Soy to the World: PETA Asks Kids to Demand Soy Milk for Santa

U.S.’ Nearly 22 Million Glasses of Soy Milk Could Spare Nearly 200,000 Cows One Day of Well-Documented Suffering on Dairy Farms

For Immediate Release:
December 19, 2014

Contact:
Alexis Sadoti 202-483-7382

Haul out the holly, put up the tree, and leave out a glass of soy or almond milk for Santa—that’s PETA’s appeal this Christmas to the nearly 22 million American households with children under 12 who celebrate the holiday. As PETA points out on its website (and on PETAKids.com), to produce that 22 million glasses of milk in one day, it takes nearly 200,000 cows who had their calves taken away from them and who will be killed when their milk production declines, far short of their natural life expectancy—a move that should surely land dairy producers on the “extremely naughty” list.

“PETA is encouraging kids to extend peace on Earth to cows and their calves by leaving soy milk out for Santa,” says mother and PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman. “Santa could benefit from the switch, too, since plant-based milks have none of the artery-clogging saturated animal fat and cholesterol found in cow’s milk.”

New research shows that cows share a unique bond with their calves and communicate with them, just as human mothers do. Cow’s milk is the number one food that young children are allergic to, and it’s been linked to a variety of other health problems, including heart disease—so plant-based milks are the better choice for helping Santa live a long and healthy life. The dairy industry also takes a toll on the environment: It takes nearly 700 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of cow’s milk (vs. 50 gallons of water to produce 1 gallon of soy milk), and filthy dairy farms are known to pollute the air, water, and soil.

PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat … or abuse in any other way”—is also sending soy milk and vegan cookies to food banks in cities with high child-poverty rates (Cleveland, Detroit, and Buffalo, N.Y.) to help families in need celebrate the holiday.

For more information and tips on celebrating a vegan holiday, please visit PETA.org.