Vegan First

April 3, 2026 People are reading labels more carefully, questioning what they consume and moving toward plant-based choices - not just for diet, but for how they live too. For the vegan community, this mindset isn’t new. But there’s one plant that sits at the intersection of sustainability, wellness, and science and still carries more misunderstanding than clarity. Cannabis.

February 12, 2026 Oatly, the popular oat drink beverage, has gotten into trouble in the United Kingdom. The visionary Swedish brand filed a petition back in 2021 to trademark the slogan ‘post-milk generation’. However, British dairy farmers opposed this move, claiming that the term ‘milk’ should only be used for products that come from animals, citing rather outdated trademark laws. Although the High Court, in 2024, had ruled in favour of Oatly.

FMCG giant Marico has expanded its portfolio of digital-first, plant-based protein brands by acquiring a 60% stake in Indian startup Cosmix for INR 226 crore. It is a remarkable outcome for Cosmix, which was started in 2019 by Vibha Harish and Soorya Jagdish with an initial capital of INR 20 lakh, and was completely bootstrapped. The remaining 40% stake will be acquired by Marico over the next three years, valuing Cosmix at an impressive INR 375 crore.

February 11, 2026 FMCG giants Marico have expanded their portfolio of digital-first, plant-based protein brands by acquiring a 60% stake in Indian startup, Cosmix worth INR 226 crore. It is a remarkable outcome for Cosmix, which was started in 2019 by Vibha Harish and Soorya Jagdish at an initial capital of INR 20 lakh, going completely bootstrapped. The rest of the 40% stake will be bought out by Marico over the next 3 years, valuing Cosmix at an impressive INR 375 crore.

January 22, 2026 We have some great news for our lovely vegan family in India! The New Year has kicked off with a moment which clearly proves that HoReCa can champion the cause of making vegan food mainstream in the country. Gooddot has done an industry-first by entering into a 1-month partnership with the iconic Hilton Hotels, for a special mock meat menu from January 13 to February 13, 2026.

January 7, 2026 In a landmark move for animal welfare, Flanders—the Dutch-speaking region of Belgium—has officially banned the sale of live animals, marking a significant shift in how animals are legally recognised and protected in Europe. The decision reinforces a growing global consensus: animals are not commodities, and selling them as products causes preventable suffering.

A new Animal Welfare Board in Jammu and Kashmir is music to our ears, as India’s fight against animal cruelty intensifies. The board has been commissioned by the state’s Lieutenant Governor (LG), Manoj Sinha with the support of India’s ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). It will be headed by the Union Territory’s (UT) current Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah.

Imagine if you were, without any warning whatsoever, burnt alive in boiling hot water no fault of yours! This is the fate every lobster has been suffering in the United Kingdom, until now. The UK government has finally outlawed this outdated practice, ahead of a much-awaited reveal of their National Food Strategy and Farming Vision in 2026.

Vegan First was proud to be the official Category Partner at the Global Youth Festival (GYF) 2025. It was a first-of-its-kind event in Mumbai held at Jio World Garden, Bandra Kurla Complex from December 6-7, 2025. GYF was the brainchild of Gurudev, also known as Pujya Gurudevshri Rakeshji, who is the founder of Shrimad Rajachandra Mission Dharampur (SRMD).

When India leads the way in reducing animal consumption, it is something for the rest of the world to look up to. In July 2024, Gujarat declared Palitana a ‘Holy City’, a first-of-its-kind move in the country, banning the use, sale and consumption of meats, seafood and eggs. The push for religious and spiritual tourism has gotten stronger for sure, with Punjab following suit now.