And for those with a sweet tooth…
Where to start? A swathe of innovations in plant-based eating have been rewarded by PETA this year in categories from chocolate to pastry and doughnuts.
The best vegan chocolate award for 2020, according to PETA, goes to Moo Free’s Cinder Toffee bars. Made from organic cocoa sourced from the San Francisco de Macois area of Dominican Republic, the chocolate is mixed with honeycomb toffee in Moo Free’s dedicated free-from factories.
The award for the best vegan cake goes to OGGS’ Victoria Sponge Cakes, which are filled with raspberry jam and covered with vanilla-flavoured frosting. The cakes are made with aquafaba instead of eggs.
And Pret A Manger has taken home two awards in the sweets category, one for the best vegan pastry (Very Berry Croissant) and the other for the best vegan cookies (Dark Chocolate & Almond Butter Cookie).
The former is made from flaky pastry with layers of berry jam, and sprinkled with sugar crystals. Instead of butter, Pret uses shea butter and sunflower oil.
The vegan cookie is ‘enriched with almond butter’ and sprinkled with sea salt. Its ingredients list also includes coconut oil, golden syrup, cocoa powder, dark chocolate pieces, and almonds.
The full list of winners of PETA’s 2020 Vegan Food Awards:
Best vegan meat: Meatless Farm, Meat Free Mince
Best vegan chicken: KFC, Original Recipe Vegan Burger
Best vegan sausage: Richmond, Meat-Free Sausages
Best vegan cheese: Violife, Epic Mature Cheddar Flavour
Best vegan mayo: Nando’s, Vegan PERinaise
Best vegan milk: Mighty Pea, M.lk Original
Best vegan burger: Co-op GRO, The Incredible Burger
Best vegan fish: Forgan’s Broughty Ferry, Beer’s Battered Vegan
Best vegan ready meal: Aldi Plant Menu, No Chicken Masala
Best vegan pizza: Papa John’s, The Vegan Works
Best vegan pasty: Greggs, Vegan Steak Bake
Best vegan pie: Pukka, Vegan Chicken & Mushroom Pie
Best vegan sandwich: Subway, Meatless Meatball Marinara
Best vegan mac & cheese: Eat of Eden, Macaroni pie
Best vegan chocolate: Moo Free, Cinder Toffee
Best vegan cookie: Pret A Manger, Dark Chocolate & Almond Butter Cookie
Best vegan cake: OGGS, Victoria Sponge Cakes
Best vegan doughnuts: Considerit
Best vegan dessert: Caffè Nero, Salted Caramel and Chocolate Vegan Cheesecake
Best vegan ice cream: Oatly, Chocolate Fudge
Best vegan pastry: Pret A Manger, Very Berry Croissant
Best vegan range: Tesco, Plant Chef
Best vegan cookbook: Speedy BOSH! By Henry Firth and Ian Theasby
Best vegan luxury product: I AM NUT OK: Foiegeddaboutit Truffle & Mushroom Faux Gras Pâté
Image source: Pret A Manger