Company of the Year:
Dean Foods own, White Wave, manufacturer of Silk soy milk and other healthy, humane, delicious soy products, including vegan yogurt, baked tofu, and seitan, and is propelling vegetarian products into the mainstream marketplace like no other company. Silk is now the official soy milk of Starbucks-a first for a soy-based beverage. It is widely available in grocery stores nationwide and is the most recognized and popular brand of soy milk around-thanks to the efforts of Dean Foods, White Wave's parent company. Despite having only a fraction of the advertising budget of the dairy industry, Silk has found its way onto popular TV shows, into movies, and even into a taste test on Dateline NBC, where testers found that it was tastier than cow's milk.
Since its 1996 release, Silk has been taking over refrigerators and breakfast tables across North America. What makes Silk soy milk so special? Maybe it's the amazing flavor of a truly healthy and humane beverage. Maybe it's the total smooth creaminess. Maybe it's the vanilla, chocolate, coffee, chai, and soy latte varieties. There are many great reasons to drink Silk, but only one Company of the Year Proggy Award, and White Wave is certainly deserving of this year's honor for its success in mainstreaming vegan foods across America.
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Breakthrough Award:
Here at PETA, we believe that the only way to completely eliminate the cruelty involved in meat production is to go vegan, but we still believe that Burger King deserves major kudos for taking measurable steps toward improving the lives of millions of animals.
The company has agreed to hold its suppliers accountable for upgraded standards of animal welfare, exceeding those set by McDonald's, and has petitioned the U.S. Department of Agriculture to enforce the Humane Slaughter Act.
Best of all, Burger King has become the first fast-food restaurant in America to add a veggie burger, the BK Veggie (also available in Europe and Canada), to its menu. In doing so, the company has opened the industry to a vast new market of healthy, animal-friendly fast food. Compared to a Whopper's 43 grams of fat and 710 calories, the BK Veggie (hold the mayo) has only 7 grams of fat and fewer than 300 calories. Now it's a snap for vegans and vegetarians to find affordable fast food and for others to discover how delicious, nutritious, and humane vegetarian food is.
"Surveys showed over 41 percent of heavy burger users are very interested in and would buy a veggie burger."
-Jeff Bonasia, senior director of product marketing, Burger King
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Best Animal-Friendly Retailer:
Trader Joe's lives up to its promise to be a "unique grocery store with foods from the exotic to the basic." It offers a stunningly wide selection of healthy vegetarian foods and cruelty-free products, including its very own brand, at prices that consistently undercut the competition. At Trader Joe's, you'll find everything from meat-free meatballs and unique frozen vegetarian foods to organic fruits and veggies, animal companion products, and cruelty-free toiletries. Soy-Um, the retailer's own brand of chocolate and vanilla soy milk, is one of the best-tasting nondairy milks around. Trader Joe's recently made animal-friendly shoppers even happier by announcing that it will no longer be selling duck meat because of the inhumane conditions that ducks who are raised for meat endure.
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Pioneer of the Year:
Winner: Jeanne Daniels of Tarrytown Shopping Center, Austin, Texas
Jeanne Daniels is one of the most compassionate business owners we know. She has turned her Tarrytown Shopping Center in Austin, Texas, into a mall with a mission. She gives free space to animal rights displays, such as those that educate the public about veganism or discourage the use of elephants in circuses. She has commissioned art that promotes spaying and neutering companion animals, and she encourages all the businesses in her shopping center to make compassionate choices rather than those that support cruelty to animals. "Jeanne Daniels is an animal-protection champion," says Ingrid Newkirk, PETA's president and founder. "The future will see her firmly placed among this era's truly great souls and visionaries."
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Courage in Commerce Award:
Winner: Carol House Furniture, St. Louis, Missouri
At Carol House,  furniture never costs you-or the cows-an arm and a leg. After 40 lucrative years of leather-upholstered chair and sofa sales, the owners of the largest independent furniture chain in Missouri stopped selling animal skins last year. The Dubmans, the courageous brother and sister team that owns the store, learned that animals are often skinned alive to make leather and decided to turn to durable, stylish synthetics instead.
"We made our decision for ethical reasons, but I think it makes good business sense, too," says owner Brook Dubman. "Today's luxurious synthetics have the feel and durability that consumers demand without costing a cow an arm and a leg."
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"Thinking Outside the Pizza Box" Award:
Talk about being ahead of the game! Pizza Hut of Ft. Wayne's 44 restaurants in Indiana and Ohio now offer a "Lite Bite" menu featuring pizzas with soy cheese. Galaxy Nutritional Foods' Veggie® mozzarella contains zero fat, cholesterol, and lactose and is packed with soy protein. Customers are thrilled about the healthy, humane alternative to traditional mozzarella cheese, which is loaded with fat and cholesterol.
"I can't imagine that it won't be popular," says one satisfied customer. "If you're looking for healthy, this is the way to go." And popular it is! The test market indicated that repeat sales of Veggie® mozzarella were extremely high-with a 64 percent repeat-purchase rate compared to the 30 percent average for the packaged-goods industry. Angelo S. Morini, Galaxy's president, stated, "The early success of this important test is a strong indicator that there is a mega-trend in foodservice toward the nutritional or functional food category. It is only a matter of time before many other fast food companies offer similar fare."
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"Positive Animal Advertising" Award (Tie):
In this heartwarming and suspenseful commercial, an Inuit Eskimo parks his Jeep, walks over to a young seal pup, raises a harpoon high above his head … and smashes a hole in the ice, allowing the baby seal to return to her mother. Cheers to Jeep for a brilliant and touching ad that delivers a clear message of compassion.
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Two of our winning commercials come from Kodak. The company that says, "Share moments. Share life," also shares lessons of compassion through its ads. Every puppy and kitten purchased from a pet shop or breeder means certain death for an animal in a shelter, so we give big kudos to Kodak for promoting the adoption of shelter animals through its touching, lifesaving "Animal Shelter" ad. In the first of the company's two winning ads, a shelter volunteer uses a Kodak picture CD to e-mail pictures of a dog who is in need of a loving home. Her efforts pay off when a young boy and his parents adopt the dog into their family.
Kodak tells another wonderful story in its "Lobster Pet" commercial. This time, children who are horrified by their mother's plan to boil live lobsters are able to persuade their parents to release the animals back into the ocean. Congratulations to Kodak for using its ads to spread important messages of kindness.
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Best Line of Cruelty-Free Personal Care Products:
We love Kiss My Face-and not just because it has a cute name. The founders of Kiss My Face, which started on an organic farm in upstate New York, believe that what goes on your body is just as important as what goes in it.
The company's soaps, shampoos, moisturizers, and shower gels don't contain any artificial colors or unnecessary chemicals, but they're packed with ingredients, like natural botanicals and essential oils, that are good for you and for the environment.
And, of course, Kiss My Face never tests its products on animals.
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Runner-Up: Lush
If you want skin-care products that are fresher than those cooked up by the folks at Lush, you'll have to make them yourself. Lush takes fresh fruits and vegetables, essential oils, and safe synthetics and turns them into some of the most delicious bath bombs, soaps, massage bars, lotions, and potions on the planet. With more than 175 shops worldwide, you'll find Lush addicts around the globe. Best of all, Lush makes its lovely products without forcing chemicals into animals' eyes or down their throats. To assist caring customers, Lush even marks its vegan goods (that's most of them) with a can't-miss green "V."
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The mission of Jason Natural Cosmetics is to make the best, most effective natural products available. This diverse cruelty-free cosmetics line-featuring everything from serious sunblocks to fun stuff like wash-in/wash-out color-enhancing shampoos-comes courtesy of Mother Nature. All of Jason's body butters, shaving lotions, soaps, and shampoos are full of vitamin-rich organic flowers, roots, and herbs. With so much good stuff in each bottle, there's no room for drying alcohols, mineral oils, artificial colors, or animal byproducts.
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Best Cruelty-Free Outdoor Shoe: Garmont
Durable? You bet! "Garmonts do the job … and then some," raves one serious mountaineer who claims to have taken these shoes to hell and back. Whether you're trekking through the muddiest, hilliest forest or tearing up the skate park on your board, Garmonts' synthetic Nagev (vegan spelled backwards) line and its Vegan Hiker are off the charts. We love Garmont because its designers know that animals shouldn't be skinned for a pair of sneakers and because it makes finding cruelty-free outdoor footwear a walk in the park.
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Best Animal-Friendly Luxury Fashion:
These progressive animal-free furs will keep your conscience clear while they keep your body warm. They're made from Kanecaron, a luxuriously silky, soft, and sensuous high-tech acrylic fiber. So throw out grandma's moth-ridden mink, and join the 21st century with this modern fabric that will pamper your body and ease your mind.
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Best Line of Animal-Friendly Erotic Products:
Salt Lake City's Vegan Erotica is whipping up support for nonleather products-one ankle restraint at a time. The online sex shop specializes in sexy synthetic collars, harnesses, floggers, and other custom-made bondage gear that takes the cow out of cower. All of Vegan Erotica's offerings are made from sleek, sexy black pleather imported from Italy. Compassionate Casanovas will also want to stock up on the site's vegan condoms and cruelty-free lubricants, which have been safety tested without harming animals. Vegan Erotica is a huge hit with those who think that animal suffering is a turnoff.
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Best Line of Cruelty-Free Casual Shoes:
Shoe maven Steve Madden is showing the world that compassion is the fashion. The creative designer dishes up enough cruelty-free footwear-from boots and bowlers to sandals and sneaks-to make Imelda Marcos green with envy. His cutting-edge styles use innovative animal-friendly materials like microfiber, pulsar, Paris, and rubber. Fear not, fashionistas, you can dress to kill without killing animals.
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Best Cruelty-Free Shoe Retailer:
New York City retailer Moo Shoes' motto is, "You can't have fashion without compassion," and we couldn't agree more! Moo Shoes guarantees stylish, high-quality leather-free shoes, and just about every PETA panelist can vouch for the fact that the company's shoes are to die for! Moo Shoes keeps the cows off your feet with sizzling styles-from hardcore hiking boots to saucy stilettos-making it easy for you to "pleather yourself."
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Best Leather-Replacement Clothing Product:
From fun and fashion-forward to button-up business, Truth has a belt and bag for every occasion. Made with natural and animal-free materials, these accessories have class without cruelty. If you're feeling bold, pick a belt from the Virtue line. If it's a subdued look that you seek, check out the Vice line. However you choose to accessorize, Truth will set your closet free!
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Best Animal-Friendly Video Game:
Deer Avenger 4, the fourth installment in the series by Simon & Schuster, provides a full arsenal of high-tech weaponry to the deer. Never mind that rednecks do get their chance at revenge in this sequel-we still like it because, as Bambo, players can take their revenge on hunters using the deer's wits, guns, and magnum of hilarious "calls." This game is a blast and would be a great addition to any animal defender's game collection.
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Best New Vegetarian Food Product:
The new line of sausages by Turtle Island Foods represents a major step in faux meat innovation and blurs the line between meat and soy more than ever before. Our panel enjoyed all three sausages immensely, but our favorite was the sweet Italian sausage with sun-dried tomatoes, which we loved for both its fabulously good taste and its versatility. The beer brat brings microbrewed goodness to the grill (or tailgate party). Add some sauerkraut and mustard, slap it all on a hoagie roll, and kiss those carnivorous longings goodbye.
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Best New Faux Meat Product:
Gardenburger's Meatless Breakfast Sausage, with its tempting maple aroma and delicious taste, is a morning staple for people who don't want to keel over from a heart condition during their morning run. A few minutes in the oven or toaster, and these bad boys are good to go. Our panelists unanimously found that, with a side serving of pancakes, this rib-sticking veggie sausage is sure to do the job for meat-eaters and vegetarians alike.
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"I live off of these!" exclaimed one bachelor on our panel. He tosses them onto sandwiches and subs, puts them on his pasta, dips them in guacamole, and eats them unadorned, right out of the oven. With three varieties to choose from, there is a Nate's Meatless Meatball to suit your every meatball need.
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Drenched with tangy barbeque sauce, these "meaty" riblets are a favorite among the panelists and their meat-eating friends and family. As they walk past the office kitchen, PETA staff members can often be heard saying, "Mmm, smells good. Is someone making riblets?" Riblets can be eaten straight out of the microwave, sliced on a sandwich, or cooked up on the grill. Any way you look at it, they're a snap to prepare and a delight to devour.
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Best New Nondairy Food Product:
Don't get us wrong, we love cheese-free pizza loaded with sauce and tons of veggie toppings, but give us a pizza with gooey, melted vegan cheese, and we're in heaven! Whether you dumped dairy 15 years ago or just yesterday, you'll love this animal-friendly alternative to cheese. Grate the mozzarella onto pizza, melt the spicy nacho flavor over tortilla chips, or slap some cheddar between two slices of bread for a grilled–cheese sandwich just like mom used to make.
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"These pizzas are great for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late-night snacks," raved one member of our panel. If you think that all frozen pizzas taste like the cardboard boxes that they come in, Tofutti's Pizza Pizzaz-with its crisp pan crust, tangy tomato sauce, and melt-in-your-mouth mozzarella soy cheese-will definitely change your mind!
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If you want to avoid a summertime meltdown, you can't beat the cool, creamy goodness of Soy Delicious Cookie Sandwiches, nondairy "nice cream" sandwiched between two chocolate cookies. These vegan treats are rich and velvety like the "real thing," but they have zero cholesterol and about half the fat-and, of course, they're cow-friendly. Whether you choose basic, blissful vanilla or irresistible chocolate, Soy Delicious Cookie Sandwiches will soon be your family's new warm-weather favorite.
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Best Vegetarian Snack Product:
These cookies are the best cookies on grocery-store shelves-no kidding! The only problem with Uncle Eddie's cookies is learning how to resist eating an entire bag in one sitting!
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These portable vegan "beef" sticks offer protein in a pinch! A U.S. marine on our panel liked these so much that he packed 100 of them for his trip to the Gulf!
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These zingy, chicken-free buffalo wings are the perfect party food! They're soft, tender, and have a real kick. They're easy to prepare, too! Just pop them into the oven for a few minutes and dig in. Unlike dead-chicken buffalo wings, your hands won't be covered in grease after you eat these, and we promise that even the most die-hard meat eater will love them (we've checked).
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Most Vegetarian-Friendly National Restaurant Chain:
P.F. Chang's China Bistro is the future of dining in America. The rapidly expanding chain's ambience is hip and upbeat yet relaxing. Twelve tasty vegetarian items are marked on the menu for easy identification, and the restaurant is more than willing to customize any dish for vegetarians and vegans. Firm, marinated tofu can be substituted for meat, and even the most ardent meat-eater won't complain. The vegetarian items are significantly cheaper than the meat entrees, too!
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Best Vegetarian Item at a Restaurant Chain:
P.F. Chang's Vegetarian Wraps are not to be missed. Wok-seared tofu, red onions, water chestnuts with mint and lime, and a tangy sauce are wrapped into fresh lettuce cups for a unique, refreshing taste. This popular appetizer is savory and "meaty" on the inside and crisp and cool on the outside-the perfect start to a truly satisfying meal at this wonderful chain!
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Best Animal-Friendly Movie:
This fantastic movie is so animal-friendly, you'd think that we wrote the script ourselves! Reese Witherspoon stars as Elle, an optimistic lawyer who believes that one person really can make a difference.
When Elle goes looking for the mother of her Chihuahua, Bruiser, she discovers that Bruiser's mom is a "subject" in a laboratory that tests cosmetics on animals. In one scene, Elle and Bruiser are horrified to see the dog strapped into a restraining device inside the laboratory. The lab technician informs Elle that Bruiser's mom is the "legal property" of the lab and snidely acknowledges that the dog "isn't volunteering."
Devastated, Elle sets out to pass "Bruiser's Bill," a ban on cosmetic testing. When her colleagues refuse to help, and she loses her job, Elle takes her fight to Washington, D.C. While on Capitol Hill, she holds a "Million Dog March" and educates everyone she meets about animal testing. In court, Elle argues that animals react differently to drugs and substances than humans do and asks members of Congress if they would want their animal companions to be used to test cosmetics.
Throughout the movie, Elle makes references to veganism, orders lattes with soy milk, and says that the products at her salon are "PETA-approved." Even though Legally Blonde 2 deals with a sad, serious subject, it does so in an uplifting, fun way that ultimately educates and advocates on behalf of our animal friends.
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Finding Nemo is the fish's Babe or Chicken Run. This adorable Disney/Pixar film is great fun for people of all ages and definitely gave Legally Blonde 2 a run for its money with our panelists. It's a charming fish-friendly flick with a strong message: Fish belong in their natural environments, not in tanks.
The movie follows the adventures of a fish named Marlin as he tries to reunite with his son, Nemo, who was ripped from his ocean home and plopped into a tank in a dentist's office. Gill, another fish trapped in the tank, tells Nemo that "fish aren't meant to be in a box, kid. It does things to ya." In one fabulous scene, after a group of fish have been netted by a fishing boat, the fish work together to "swim down" in order to tip the boat, break the net, and escape. In another scene, sharks are heard uttering PETA's pro-fish slogan, "Fish are friends, not food," as they try to break themselves of their lust for flesh.
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PETA parents have A-listed this animal-friendly flick, which tells the story of a strong, determined stallion named Spirit, who is captured by the U.S. Cavalry as they conquer the West.
Spirit escapes-not once, not twice, but three times!-before his archenemy, an army commander, finally bows out, allowing Spirit to return to his family. Spirit combines 2- and 3-dimensional graphics with panoramic images and fluid, swooping "camera" movements, giving it the feel of a non-animated film. Vegetarian Bryan Adams' musical score layers the film with even more emotion, making this inspiring adventure of courage, friendship, and freedom a personal favorite of one PETA staffer and mom, who raves that it's the one movie she's glad to sit and watch again and again (and again) with her little one.
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Best Children's Book (Tie):
This well-written, touching story about a cow and a boy guides the reader through the life of a cow who is being raised for slaughter. Through the story, children learn about Emily, a cow who has been separated from her family, confined, and forced to endure many hardships. This tale, written from the point of view of both the cow and the boy, not only persuades readers to sympathize with animals, but also makes readers feel proud about standing up for those who cannot speak for themselves. Saving Emily can be used to help teach children that we should transform the natural affection that we have for animals into compassionate everyday action.
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Humorous family dynamics take a new twist, and stereotypes are shattered in this beautifully illustrated, witty story of a family of turkeys that learns about the hidden side of the holidays. While his parents cluck with pride over their eldest son's physical prowess, scrawny but clever Runt realizes that these traits are liabilities, not assets. Readers will laugh their way through this enlightening story as they learn that holidays aren't for the birds.
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Best Animal-Friendly Toy or Game:
Set a heroic example for kids! Rescue Hero action figure Ariel Flyer carries a special rescue pack for injured animals. The Rescue Heroes Pet Rescue Board Game teaches children about working together to save animal companions in need. These toys show kids that animal advocates are their own brand of heroes.
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These plush animals aren't just cute and cuddly-they offer messages of kindness, too! Squeeze Simon the cow, and he'll share his words of wisdom, "Live and Let Live." Cute little Duncan the pig also comes with his own compassionate suggestion for little people.
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This award-winning kit allows kids to keep a record of their animal companion's growth and development, highlighting their companion's place as an important member of the family. Kids design their "baby" book with pictures, journal entries, and mementos, then return the finished scrapbook to the company for laser replication. The end result is a sleek, professionally prepared book that will last for generations and teach children compassion and respect for the animals in their family.
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Book of the Year:
Matthew Scully is a speechwriter for George W. Bush, and his oratorical skills shine in this treatise on compassion toward animals. Scully is a gifted writer, and his description of hog farms is as good an indictment of the cruelties of factory farms as exists in the English language. This book has moved staunch conservatives such as Pat Buchanan and Charles Colson, and it will move you, too-regardless of your political or religious leanings.
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Novel of the Year:
Not for the weak-of-heart (or stomach), this book by the author of Fight Club provides often discomfiting but darkly amusing and insightful social commentary. Palahniuk, a vegan animal rights activist with a unique style of his own, weaves descriptions of factory farms and other animal abuses snuggly into Lullaby's storyline, so readers can learn about veganism as they enjoy the ride.
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Best Wildlife-Friendly Product (Tie):
This amazing innovation helps caring communities with beaver problems. The knee-jerk response of trapping and killing beavers who build their homes in culverts doesn't hold water, so The Beaver Stop, manufactured by FSI Culvert Inc., has provided a great humane alternative. The device, which prevents the obstruction of culvert inlets and allows water to flow freely without harming beavers, has already been installed in more than 4,000 culverts across North America. The Beaver Stop makes it easier than ever to peacefully coexist with beavers.
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Don't let Prince Charming drown in your swimming pool! Frogs and other small animals who become trapped in pools swim around the edge in search of escape, often to no avail, but this "lily pad" gives them the leg up that they need to escape. The Frog Saver Lily Pad is an easy, inexpensive way to show compassion for your backyard visitors.
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Musician of the Year:
Although members of So Cal's ska-punk band Goldfinger have garnered a reputation as hard-rocking road warriors, lead singer, John Feldmann, has a soft spot for animals. John, a vegan and outspoken animal advocate, recorded a radio PSA-which is available on PETA's youth-oriented Web site, peta2.com-urging his legions of young fans to stop eating the "garbage" being fed to them by the meat industry and "start thinking for yourselves." He has liberated lobsters from supermarket tanks and helped organize a protest at an L.A. circus. John also recently recorded a message on PETA's fur hotline, asking people to "get rid of the unsightly hair on [their] back[s]" by donating their unwanted fur coats to PETA. Goldfinger's Open Your Eyes CD includes a bonus video track, "Free Me," dedicated to animals who have been killed for meat. Every week, PETA hears from teens who have gone vegan and are getting active for animals after seeing the video for "Free Me" on peta2.com. John also plays animal rights videos and distributes literature at all Goldfinger's concerts, delivers "shout outs" about animal liberation while onstage, and signs vegetarian starter kits for eager fans.
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Best New Cookbook (Tie):
Thanks to Robin Robertson's mouth-watering "meat and potatoes" recipes, new vegetarians won't miss meat at all. Her cookbook proves that giving up meat doesn't mean giving up the foods that you love. Even the most ardent carnivore will be fooled by the hearty, delicious stews, casseroles, and pot pies in this book. In addition to classics like "Chicken-Fried Steak," you'll find an amazing array of international fare and decadent desserts. Don't miss the recipe for Chocolate Eclipse Cake!
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Lorna has a true talent for combining flavors, textures, and colors to create food that looks as good as it tastes. This rich, inviting book offers 250 cholesterol-free vegetarian recipes that will tempt your taste buds from the first, fantastic course to the last, satisfying bite of dessert.
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Best Animal-Friendly Home-Design Innovation:
Update your home décor the humane way with Pottery Barn's classic chairs and luxurious bedding made from Everydaysuede, a remarkable, machine-washable microfiber. With the look and feel of the skin-based version, there's only one thing missing from Pottery Barn's Everydaysuede-the cruelty. Thanks to Pottery Barn for developing this sensational synthetic.
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Best Animal-Friendly Home Accessory:
Now people who are down about down comforters can sleep well, knowing that no animals were harmed or killed for this cozy Natural Balance Comforter. This comforter is light yet warm and gives you a feeling that's so snug and secure that you won't miss down for one minute.
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Best Line of Cruelty-Free Household Products:
Seventh Generation offers a line of non-toxic, environmentally safe household products-including super-absorbent paper towels and crystal-clear glass cleaner-that rival their more expensive, more damaging, conventional alternatives. According to one member of our panel, "I've tried a million and one different kinds of detergents, and they all left my skin feeling irritated-Seventh Generation doesn't make my skin or my conscience itch!"
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