim Stallwood, and Vegan Society Campaigns Manager, Hannah Montgomery, join Damian Watson for a look into a vegan crystal ball.

PR consultant Karin Ridgers, founder of vegan PR agency Mad Promotions, and Holly Johnson, editor of Vegan Food and Living magazine, join our host, Rachel New, to discuss how to counter misinformation about veganism in the media.

On today’s Vegan Pod 'Children’s story books – advocates for animal compassion?', Rachel New is joined by Tina Newman, creator of @ViviTheSuperVegan, and Jodie Barchha Lang @GreenVegan1, author of Nero the Brave Little Bull.   Grab a cuppa and settle in for vegan story-time as the trio discuss how children’s books can inspire and empower mini vegans on their journey to compassion, and their role in education.

Today on The Vegan Pod, we’re talking supplements and whether they’re essential to a vegan diet. Vegan Society dietitians Angela Rymer and Emily Angus join us to set the record straight on supplements and whether it’s possible to sustain a healthful vegan diet without them. 

Today on The Vegan Pod, we’re revisiting a previous episode tackling the misconception that vegan cooking is difficult and takes time and effort. In this episode, guests Madeleine Olivia and Johnny Morillo help set the record straight, in a bid to inspire future vegans. Maybe you were even one of them! Why not refresh your memory and listen to the full episode on vegansociety.podbean.com or search “The Vegan Pod” on Apple Podcasts and Spotify  🎙️

In the latest episode of The Vegan Pod we’re diving into the history of veganism, tracing the movement’s roots back to the founding of The Vegan Society in 1944 and exploring how it has grown and evolved over the decades. We’re fortunate to have two incredible guests with us for this episode. First, we’re joined by Kim Stallwood, an animal rights author and scholar with decades of experience in the movement. Also joining us is Matthew Cole, a sociologist and lecturer whose research has explored veganism, anti-veganism and the cultural construction of human-animal relations. Together, they explore the founding of The Vegan Society and unpack some of the challenges faced by vegans over the years.  The views expressed by guests on The Vegan Pod are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.   

In the latest episode of The Vegan Pod, we’re talking about veganic agriculture—a method of farming that uses no animal products or byproducts in the growing process.  Joining us for this episode we have co-founder of the Veganic Agriculture Network, Meg Kelly, and pioneer in the field of stock-free organic farming, Iain Tolhurst. Together, they unpack the ethical and environmental benefits of veganic agriculture and explore how the movement can continue to grow. The views expressed by guests on The Vegan Pod are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.    

As children enter the new school year and students head back to university after  summer, we’re asking: What is vegan-inclusive education and why is it important?  Two brilliant guests join us for this discussion – Plant Based Universities Lead Coordinator, Alistair Stewart; and Laura Chepner, Education Officer at The Vegan Society and founder of The Vegan Society’s Education Network. The views expressed by guests on The Vegan Pod are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.   

Ultra-processed vegan foods have been a hot topic in the media recently and have been called out for having negative health implications. On the latest episode of The Vegan Pod, we explore the truth behind the headlines and ask: Are ultra-processed foods bad for us? How do vegan ultra-processed foods compare to their non-vegan counterparts? Are there benefits to choosing to eat processed foods?  To answer all these questions and more, we’re joined by guests Emily McKee and Jenny Chapman. Registered Dietitian Emily works here at The Vegan Society as part of our Nutrition Team, and biologist Jenny was awarded a Churchill Fellowship in 2023 to investigate the adoption, acceptance and trust of plant-based meat and authored the report “Processing the discourse over plant-based meat”.  The views expressed by guests on The Vegan Pod are not necessarily the views of The Vegan Society.       RESOURCES: Processing the discourse over plant-based meat - Jenny Chapman Ultra-processed food and veganism: What are the facts? - Emily McKee Food labelling: nutrition information - British Dietetic Association Plant-based meat and health in Europe - The Good Food Institute