031123 As Beef Demand Soars, A Plug for Vegan

An activist animal "rights" group says vegan food has gone mainstream, and to thank the companies that helped make it happen, the group is handing out what it calls "Proggy Awards" - "proggy" being a shortened form of the word "progress."

"Enjoying traditional American favorites no longer has to cost an animal an arm-or a wing-and a leg," said Joe Haptas, a campaign coordinator for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

PETA said ten of the thirty awards will go to companies that have "forged a revolution in vegan alternatives to meat, cheese, and dairy products that have it all over the 'real' thing." Those products, including Gardenburger, appear on many grocery shelves.

The winners will get a plaque to display in their offices and special mention on PETA's website.

Coincidentally, PETA's awards come at a time when beef prices have hit an all-time high. According to press reports, wholesale beef prices haven't been this high for decades, and grocery stores and restaurants are raising their own beef prices to keep up.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association said cattle prices were almost 50 percent higher in October of this year than they were in October 2002.

Strong demand is driving the beef-price increases. Recent press reports said some of the demand may stem from Americans who have put themselves on high-protein diets.

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