"vegan" 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.

Seems the soon-to-be Mr. Jessica Simpson is looking to be more than red-carpet arm candy for his world-famous fiancée, and word is that he's set his sights on the restaurant biz. His pitch? A chain of fast-food vegan restaurants.

It's all a bit surreal: an ex-pro-football player dating a pop princess/reality TV queen, deciding what the world needs now is short-order tofu sticks. But hey, it's L.A.

Almost as soon as Simpson and former NFL tight end Eric Johnson announced their engagement, gossip blogs began carping about Johnson's lack of a job. The Yale grad played for the San Francisco 49ers for six seasons from 2001 to 2007 (though he was sidelined for two seasons with injuries), and then ended his career in 2008 after a single season with the New Orleans Saints.

Meat, meat, and more meat! That seems to have been the mantra of late at most restaurant chains (e.g., KFC's Double Down, Carl's Jr.'s Footlong Cheeseburger, Burger King's NY Pizza Burger, etc.). It's been a boon for carnivores, but if you're a vegan, well, how about another helping of quinoa?

It's no surprise, then, that vegan blogs have been lighting up like Christmas trees with the news that Denny's (home of the Bacon Slamburger) is now serving a bona fide vegan burger.

Chelsea Clinton isn't tying the knot with her fiance Marc Mezvinsky until this weekend, but the wedding has already become the event of the year, at least by gossip-rag standards. Questions abound: Who's invited? (Hint: Not many.) What will she wear? (The smart money, as always, is on Vera Wang.) What kind of ceremony will it be, anyway? Thanks to the publicity-shy bride, there are few confirmed details. One thing's fairly certain, though: The caterers will accommodate the former first daughter's vegan diet.

Despite her father's famous predilection for fast food, Chelsea has reportedly been going meatless for more than a decade, even asking White House chef Walter Scheib to teach her to prepare her own vegan meals, according to the Vegetarian Star. By all accounts, Chelsea is a highly intelligent, ambitious woman who doesn't do anything halfway, and her kitchen training was no exception; she worked with Scheib for six weeks prior to leaving for Stanford, earning a "Walter Scheib cooking school certificate" at the end.

Consequently, "insiders" have told Life & Style magazine, the food for the big day "will include vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free dishes." (That'll put the caterers through their paces.) Lest anyone accuse Chelsea of being doctrinaire, however, the wedding menu will also please carnivorous guests. According to those same insiders, there will be a beef entree as well -- grass-fed and organic, naturally.

Summer means grilling season -- burgers, steaks, hot dogs, and chicken are the usual suspects. So what's a vegetarian to do? The good news is that there are lots of meat-free products on the market -- from "hot dogs" to garden burgers, even faux chicken patties. Problem is, they can vary wildly in how good they are.

We invited a few friends over, fired up the grill and taste-tested meat-free burgers and dogs. We opened up 16 products: a mix of varieties and brands.

Our top nine picks are below (including our favorite), taking into consideration the texture, flavors, seasonings and overall taste in each.

Keep reading for the seven products that did not pass our taste test -- and why.