LONG ISLAND, NY — Dressed as cows and carrying signs that read, “Vegan Upcharge: Udder Nonsense,” members of an animal rights group protested outside Starbucks locations across Long Island on Tuesday over the higher price, as they said the chain charges for vegan options.
John Di Leonardo, president and executive director of Humane Long Island, said he and his wife Juliana celebrated Valentine's Day by partnering with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, and RISE Brewing Co. to distribute 600 free vegan lattes and vegan chocolates and caramels at Starbucks locations in Bridgehampton, Merrick and Huntington.
Starbucks, Di Leonardo said, “agrees that animal-friendly vegan milks are better for the planet than dairy, but insists on charging extra for them.”
According to a post on Yahoo.com, Starbucks “currently charges 70 cents per drink to replace cow's milk with vegan options like oat and soy.”
Di Leonardo added: “No one should be penalized for choosing a healthier option that doesn't support animal abuse and is better for the planet, but people don't have to wait for the government or companies like Starbucks to do the right. We can make powerful changes right now by going vegan, which reduces the carbon footprint of your diet by 70 percent and saves animals' lives.”
Di Leonardo suggested people contact Starbucks and “urge them to encourage customers to choose animal-friendly, vegan milks that are better for the animals, their health and the environment, rather than penalizing them with an additional vegan fee'.
A media representative for Starbucks did not immediately return a request for comment.
