TMNT has been a staple for many of our childhoods. As time goes on, the story of the 4 mutant turtle has begun to change in order to keep up with modern era. The next animated series in a long line of TV shows is no exception bringing many changes to the existing characterizations and lore. One change in particular has been requested by PETA who has released a detailed letter asking for a vegan Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

A recent letter sent to Nickelodeon by the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals asks that the company have the heroes in a half shell to alter their diet just a little bit. Rather than their usual pizza pie concoctions, PETA suggests that the Vegan Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, having a diet that consists of gluten and dairy free products. Within the letter, Senior Civs President of PETA Lisa Lange asks, “Modern kids are embracing vegan food, so why shouldn’t modern Ninja Turtles?”

Vegan pizza is popular, and it’s healthier and far kinder to animals than old-fashioned dairy cheese pizza. PETA thinks that’s something the ‘Heroes in a Half Shell’ would support.

You can check out the full letter below:

Dear Ms. Zarghami,

I’m writing on behalf of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and our more than 6.5 million members and supporters worldwide—a bunch of them dyed-in-the-half-shell fans of Mikey, Leo, Raph, and Donnie—to say, “Bodacious!”

That was the reaction around here when word got out about Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. What really got PETA buzzing, though, was the “different direction” that you spelled out for the new series. More laughs? Mystic ninja powers? Gnarly!

But every fan worth his or her nunchucks knows that wherever the show leads the Turtles, they’ll be fueling up with pizza. It’s practically their raison d’être, right? That’s another reason why I’m getting in touch: to ask that their pies and slices be vegan, because compassionate eating is the direction that TMNT fans, their siblings, and their parents are taking.

Check this out: Generation Z already scarfs down 57 percent more tofu and chugs 550 percent more nondairy milk than millennials do. Meanwhile, 70 percent of U.S. college campuses offer daily vegan options—that’s an awesome 42 percent jump from just four years ago—and one in five even have an all-vegan dining station. Twenty-six percent of all consumers say that they’ve cut back on eating meat in the last 12 months, and 58 percent of adults drink nondairy milk.

What’s that mean for reptilian—and human—pizza connoisseurs? More than 40 restaurant chains across the country, including Two Boots, &pizza, and Pizza Studio in the Turtles’ New York City stomping grounds, have taken note and added vegan cheese to their menus, and many of them now offer cruelty-free toppings like mock meats, seasoned tempeh, and tofu.

Putting vegan pizza on the Fab Four’s plates is sure to inspire fans to try it themselves, and that would be great news for cows. The dairy industry isn’t kind to these gentle, intelligent beings—they often spend their lives standing on concrete floors, separated from their babies and tethered to machines until their milk production wanes. Their misery ends at the slaughterhouse.

I’ve got to believe that the Turtles would be willing to help save other animals’ lives.

Thanks for your time and for considering this important issue. I’m looking forward to discussing it with you.

Sincerely,

Lauren Thomasson

PETA

Vegan Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles doesn’t necessarily hurt the characters, but they aren’t known for their healthy eating habits. The great part about the turtles was that the pizza they ate was so insane and wacky – like marshmallows and asparagus or jelly beans and sausage.

Would making them go vegan change that a little too much? Let us know your thoughts about PETA’s pitch for vegan Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and more in the comments section below. As always, don’t forget to follow Don’t Feed the Gamers on Twitter for 24/7 coverage of all things gaming and entertainment.

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