PETA India Promotes Cruelty-Free Holidays with Free Vegan Ice Cream in Pune

Shivajinagar, 24th December 2025: In the lead-up to Christmas, supporters of PETA India, joined by volunteers from Hope for Paws, took to Fergusson College Road dressed as Santa Claus, Mrs Claus, and elves to distribute free NOTO vegan ice cream to passersby. The festive giveaway aimed to remind people that compassion should be at the heart of every holiday celebration, with PETA India extending warm wishes for a ‘Merry Vegan Christmas.’

“Christmas is about kindness, peace, and goodwill, and there’s no better way to live those values than by choosing vegan,” said Apeksha Tamane, Campaigns Coordinator at PETA India. “By offering delicious vegan ice cream, Santa’s family and their helpers are showing that celebrating without cruelty is not only possible, but also joyful.”

PETA India highlighted the ethical concerns in the dairy industry, where cows and buffaloes are forcibly inseminated, and their newborn calves are taken shortly after birth. Male calves are often abandoned, starved, or sold for meat and skin, while females face the same fate as their mothers—used for milk until their bodies give out, after which many are abandoned or slaughtered.

Apart from ethical reasons, vegan diets have health and environmental benefits. According to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, vegans are at a reduced risk of ischemic heart disease, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, certain types of cancer, and obesity. Researchers at the University of Oxford note that going meat- and dairy-free can reduce an individual’s carbon footprint from food by up to 73%.

For those seeking plant-based options, milk, ice cream, cheese, and yoghurt made from nuts, soy, coconut, and other plant ingredients provide a creamy and delicious alternative. NOTO offers vegan ice cream in Vanilla, Choco Hazelnut, and Dark Chocolate flavors, making plant-based desserts more accessible. Other popular vegan ice cream brands include The Brooklyn Creamery, Papacream, Siri Millet Ice Cream, Minus 30, and White Cub.