Diet and Nutrition

Research, Education, Innovation. 2012

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 00:53:00 -0800

This is a report provided by the U.S. beef industry that summarizes research addressing attitudes toward beef and how to communicate with consumers in the United States. This is an annual survey and the results are compared with previous years.

A Vegan or Vegetarian Diet Substantially Alters the Human Colonic Faecal Microbiota

Carol L. Glasser — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This study examines the levels of intestinal microbes in omnivores, vegetarians and vegans. Vegans were found to have the least and omnivores the most. This is due to not consuming contaminated meat as well as a higher intake of fruits and vegetables, which are fibrous and help keep the intestines clean.

How Readable Are Your Animal Advocacy Materials?

Carol L. Glasser — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 13:00:00 -0800

The most exciting project this new year, is the release of our latest study examining how easy it is for the average person to read and understand animal advocacy literature. Specifically, HRC partnered with VegFund and FARM to evaluate the readability of the most widely distributed vegan outreach pamphlets.

Readability of Vegan Outreach Literature

HRC Admin — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

To evaluate the readability of such materials in a more robust and transparent manner, the Humane Research Council (HRC) partnered with VegFund and FARM to test a selection of outreach materials that are commonly used by vegan advocates. The average readability scores placed these materials in the range of the 11th grade reading level or higher, which is three to four grade levels higher than the average U.S. adult.

‘Globesization’: Ecological Evidence on the Relationship Between Fast Food Outlets and Obesity Among 26 Advanced Economies

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This study examines the impact of fast food restaurants on levels of obesity in the populations of 26 affluent nations. Researchers statistically analyzed the relationship between the number of Subway restaurants and the proportion of people who are obese. Even after controlling for various environmental factors a strong relationship was found--the more Subways in a country, the higher rates of obesity.

Large Prospective Investigation of Meat Intake, Related Mutagens, and Risk of Renal Cell Carcinoma

Carol L. Glasser — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

Researchers investigated the link between meat eating and risk of developing a type of cancer of the kidney called renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The study found that increased consumption of red meat increased the risk of developing RCC.

Food Safety Eclipses Rising Food Costs as Top Food Story of 2011

Carol L. Glasser — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 08:45:00 -0800

This survey asked a representative sample of 1,000 U.S. adults to identify what they considered to be the most important food news in 2011. Stories about food safety and health were ranked at the top of the list. This suggests that animal advocates promoting vegetarianism will benefit from highlighting the food-safety risks caused by meat production. Notably, the survey also found that 14% of respondents plan to incorporate less meat into their diets in 2012.

Food CPI and Expenditures: CPI for Food Forecasts

Carol L. Glasser — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 08:45:00 -0800

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) and proportion spend for various types of food in the U.S. is updated on a monthly basis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. This data reports how food expenditures break down by different food types. The CPI is one of the most widely used indicators of changes in retail prices, so this data can be useful for animal advocates who are working with restaurants to have more vegetarian options, among other possibilities.

Pork Products Gaining New Ground on Menus

Carol L. Glasser — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 08:45:00 -0800

Based on data from Technomic's online MenuMonitor database, which tracks the menus of 2,000 restaurant menus, this article discusses the increase in the use of pig products in restaurants in 2011.

Where To Go From Here: Thoughts on Preventing Veg'n Recidivism

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 10:45:00 -0800

Now that we have explored what recidivism can look like and offered some social factors that may inhibit veganism, what does this mean for our movement at large? How can movement leaders and individual activists take this information to encourage people to try veganism and offer the right support to keep them from backsliding?