People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) notes the passing of Paul McIlhenny, CEO of the McIlhenny Company, which makes the iconic Tabasco pepper sauce.
Although his famous product is inextricably associated with Louisiana, McIlhenny was, like myself, a native Texan — a people for whom spicy foods are a staple, and Tabasco is an ubiquitous pantry item. When I started eating vegan foods out of concern over the cruelty of industrialized factory farming, I was delighted to find Tabasco on the “I Can’t Believe It’s Vegan” pages of PETA’s website, which lists a wide range of “accidentally vegan” products conveniently found in most supermarkets.
Although Mr. McIlhenny has passed on, his legacy will live on in every spicy Bloody Mary and bowl of red beans and rice enjoyed by many vegans nation- and worldwide.
Jeff Mackey
The PETA Foundation
Norfolk, Va.