Ben & Jerry’s is answering many a prayer with a new announcement: They will make dairy-free ice cream geared towards those of us who are vegan or lactose intolerant.
Co-founder Jerry Greenfield confirmed to the UK’s Telegraph that the new flavors will have either coconut or almond milk as the base. (Ben & Jerry’s, if you’re listening, we’re team coconut milk.)
Greenfield told the Telegraph:
“I think that’s a big thing for Ben & Jerry’s to be doing that. In the U.S. there are [dairy-free] alternatives from smaller companies but Ben & Jerry’s will be the first major company that will do that and will also do it in a really delicious way.”
Other dairy-free ice cream brands include DF Mavens, So Delicious, Coconut Bliss, and even a few options from Breyers.
The new B&J ice cream came about after a Change.org petition called on the company to support action against climate change by making non-dairy options. The petition read, “There is now a scientific consensus that animal agriculture is the single largest contributor to global warming, outstripping even the transportation industry in its production of greenhouse gases.”
@FARMUSA We hear your feedback and share your dream. We're working on it.
— Ben & Jerry's (@benandjerrys) April 14, 2015
Ben & Jerry’s has been publicly supportive of taking action to combat climate change. In a blog post on its website, the brand listed chocolate, nuts, and coffee, some of its major ingredients, have been in stunted supply due to environmental challenges. While Greenfield said Ben & Jerry’s new offerings will “mean a lot to those who can’t eat dairy,” they will certainly mean a lot to those who refrain from eating animal products for ethical reasons as well.
According to the Telegraph, the dairy-free ice cream will hit shelves in the U.S. next spring. Until then, there’s always vegan mac and cheese.
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