Whole Foods is selling stuffed vegan seitan turkeys for the holidays.
The “turkey” features vegan meat by the Herbivorous Butcher, a plant-based butcher shop based in Minneapolis.
Whole Foods will offer vegan turkey as part of an all-vegan feast for four people. It will also offer “Mac and Yease” in the feast. The vegan mac ‘n’ cheese is currently available on Whole Foods’ hot bars in select locations.
According to Corey Smith — prepared foods coordinator for Whole Foods Markets Southern Pacific region — “Mac & Yease is one of the best Southern-style, baked vegan macaroni and cheeses.” He said in a statement last year, “It’s actually very similar in flavor to traditional dairy-based macaroni and cheese.”
The full vegan spread will be available to pre-order online from 62 stores in the Southern Pacific region from the beginning of November.
If you’re outside of this area, you could still get your hands on a vegan Herbivorous Butcher turkey. The brand is also offering its own Turkey-Free Feast.
Herbivorous Butcher can ship the feast — which includes a vegan Stuffed Turkey, a Butternut Squasage, meatloaf, herbed feta, and pesto Havarti — anywhere in the U.S., as well as Puerto Rico.
Why Choose a Vegan Turkey?
It’s estimated that every year, around 45 million turkeys are slaughtered ahead of Thanksgiving. Many of these birds never set foot outdoors. They are also housed in cramped conditions. According to Farm Sanctuary, one building can house up to 10,000 birds, with less than four square feet of space per turkey.
Last year, a number of celebrities — including Kaley Cuoco and Kevin Smith — urged people to ditch turkey from their table during the holidays.
“The majority of these birds are raised on factory farms, which are linked to numerous environmental problems hurting us and our planet,” Cuoco said in a video for Farm Sanctuary.“Try something new, take the turkey off your plate and sponsor one instead.”
Smith also appeared in a video for the organization, alongside his daughter Harley Quinn Smith. Together, they petted two turkeys, while encouraging people to ditch meat.
Smith said, “you’re always told by older people it’s OK to eat animals, we’re supposed to eat animals. And, you know, for a long time, that’s what my generation believed. Now we know a lot better.”
