LI Animal Advocates Protest 'Vegan Upcharge' At Coffee Chain

LONG ISLAND, NY — Dressed as cows and carrying signs that read, "Vegan Upcharge: Udder Nonsense," members of an animal rights advocacy group protested outside Starbucks locations across Long Island Tuesday about the higher price they said the chain charges for vegan options.

John Di Leonardo, president and executive director of Humane Long Island, said he and his wife Juliana celebrated Valentine's Day by partnering with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, and RISE Brewing Co. to distribute 600 free vegan lattes and vegan chocolates and candy at Starbucks locations in Bridgehampton, Merrick and Huntington.

Starbucks, Di Leonardo said, "agrees that animal-friendly vegan milks are better for the planet than dairy milk but insists on charging extra for them."

According to a post in Yahoo.com, Starbucks "currently charges 70 cents per drink to substitute cow’s milk with vegan options like oat and soy."

Di Leonardo added: "No one should be penalized for choosing a healthier option that doesn’t support animal abuse and is better for the planet; but individuals don't have to wait on the government or on companies like Starbucks to do the right thing. We can make powerful changes right now by going vegan, which reduces your diet's carbon footprint by 70 percent and saves the lives of animals."

Di Leonardo suggested people contact Starbucks and "urge them to encourage customers to choose animal-friendly, vegan milks that are better for animals, their health, and the environment instead of penalizing them with a vegan surcharge."

A media representative for Starbucks did not immediately return a request for comment.