VegNews Daily

NPR Discusses Animal-Byproducts in Pharmaceuticals

A recent health feature poses a question about ethics and medicine.

In a recent Shots post, National Public Radio pointed out that cruelty-free medication is hard to come by, potentially presenting vegans with a dilemma. The post mentions Veganissimo A to Z authors Reuben Proctor and Lars Thomsen, who highlight the many animal byproducts that popular pharmaceuticals contain: gelatin capsules, lactose as a bulking or stabilizing component, and animal-based binding and tinting agents. While some cruelty-free alternatives are available, the topic is one often debated in vegan circles, and should be a personal choice. “I had to make a compromise and use the animal anticoagulant … I did not like it [at] all, but it was a question of life or death,” Proctor told NPR.

 Comments

Vegan Egg Company Receives $1 Million in Funding

Founders Fund chose to back Hampton Creek Foods as its first culinary startup investment.
Read More »

PETA Uses CGI to Show the Suffering of Film Apes

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals personifies the plight of apes used in Hollywood productions in its new advertisement.
Read More »

River City’s Second-Annual Plant-Based Festival

Memphis, TN gears up for its yearly citywide vegan celebration on June 21.
Read More »

Shape Magazine Spotlights Plant-Based Meat Company

The health and fitness magazine interviewed Beyond Meat’s founder and CEO Ethan Brown.
Read More »

VegSwap Allows Backyard Farmers to Trade Produce

The online network will will work to end food waste by enabling UK residents with green thumbs to share the fruits of their labors.
Read More »

This Week on VegNews TV: Go behind the scenes of Mercy for Animals' Justice for All event with Heidi Rayden who interviews compassionate stars.

More Videos »