In the 1960s, environmental movements such as Earth Day began to bring attention to animal rights issues; meanwhile, celebrities such as Paul McCartney helped raise awareness by publicly declaring themselves vegetarians. This combination of popular culture and activism gave veganism a platform to grow – and by 1970, there were thousands of vegans across the planet looking to spread the message.
70’s
Veganism in the 70s was a movement that was ahead of its time. It began as a lifestyle choice for those looking to promote personal health, animal rights, and environmental consciousness. As awareness around these issues increased, so did the number of people who identified as vegan in this era. In the 1970s, there wasn’t much availability for vegan food or resources – so it was up to individuals to create their own plant-based alternatives.
Popular alternative ingredients like tofu and tempeh weren’t widely known yet, but vegans made do with what they had on hand. This period marked the beginning of an entire culture dedicated to living an ethical and sustainable life through diet change alone.
