“More and more people understand that diseases or viruses transmitted from animals to human beings are becoming a regular occurrence. Coronavirus is not the first and sadly also will not be the last unless we overhaul the way we eat,” says David Yeung, the founder of Green Monday, a platform for a plant-based lifestyle.
Demand for plant-based food is growing in Asia. According to Yeung, the number of flexitarians, vegetarians and vegans in Hong Kong has increased from 5% to 34% in just eight years. And 79% of the population is willing to try plant-based products.
Two years ago, Green Monday launched OmniPork, a plant-based alternative for pork, the most used meat in Asian food. Their products, minced, strips and luncheon, can be used in traditional Asian dishes as a substitute for pig meat.
“The beauty of plant-based is just…whatever angle you look at it, no one is losing when we eat more plant-based. The planet benefits, animals benefit, your health benefits, it’s just win-win-win-win-win,” Yeung says.
David turned vegetarian 19 years ago: “It was very simple. I didn’t think it was right to cause any suffering. Any living being, any sentient being should be treated equally, so that was the moment I said to myself that it didn’t feel right to continue to eat meat.”
He’s hopeful that the future will become more plant-based: “Let’s hope with consumers, with the players in the Food and Beverage industry, big chains, and of course the governments all together. With all of us trying to move the needle, I do believe that change can happen.”
Watch the complete interview with David Yeung from Green Monday here.
The Animal Reader is an animal news organization. We need your help to create important news stories about animals. Read more about us here and, if you can, become a sponsor here.