PETA Latino Asks Ben & Jerry's For A Vegan Ice Cream Flavor With A Super Cute Name!

Thousands of people are asking Ben & Jerry’s to take their company's socially progressive to the next level with a vegan ice cream flavor. Even though the brand does carry sorbets which of course, are vegan, it would make a world of difference if they could show costumers that vegan alternatives with non-dairy milks made from soy, coconut, rice and almond do not mean sacrificing great flavor and their favorite brands, and that they don't have to be vegan to enjoy them. Naturally, organizations like PETA Latino agree and are even suggesting their first non-dairy flavor should be a soy-cream based Mexican chocolate ice cream called, "¡Hola, Soy Cream!"

The petition to gather signatures explains how animal agriculture contributes to climate change and how the dairy farming industry has serious ethical issues, starting with separating the calves from their mothers, which is traumatizing for both. PETA Latino’s Renée Saldaña wrote a letter to Ben & Jerry’s CEO, Jostein Solheim, which reads as follows: Dear Mr. Solheim,

I'm writing on behalf of PETA and our more than 3 million members and supporters worldwide, many of whom are already fans of your delicious vegan sorbets. In light of the recent appeal for you to add a dairy-free ice cream to Ben & Jerry's lineup, I'd like to suggest a flavor called "¡Hola, Soy Cream!" which would combine the spicy, sweet flavor of Mexican chocolate with creamy soy-based ice cream to take tasters on a trip south of the border.

The cute double entendre of "¡Hola, Soy Cream!" means both "Hello, soy cream!" and "Hello, I am cream!"—reminiscent of the Nat King Cole love song "You're the Cream in My Coffee." This would be a great way to announce the introduction of your first dairy-free ice-cream flavor, while also reminding customers that they'll be getting all the rich flavor that they expect from Ben & Jerry's.

Introducing a dairy-free ice cream also makes good business sense. A 2013 Public Policy Polling survey reported that 7 percent of the country's population now identifies as vegan and that up to 12 percent of Americans report experiencing symptoms of lactose intolerance. That's a huge market to tap into! What's more, the sale of plant-based milks rose by $2 billion last year alone, and the growth of nondairy milk sales is projected to outpace that of cow's milk at least through 2018. "¡Hola, Soy Cream!" would be in line with current demand, suitable for people with dairy allergies, and a fun and creative addition to your list of flavors.

I look forward to hearing that you love the idea. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,
 Renée Saldaña, PETA Latino.