Exploits of a Vegan Wannabe

On 4/29 Sherry blogged about Silk non-dairy products and a letter that appeared in Veg News criticizing Silk and their parent company, Dean Foods.   She promised to share more when we had further information available. So, here is some more insight.

During the Vegan Retreat we had the opportunity to inquire about Silk and Dean Foods to get another perspective from someone who is more in the know than us, Nicole from PETA.

First, it is correct that Silk is  owned by Dean Foods, the leading producer of  dairy products in the country and the second largest dairy producer in the world.  In the past, Dean’s practices in production of dairy and the practices of some of their suppliers have come into question.  In 2002 they purchased WhiteWave, creators of Silk products. So, do we purchase Silk products or boycott them all together?

Silk products are now mainstream, found in nearly every classic grocery store. They have an abundant selection of vegan dairy replacement products. One of our favorites happens to be their coffee creamer, which we appreciate using in our morning ritual of coffee consumption.     Yes, there are coconut milk creamer options too, but when you run out, you’re out and the local Kroger or mainstream grocery store is likely to be open when the closest health food store is not.

When faced with this situation, our new Vegan Retreat friend shared that there is more than one way to look at the Dean Foods/Silk issue.  Naturally, you could boycott them as some people choose to do.  OR, you could consider that a large dairy producing organization has defined and operates a profitable niche that creates a host of compassionate products and revenue stream for them.

If you follow the model of supply and demand, as Deans Foods  has more demand for Silk products, they will invest more in those products and produce more of it, hence representing more of their focus and portfolio. It ultimately lessens their dairy focus and may increase their interest and production of non-dairy, assuming the market demands it.

So, we think of it this way, if faced with the choice and you have the option of an equivalent soy or almond milk product that is offered by an entirely compassionate company, choose that one.  If you can only find Silk or are trying to help others get on the veggie band wagon and they are comfortable with Silk, than buy the darn Silk product. If we show Dean Foods that these products are in demand and profitable, they will invest more in  producing Silk products, thereby expanding the availability and mainstream-ness of going dairy free.

Vote with your wallet, to make yourself heard.

Here is the original 4/29 blog entry from Sherry for reference:   http://www.exploitsofaveganwannabe.com/2010/04/soy-coffee-creamer/

Note from Sherry*

I asked Sandy to write about today’s topic. I have a really bad toothache and am highly mediated. We talked about this alot on the retreat and since. We can just make the very best choices we can on a day to day basis. Seek out more truths and share them as we find them. In the meantime, lets continue to show those around us how easy it is to consume compassionately, even if that means leading them in gently with Silk products because they have seen them a million times. I think that is still changing the world one meal (or glass of soy milk) at a time.

Thank you Sandy.

Have a delicious day.

*Additional Dean foods info from www.sourcewatch.org

Tags: 30 day challenge, compassionate eating, dairy free, Dean Foods, going veg, Silk soy milk, trying vegan, trying vegetarian, vegan, vegan challenge, vegan experience