Vegans protested outside Costa Coffee in Manchester city centre this afternoon in a stand against the dairy industry.
Organised by the UK vegan charity Viva!, the ‘Day of Action’ demonstration saw activists gather outside the coffee chain on Market Street at 1pm on Saturday (March 11).
The protest was held in the hopes of “educating members of the public about the modern dairy industry” and to “encourage them to opt for plant-based alternatives such as oat, soya or almond milk”.
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It’s the second ‘Day of Action‘ protest held in the UK following an original demonstration on January 28.
Protests took place in 40 towns and cities across the country, including Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester.
Campaigners handed out leaflets, held placards and chatted with passers-by about why others should choose plant-based milks. The protest ended at 4pm.
The protest follows Viva!’s recent undercover investigation into a farm which supplied milk to Costa Coffee.
Investigators for Viva! Campaigns claim they discovered cows that were emaciated, lame and struggling to walk while others were manhandled, slapped and shoved. Some cows were visibly injured or in shackles.
Calves were said to have been separated from their mothers shortly after birth and one sick calf was filmed being force-fed by tube whilst lying down. The farm has since denied any wrongdoing.
Viva!’s founder and director, Juliet Gellatley, said: “After seeing first-hand the despicable conditions that these poor cows and calves are being kept in, I knew Viva! had to act.
“It was heart-rending to see these gentle, curious animals being treated so badly. Calves, desperate to suckle, sucked my fingers because they had been wrenched from their mothers when they were just hours old.
“We’re taking to the streets to educate people about the dairy industry: one that profits from exploitation and suffering.
“We’ll be having judgement-free, positive conversations with Costa Coffee customers, helping them see that dairy alternatives are delicious, and don’t involve suffering.”
A Costa Coffee spokesperson said: “Animal welfare is a key priority for us and our consumers, and we only work with suppliers that share our commitment to best practice in animal welfare management.
“As soon as we were made aware of the footage in December, we carried out an investigation with our supplier. Following an independent audit we received assurance that the farm demonstrated that it complied with Red Tractor standards and has a long-term record of compliance.”
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