If you’ve been on social media this month, you may have noticed that, collectively, everyone seems to have decided it’s 2016 again. Many are enjoying the chance to reflect on where they were a decade ago, throwing it back to the fashion, makeup, and meme trends of the era.
Let’s be honest, though. In reality, 2016 was far from a perfect year. There were major political shifts, including Donald Trump winning his first term in the White House and the UK voting for Brexit.
Still, there was plenty of good news, too. It was the year of the Rio Olympics, Beyoncé’s Lemonade, the first season of Stranger Things, and the Gilmore Girls reboot.
There were also some exciting developments in the vegan world, and we remember 2016 as a year filled with hope for the plant-based future ahead. Here, we’re embracing the nostalgia and taking a look back at what life was like a whole decade ago.
Wendy’s
1 Wendy’s trialed a vegan-friendly burger
In 2016, Wendy’s continued testing its Black Bean Burger, which first launched in 2015, signaling that it was listening to growing demand for more meat-free options. The burger was vegetarian, but it could be ordered fully vegan by skipping the cheese and sauce.
It was an exciting move from the fast-food world, but unfortunately, we are still waiting for Wendy’s to deliver a truly solid vegan burger option. What are you waiting for, Wendy’s? Here’s hoping that by 2036, we’ll be celebrating an entirely plant-based menu.
2Starbucks started offering almond milk
It might seem difficult to believe now that we’re living in a world of Hazelnut Oatmilk Shaken Espressos and Caramel Frappuccinos that can be made with any dairy-free milk you like (for no extra charge!), but there was a time when Starbucks didn’t even offer almond milk. Thankfully, that all changed in 2016.
Ben & Jerry’s
3Ben & Jerry’s first vegan flavors hit the market
If you browse through Ben & Jerry’s ice cream flavors today, you’ll find a wide range of non-dairy pints. We’re talking everything from Non-Dairy “Milk” & Cookies to Cherry Garcia, Oatmeal Dream Pie, and Phish Food.
But back in 2016, Ben & Jerry’s was just getting started with its dairy-free line. We were beyond excited when the beloved ice cream brand unveiled its first four vegan flavors that year: PB & Cookies, Coffee Caramel Fudge, Chocolate Fudge Brownie, and Chunky Monkey.
Ten years ago, it would have felt like a pipe dream that the brand would go on to offer 16 non-dairy options. What a time to be alive.
Impossible Foods
4The Impossible Burger debuted
The Impossible Burger from Impossible Foods already feels like a plant-based classic. These days, it’s so widely available that you can pick it up at Walmart or order one at Burger King.
But compared to conventional burgers, this vegan patty is still relatively new, having debuted just 10 years ago. That context matters, especially when it can feel like the vegan market is slowing down. In reality, it’s still finding its footing.
Beyond Meat
5Tyson Foods started investing in plant-based meats
This one was major. It was hard to wrap our heads around the idea of a meat giant taking an interest in plant-based food, but that’s exactly what happened when Tyson Foods launched a $150 million investment fund dedicated to alternative proteins, food waste solutions, and innovation. One of the brands it backed was California-based Beyond Meat.
What would have shocked us even more at the time? The fact that Tyson Foods would later go on to launch its own line of vegan meats.
Daiya
6 Brands like Gardein, Vegenaise, and Daiya were crowned in the VegNews Veggie Awards
One way to understand the most popular brands of 2016 is to look back at our annual Veggie Awards. These awards highlight the most exciting brands for our readers, and ten years ago, some of the winners included Gardein for Favorite Meat, Daiya for Favorite Staple Cheese, and Vegenaise for Favorite Condiment.
Who knows what 2026 will bring, but in 2025, similar honors went to Violife and Beyond Meat. Gardein and Vegenaise still took top spots in the Best Chicken and Best Condiment categories, though. Some things never change, and honestly, why would we want them to?
Wikimedia Commons
7
Oprah asked everyone to go meat-free
Oprah Winfrey is one of those celebrities people listen to, look up to, and admire, so when she chose to discuss veganism and Meatless Mondays on Super Soul Sunday in 2016, it was a big deal. After the episode aired, she even took to Twitter to encourage her 33.5 million followers to go meat-free.
“We are in a moment—are we not?—where there is an awakening to a new way of bringing consciousness to how we treat animals around us,” Winfrey said to Wayne Pacelle, who was the President of The Humane Society of the United States at the time.
Since then, Winfrey has spoken about plant-based eating on a few occasions. In 2019, for example, she took on Suzy Amis Cameron’s challenge to eat one plant-based meal a day for 30 days.
Hellmann’s
8Hellmann’s launched vegan mayonnaise
In 2016, our readers voted Vegenaise the best vegan condiment on the market, but Hellmann’s was not about to sit back and let vegan brands have all the glory. That same year, it launched its first egg-free mayonnaise, complete with noticeably different packaging. Today, the brand offers several vegan mayonnaise options, clearly labeled vegan or plant-based, in both jars and squeezy bottles.
In fact, the vegan mayo market is bigger than ever. Some have even speculated that its success could help revive the broader vegan market. We’ll take an extra dollop, please.
9 Major studies came out in support of plant-based living
New and exciting products are one thing, but when it comes to pushing plant-based innovation forward, strong research is just as vital for moving the needle.
In 2016, several studies made headlines, including one from the University of Oxford that suggested plant-based diets could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by two-thirds and save up to 8 million lives by 2050.
Over the past 10 years, there have thankfully been many impactful studies supporting a shift toward plant-based living.
Pexels
10The online world started to embrace veganism in a big way
One way to measure how successful a movement is becoming? Look to the internet, of course.
In 2016, “vegan” was the most Googled dietary term in Australia, vegan memes increased by nearly 7000 percent, and even our emojis got more vegan-friendly. It was a sign of the times. Veganism was here to stay.
For more plant-based stories like this, read:
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Charlotte is a VegNews editor and writer based in sunny Southsea on England's southern coast.
