Morrisons have released a vegan food box but is it too little too late?
As a vegan of almost eighteen months I have to admit I was very happy when I saw all the major supermarkets like Aldi and Morrisons making food boxes available to avoid the stress of a full online shop with all the inevitable faff they come loaded with. However, from the initial launch only a standard meat eaters box was available which was followed shortly after by a vegetarian option but it was ten weeks after the official announcement from the government of a lockdown when a vegan box was made available (the week I am writing this). On top of this delay the vegan box appears so far to be limited to Morrisons meaning Tescos, Aldi, Marks and Spencers and Sainsburys et cetera have all continued to fail to cater for vegans with the same essentials boxes. This may well be due to lack of awareness of a vegan diet but it is clear to see veganism and the vegan community are still seen as a huge minority. It was difficult enough being vegan over the past two months with people panic buying and stock piling a lot of go to vegan food like pasta, beans and rice. An essentials box for vegans should have come sooner. It is very sad to see in this volatile climate where it has been proven by researchers at prestigious institutions such as Oxford University that a plant based or a vegan diet will be the single best thing an individual can do for the planet that the community is still neglected and shunned online on a daily basis. The planet is dying, veganism is the most sustainable diet thus far; these are facts. Here is an option for you- what do you consider to be more important; having a steak or a world with stable weather where you can put your feet down on solid ground and breathe in air your body will respond to?
I'm disappointed in the response to this pandemic. From failing to cater the people actively trying to preserve the planet we live on to stealing the pride logo, the world is failing and its residents are failing it.
Whilst yes, the existence of a vegan food box is absolutely a victory for the world and I'm grateful we are beginning to make ourselves heard. I mean look how many readily available products we have in major supermarkets now-Chicago town pizzas, Richmond sausages, multiple brands selling vegan mayonnaise, flora butter going plant based, our growth as a community has been insane and I am so proud of everyone, I still can't help but feeling a little annoyed. Perhaps I would feel different if it came a fortnight sooner and we weren't in the process of being eased out of lockdown but we are and that just makes this release feel a little after the fact. Thank you Morrisons, you've sure earned some more loyalty from me but damn I wish this could have happened sooner.
On top of this timing issue the actual box itself costs £35 which I don't know about you other vegans but as a student I never spend this much on a weekly shop in fact, I spend the least out of every student I know at my University which completely blows the myth of veganism being inaccessible due to its expenses out of the water. Additionally, from the picture they released the contents are mostly made up of fruit and vegetables such as peppers, carrots, potatoes, onions and apples, all of which are considerably cheap items. A packet of Lotus biscoff biscuits also appear to be included as well as some form of vegan rice cracker, again both of these are notoriously cheap items together all of this would not exceed ten pounds. I see five 'luxury' more pricey items in this box; vegan cheese, sausages, Mozerella sticks (which I know for a fact cost between £2.50 and £3), meatless farm company mince and a small unclear item marked with Morrisons own range vegan stamp which again, is known amongst vegans as being favoured for its cheap price point.
In a nutshell, the timing of the box is not to be applauded but its existence and Morrisons as a supermarket is and, the contents let this box down even more than the timing. Thank you for trying Morrisons, better late than never.
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| Here is the box in question (image obtained from Vegan food uk) |
I'm disappointed in the response to this pandemic. From failing to cater the people actively trying to preserve the planet we live on to stealing the pride logo, the world is failing and its residents are failing it.
Whilst yes, the existence of a vegan food box is absolutely a victory for the world and I'm grateful we are beginning to make ourselves heard. I mean look how many readily available products we have in major supermarkets now-Chicago town pizzas, Richmond sausages, multiple brands selling vegan mayonnaise, flora butter going plant based, our growth as a community has been insane and I am so proud of everyone, I still can't help but feeling a little annoyed. Perhaps I would feel different if it came a fortnight sooner and we weren't in the process of being eased out of lockdown but we are and that just makes this release feel a little after the fact. Thank you Morrisons, you've sure earned some more loyalty from me but damn I wish this could have happened sooner.
On top of this timing issue the actual box itself costs £35 which I don't know about you other vegans but as a student I never spend this much on a weekly shop in fact, I spend the least out of every student I know at my University which completely blows the myth of veganism being inaccessible due to its expenses out of the water. Additionally, from the picture they released the contents are mostly made up of fruit and vegetables such as peppers, carrots, potatoes, onions and apples, all of which are considerably cheap items. A packet of Lotus biscoff biscuits also appear to be included as well as some form of vegan rice cracker, again both of these are notoriously cheap items together all of this would not exceed ten pounds. I see five 'luxury' more pricey items in this box; vegan cheese, sausages, Mozerella sticks (which I know for a fact cost between £2.50 and £3), meatless farm company mince and a small unclear item marked with Morrisons own range vegan stamp which again, is known amongst vegans as being favoured for its cheap price point.
In a nutshell, the timing of the box is not to be applauded but its existence and Morrisons as a supermarket is and, the contents let this box down even more than the timing. Thank you for trying Morrisons, better late than never.
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