Veganism is becoming more and more prominent with every passing day and social media has been the key factor behind its increasing popularity.
Over the years, celebrities and activists have been influencing young people to adopt veganism for a variety of reasons.
Many people think that veganism is just about not eating animals for food. But the fact is, its scope is way beyond animal consumption and it prohibits all forms of exploitations made against animals for any purpose.
The Vegan Society defines veganism as “a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.”
However, the vegans didn’t just stop there and have added several things and actions in their not-to-do list over the years. And just recently, they have also started demanding to ban everyone’s favorite animal crackers.
Although the animal crackers are free from all kinds of animal-derived ingredients, a group of vegan sociologists is advocating for a ban on the delicious treat.
They say by selling and consuming animal-shaped food, we’re reinforcing the concept that humans are superior to animals.
“The consumption of animal crackers reiterates to children their privileged access to the natural world and any subordinates who live within it,” Corey Lee Wrenn, a lecturer in sociology at Monmouth University, said.
“By being able to ‘collect’ animals, pick them up, handle them, and eventually eat them, notions of human supremacy are underscored.”
And I believe they won’t just stop at animal crackers but will also include Bear Dino Paws, Colin the Caterpillar sweets, and Veggie Percy Pigs since all these sweets fall into the category of animal-shaped food.
I understand that their intentions are really good but the rate at which they have been rejecting various foods for the last decade, they won’t be left with anything to eat!
This new demand came just weeks after PETA made Nabisco change the packaging on its iconic animal crackers.
The previous packaging showed some animals being held captive in cages whereas the new one shows them roaming freely.
“The new box for Barnum’s Animals crackers perfectly reflects that our society no longer tolerates the caging and chaining of wild animals for circus shows,” PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said.
Following the change, vegans across the globe took to Twitter to laud the move.
One person wrote: “Some are saying @PETA wasted time, money, and effort pressuring Nabisco to free the animals from the circus on Animal Crackers. I disagree. Children will no longer think it’s OK to put animals in cages. Well done PETA. Thank You Nabisco. It’s never too late to change.”
Some are saying @PETA wasted time, money, and effort pressuring Nabisco to free the animals from the circus on Animal Crackers. I disagree. Children will no longer think it's OK to put animals in cages. Well done PETA. Thank You Nabisco. It's never too late to change. pic.twitter.com/8KZts5YG7N
ADVERTISEMENT — Daniel Schneider (@BiologistDan) August 21, 2018
However, some said that PETA was ignoring important things like the unjust slaughtering of animals and was more focused on unimportant things that don’t matter at all.
One user said: “I’m still angry that @peta was more concerned about a box of animal crackers than they were over many thousands of animals getting their throats slit in celebration of the Feast of Sacrifice.”
Whilst another wrote: “Hey @peta any comment on the mass slaughter and torture of animals going on in Minnesota’s @usbankstadium?”