Hello Producers of the Rachael Ray Show,

10/20/09 Episode:

SPECIFIC INCIDENT • The recipe was a “Meat-Free Veg. Soup” directly following an interview with VEGAN Alicia Silverstone (who announced the release of her new VEGAN cookbook, “The Kind Diet”). During the cooking segment, however, Rachael prepares a recipe that is not “kind” at all and instructs the viewer to use ‘2 boxes of stock’ for the soup, she does not specify that the viewer use Vegetable Stock… It appeared that the boxes poured into the pot were Chicken Stock. Also in the recipe, Rachael instructs the viewer to add dumplings to the soup (jiffy mix prepared according to directions, with milk), and does not specify a method of making animal product-free dumplings.

I am disturbed by what appears to be an intentionally misleading cooking segment, as viewers who are unfamiliar with vegan/vegetarian cooking methods were not informed of the animal-free options available to them. There is a wealth of delicious vegan and vegetarian recipes to choose from, and I am disappointed that the producers of the Rachael Ray show chose a not-really-vegetarian-at-all recipe to parade in front of the largely obese, unhealthy television audience. It’s whitewashing like this that keeps Americans in the dark about healthy, cruelty-free, alternative food options. This cooking segment trivializes the vegan/vegetarian lifestyle, is an insult to to your vegan guest, and surely pleases the meat & dairy lobbies.

- buni13