It’s Pink, Perfect, and Super Popular!
PETA Has Kids Screaming … for Vegan Ice Cream
It’s out there, somewhere! PETA’s iScream truck is crossing the US with a mission: to expose the cruel separation of mother cows from their beloved calves while satisfying sweet tooths by giving away thousands of decadent dairy-free delights (strawberry shortcake pops, chocolate fudge pops, and chocolate vanilla ice cream sandwiches from our friends at GoodPop). As one youngster said, “Thank you so much – you made my whole life!”
The truck gets attention wherever it goes, sparking conversations and sometimes courting controversy. In New York, its presence triggered a meltdown in other food truck vendors who tried to block the truck, ran over a PETA staff member’s foot, and shoved people lined up for vegan ice cream. That kerfuffle only made PETA’s scooper troopers more determined, if that’s even possible. They kept right on trucking. Here’s the scoop from their visit to the Sunshine State.
Kids Play Flavorites
At Fort Caroline Elementary School in Jacksonville, Florida, we taught students that mother cows adore their babies and that buying dairy products tears them apart. At this stop, we handed out over 400 dairy-free treats, to rave reviews: “The chocolate is fire!” “Total 10 out of 10!” and “It tastes better than regular ice cream!” Students really lost conetrol during our “Scream Wheel” competition, when the loudest screamer in each class won a coveted Scream Supreme Crown.
One kind kid said, “I’m going to ask my parents to switch to vegan everything.”
Compassion Is Mint to Be
In Sarasota, more than one mother was delighted to discover dairy-free treats that their lactose-intolerant children could safely enjoy – and that they’re readily available in grocery stores. Between the laughs at the Scream Wheel came “aha” moments as parents learned that mother cows spend days frantically calling (lowing) and searching for their babies after they’re snatched away from them and that cows who can will even chase after transport trucks to try to get to them. One father shook his head and told his little girl, “Seriously, kindness counts.”
“It tastes like kindness!” – 6-year-old Stevie at our Jacksonville stop
‘Dairy Is Weird and Gross and Rude’
That was what one child said at a stop in Orlando, where we greeted families at a busy farmers’ market, a beachside playground, a local library, and at other crowded stops. Weird, oh yes! Humans are the only animals who drink the milk of another species and who still drink milk when they’re all grown up. And definitely gross! The very same smelly bacteria found between our toes – Brevibacterium linens – is used in cheeses like Limburger! Rude? Being cruel to others because they aren’t human is downright rude.
No Dairy Queens … or Kings
Many “lords” and “ladies” passed by our impossible-to-miss van on their way into the Hoggetowne Medieval Faire in Gainesville, almost all stopping to pick up ice cream pops, coloring books, and stickers. We had great conversations with the festival crowd, and one “noble” – after hearing the stomach-turning facts about dairy – decided to take his lunch at a vegan eatery instead of grabbing some fast food.
Vegan Treats Lick the Competition
In Mt. Dora, PETA’s mobile ice cream party parked at Florida’s annual Storytelling Festival, in time for the local elementary school’s visit. Camp kids and their counselors made a beeline for the truck. When they’d selected their vegan treats, the whole group screamed for vegan ice cream.
What You Can Do
If PETA’s iScream truck hasn’t got your city on its list of stops, don’t fret! Dairy-free ice creams – as well as vegan cheeses, milks, yogurts, and more – are as close as your supermarket. Educate to liberate, too, by buying some for someone else to try. And please ask Friendly’s to add vegan ice cream to its menu.
Keep your milk, dear little cow.
We have vegan options now.
Open wide, now let’s all scream,
V-E-G-A-N ice cream!
—PETA’s iScream truck jingle
