Papa John’s Wins Major Award For Its Vegan Pizza As Demand Surges

Papa John’s The Vegan Works pizza has won a major award.

The pizza giant launched the dish in January this year, as companies announced their Veganuary offerings.

Papa John’s Vegan Works is topped with plant-based sausage, jackfruit pepperoni, portobello mushrooms, green peppers, onions, and black Herrera olives.

Vegan pizza

The Vegan Works scooped the Best Vegan Pizza gong in advocacy organization PETA’s eighth annual Vegan Food Awards. (A category PETA describes as ‘coveted’).

The awards feature 24 categories. This year, as a result of the pandemic, the charity allocated most prizes to products which are ‘social distancing–friendly’.

For instance, this includes options that are ‘available to grab and go, as takeaway, or for delivery’.

Vegan winners

Other products to scoop awards include KFC’s Vegan Burger. Tesco Plant Chef picked up the gong for Best Vegan Range. Richmond Meat-Free Sausages were deemed to be the Best Vegan Sausage.

Nando’s Vegan PERInaise scooped Best Vegan Mayo, OGGS Victoria Sponge Cakes were awarded Best Vegan Cake.

Other winners include Pukka (Best Vegan Pie). Co-op won (Best Vegan Burger), Greggs took (Best Vegan Pasty), and Aldi (Best Vegan Ready Meal). Subway scooped (Best Vegan Sandwich), Eat of Eden (Best Vegan Mac & Cheese), and Pret A Manger (Best Vegan Cookie).

‘Explosive growth’

PETA said the awards come at a good time, as ’12 million Brits aim to be meat-free by 2021′. It added that ‘one in five have already reduced their meat consumption during the COVID-19 pandemic’

Dawn Carr is PETA director of vegan corporate projects. She said: “The pandemic has demonstrated that widespread societal change is possible. And that includes the explosive growth in the already booming demand for vegan foods.

“The winners of PETA’s Vegan Food Awards are making it easier than ever to go vegan. This is by dishing up everything from creamy dairy-free ice cream to satisfying vegan fried chicken.”

COVID-19

In announcing the awards, the charity also discussed the dangers animal agriculture poses to public health.

PETA said confining and killing animals for food has led to the emergence of multiple diseases. For instance, swine flu, bird flu, SARS, and now COVID-19. 

“Raising animals for food also requires massive amounts of land, feed, energy, and water,” PETA said. “And as a result, animal agriculture is a leading cause of climate change. 

“Each person who goes vegan spares the lives of nearly 200 animals each year. They also lower his or her risk of suffering from heart disease, strokes, diabetes, obesity, and cancer.”