No Bugs in These Baskets: PETA Donates 100 Bags of Vegan Easter Candy

Cruelty-Free Sweets Will Help Nevada Kids in Need Celebrate the Holiday—Without Harming Animals

For Immediate Release:
April 5, 2017

Contact:
Brooke Rossi 202-483-7382

In support of Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada’s Operation Easter Basket program, PETA delivered 100 bags of vegan candy—including Jolly Rancher Jelly Beans, Sour Patch Bunnies, and Swedish Fish—to the group to give to Reno children in need this spring.

In a letter sent to the charity this morning, PETA—whose motto reads, in part, that “animals are not ours to eat or abuse in any other way”—notes that vegan candy is free of animal-derived ingredients. Such ingredients include confectioner’s glaze—which is created from ground-up insects—and dairy milk, which promotes the separation of mother cows from their calves.

“Easter is a holiday of rebirth and new beginnings, so it’s the perfect time to start showing kindness to animals, including the insects who are ground up for candy glaze,” says PETA President Ingrid Newkirk. “PETA’s donation of cruelty-free candy aims to make this Easter Sunday a little bit sweeter for Reno’s human children and animals alike.”

This Easter season, PETA is also calling on candy makers to stop using bugs in their sweets and has put together a how-to guide for assembling a vegan Easter basket.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.

PETA’s letter to Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada follows.

April 5, 2017

Jordan Stiteler

Director of Campaigns and Events

Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada

Dear Ms. Stiteler,

I am writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 5 million members and supporters worldwide, including thousands across Nevada, with regard to Operation Easter Basket. I would like to applaud your effort to bring springtime cheer to children in need and let you know that we’ll be donating 100 bags of vegan candy to the foundation to be used in the baskets.

Easter is a holiday of rebirth and new beginnings—so what better way to begin anew than to make a conscious effort to care for animals? Vegan Easter candy is free of dairy milk—for which mother cows are separated from their calves—as well as insects, who are used by companies to make confectioners’ glaze. It’s also some of the tastiest candy around. The best part is that all our childhood favorites—including jelly beans, cream eggs, marshmallows, chocolate bunnies, and more—are already vegan or have been “veganized” by compassionate businesses so that customers can assemble ethical Easter baskets.

Every time we feed our families, our neighbors, our communities, and ourselves, we have the opportunity to make compassionate choices. We are happy that the children who receive the baskets that your organization puts together will enjoy this cruelty-free candy.

Very truly yours,

Ingrid E. Newkirk

President