"VegNews" news and stories

"We screwed up." So begins the letter of apology (its second) from vegan-lifestyle magazine VegNews to its readers after the mag was found to be using photos of actual meat in its spreads.

Yes, it was "symbolic imagery," according to the letter from publisher Joseph Connelly and his management team. But from now on, the letter assures readers, it will "never again use non-vegan photographs" in the magazine. The staff outlines the following additional claims:

• Recipes in VegNews will be represented only by custom vegan photography. Count on it.

• All stock images used in the magazine and website will be vegan. We will make sure so that you can be sure.

• VegNews will build and host a vegan photo bank to assure the availability of vegan stock images. Look for details in the coming days.

Based on the comments, the readers have largely accepted the apology and the world of vegan photography will now be forever changed for the better.

VegNews, the "premier magazine to focus on a vegetarian lifestyle" according to its website, has been using real meat photos to accompany its recipes, as vegan blogger QuarryGirl (blog tagline: "Meat is Murder") discovered and documented. QuarryGirl has posted several examples of stock photography of meat dishes in which VegNews has used as an image of a vegan dish.

The "Vegan Spare Ribs" recipe used a photo of actual meat ribs, with the bones photoshopped out, and a picture for Seitan Stew was actually an iStockphoto titled "Chicken Breast Soup." Other examples include hot dogs with actual meat and macaroni and cheese with actual cheese. One commenter and former VegNews intern said that everyone on the VegNews staff is fully aware of the "meat and dairy photo policy." A former copy editor echoed the intern's sentiments.

The VegNews Facebook page has a slew of disappointed commenters as well, some of which are claiming that their comments are getting deleted. Green gossip blog Ecorazzi reports that VegNews has yet to comment on its photo policy. Moral of the story: Magical Meatball Burgers are in fact not the same thing as your everyday (or, non-magical) burger.

UPDATE: VegNews posted a detailed letter on its website addressing the photo controversy and admitting to using stock photos. The letter states that "there are very few specifically vegan images offered by stock companies" and as a result of financial constraints, VegNews will sometimes use a non-vegan image.

I have a confession to make. I'm something of a sucker for any kind of quiz or online voting opportunity, especially when there are prizes to be had. When someone forwarded this chance to let my opinions be known, I couldn't help but immediately go vote.

Ecorazzi, a website dedicated to all things vegetarian, is promoting the VegNews Magazine's 2008 Veggie Awards. You can cast your vote in a variety of veggie-friendly categories, everything from bakeries to make-up to blogs. There are also prizes! Just for voting you'll be entered to win one of a few really cool prizes, which are detailed before you get started voting.

Though I consider myself veggie-friendly, I'm not a vegetarian and unfortunately I'm not very familiar with most of the products that are being voted on. I just went with some items that looked good to me. Hopefully, you can head over and legitimately help VegNews decide the best vegetarian products of the year.