Riteish, Genelia's Imagine Meats among winners of PETA India Vegan Food Awards

Bollywood star couple Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh's plant-based 'chicken nuggets', 'the Happy Bugs', have won the accolade for the Best Vegan Meat at the 2021 PETA India Vegan Food Awards.

The Deshmukhs have been developing plant-based meat alternatives under their Imagine Meat label. PETA, a global animal rights organisation, has been campaigning for people to switch over to a vegan diet.

The other winners ranged from Sofit soy milk (endorsed by John Abraham) to Haldiram's 'soan papdi', besides a vegan cheese, mayonnaise and even ghee. The online store Vegan Dukan was also among the honorees.

PETA announced the awards ahead of the World Vegan Day (November 1) and World Vegan Month. In a statement, it stated that 63 per cent of Indians are inclined to replace meats with plant-based options and 75 per cent are unable to digest milk properly.

"From creamy, dairy-free chocolate ice-cream to meat-free chicken, all these innovative foods are making it easy for people to pamper their taste buds without harming animals," says PETA India's vegan foods and nutrition specialist, Dr Kiran Ahuja.