Historical ‘Mammoth Cheese’ Gets a Modern Makeover From PETA

The first “mammoth cheese,” which weighed an astounding 1,235 pounds, was presented to President Thomas Jefferson in 1802. But times have changed. In Jefferson’s time, there was no factory farming. But in today’s dairy industry, mother cows live miserably in intensive confinement and are forcibly impregnated, only for their beloved calves to be taken away from them so that their milk can be sold for humans to consume. That’s why PETA is marking the historic cheese delivery (and National Cheeseball Day, April 17) with a special delivery to the “big cheese” himself, President Joe Biden: a mammoth wagonload of vegan cheese balls for him to enjoy and share.

We’re also donating vegan cheese balls to the teachers and students at C.W. Harris and Ketcham elementary schools in Washington, D.C. Many of the district’s students are Black or Latino, up to 80% of whom are lactose intolerant.

PETA believes that these little cheese balls will help people make the switch to one of the many delicious and widely available vegan varieties of cheese.

The popularity of vegan cheese is skyrocketing as ever more Americans ditch dairy and new vegan cheeses become available all the time. A recent study showed that dairy consumption is down 20% among Gen Zers, 65% of whom say they want to follow a more plant-based diet.

Animal agriculture is the single largest source of U.S. methane emissions, which have 80 times the warming power of carbon dioxide. Cows used to produce milk for human consumption are forcibly impregnated over and over and mourn the loss of their babies. When their bodies wear out after just a few years, they’re sent to slaughter. Every person who goes vegan spares nearly 200 animals each year needless suffering and abuse.

Note: PETA supports animal rights, opposes all forms of animal exploitation, and provides the public with information on those issues. PETA does not directly or indirectly participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office or any political party.