The Vegan Society has commended the National Trust for its inclusive decision to sell dairy-free scones amid criticism accusing the Trust of “too much wokery”.
The National Trust has, this week, been forced to defend their decision to sell vegan scones at their sites around the country. Critics have condemned the use of dairy-free spread in place of butter in the National Trust’s scone recipe, calling it “too much wokery”. The National Trust have responded, saying that their scones have been made without butter for many years, a decision that The Vegan Society has praised.
In a letter penned to the National Trust’s Director General, Hilary McGrady, Vegan Society CEO Steve Hamon says that the choice is “inclusive”, explaining that “serving scones that are made with vegetable-based spread, as opposed to dairy, makes them suitable for a wide range of people including both vegans, non-vegans and possibly those with dairy intolerances... as well as being a better choice for the environment and animals.”
The choice to serve options that are free-from animal products is an excellent decision for caterers and restaurateurs. Plant-based products are not exclusively for vegans; in fact, they’re suitable for most diets and religions, and often constitute an acceptable food option for all.
Offering vegan options in cafés, restaurants and pubs makes clear commercial sense, and the National Trust is an excellent example of this. The choice to include vegan options as standard opens up the potential market not only to hundreds of thousands of vegans in Britain, but also to vegetarians, the huge number of meat and dairy reducers, followers of certain religious groups, the health-conscious, and those who simply want to enjoy some vegan food.
Applauding the National Trust for their efforts, The Vegan Society has suggested that they may want to consider certification with the society’s Vegan Trademark. Independent vegan accreditation gives consumers confidence that their purchases don’t include any animal ingredients, with a Vegan Society survey of primarily non-meat eating adults in November 2023 showing that 89% look for vegan certification logos when buying food and drink products for the first time [1].
Find out more about the Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark.
[1] According to Attest surveys completed online for The Vegan Society of 1000 UK and 1000 US primarily non-meat eating adults in November 2023, 89% look for vegan certification logos on the packaging and/or promotional material when buying food and drink products for the first time.
