Macaroni Grill, Taco Bell, Subway, and Chipotle Vie for peta2 Award

Eateries' Efforts to Meet Rising Demand for Vegan Dishes Make Them Top Contenders

For Immediate Release:
November 26, 2012

Contact:
Kaitlynn Kelly 202-483-7382

Los Angeles -- The vegan food revolution has taken hold in every corner of America, and nowhere is that trend more evident than on U.S. restaurant menus. A quartet of restaurant chains are finalists for the Libby Award for Most Vegan-Friendly Restaurant by peta2, PETA's youth division. Now in their seventh year, the 2012 Libby Awards ("Libby" for "liberation," as in animal liberation) include 22 categories.

• Romano's Macaroni Grill offers a wide variety of pasta and salads that need only the cheese to be left off in order to become vegan, making it easy for vegans to go out to eat with friends and family.
• Taco Bell's menu is one of the most "veganizable" among fast-food establishments: Its burritos, tacos, Crunchwraps, and fresh Cantina Bowls can easily be made vegan, thanks in part to the "replace meat with beans" button that appears right on its cash registers.
• With its fresh veggies, delicious toppings such as avocado, and fresh (and vegan) Italian bread, Subway makes it easy to grab a quick vegan sandwich, whatever your taste.
• Chipotle's delicious vegan burritos—stuffed with cilantro lime rice, black beans, sautéed veggies, fresh salsa, guacamole, and more—are a favorite and filling on-the-go meal for vegans around the country.

"More and more young people are insisting that the music they listen to, the clothes they wear, and, especially, the food they eat reflect their strong feelings in favor of animal rights," says PETA Youth Marketing Manager Emily Rodriguez. "All our nominees are winners because they're meeting the demands of compassionate kids and helping animals at the same time."

Voting ends on December 17. Winners will be chosen by peta2 based on several factors, including vote count, and will be announced on December 19. See the full contest details here.

For more information and to cast your vote, please visit peta2.com or click here.