Iconic Pork Pie Roundabout could be renamed to get people to eat vegetarian diet

'This is not a pie-in-the-sky request'

An animal rights group has called for Pork Pie Roundabout in Leicester to be renamed in order to promote healthier food options. PETA - People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals - has sent a letter sent to Leicester Mayor, Sir Peter Soulsby, outlining their concerns. They said eating a varied plant-based diet has been shown to "prevent heart disease, diabetes, abdominal fat, and cancer", adding that this is "not a pie-in-the-sky request". The term "vegan" was coined in Leicester in 1944. The city also lies next to the home of the pork pie in Melton Mowbray, although the roundabout actually gets its name from a nearby library which is said to look like a pork pie when viewed from above. PETA's senior campaigns manager, Kate Werner, wrote: "Encouraging people to eat plant-based could also help lessen the burden on Leicester's already overstretched NHS. "The United Nations has stated that a global shift towards plant-based eating is urgently needed to combat the worst effects of the climate catastrophe, so this name change would be a fantastic way to support Leicester's Climate Emergency Strategy. "And since the word 'vegan' was coined in Leicester by Donald Watson in 1944, it would also be a great way to celebrate the city's vegan and pie-loving heritage." PETA added that local companies Pukka Pies and Samworth Brothers offer popular vegan pies. "The vegan pie category attracted the most entries at the British Pie Awards in Melton last year, as more and more people are choosing plant-based foods," it said. "Eating vegan helps spare sensitive, intelligent animals a lifetime of suffering. "You can help stop this cruelty with a name change that will inspire residents to choose vegan foods. "There's never been a better time to stop going around in circles and take a bite out of Leicester's dangerous obesity crisis." Related stories:

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