Vegan mum Sheena Chhabra calls on South Melbourne Districts Auskick to ditch meat at post-match barbecues

The traditional post-match sausage sizzle has run into trouble at a junior football club after a vegan mother demanded officials stop serving beef sausages and replace them with meatless alternatives.

Animal rights activist Sheena Chhabra recently emailed Auskick in the South Melbourne precinct with the controversial suggestion, as she urged them to cut ties with their long-time meat supplier, who is under investigation for alleged animal cruelty.

The suggestion has since divided junior sports clubs across the country.

“I have asked that if sausages are to be served, which I don’t think is essential at a morning event, that we swap the regular sausages for vegan sausages,” Ms Chhabra said.

The mother claimed the club told her she could bring her own vegan sausages to the matches so they could be cooked at the post-match barbecues.

But her seven-year-old son refused because he didn’t want them cooked on the same grill as the meat.

The club does not have a separate barbecue where non-meat products can be prepared.

The activist also wants the South Melbourne Districts Sports Club to cut ties with their long-time sausage supplier Ralphs Meat Company.

Ralphs is currently under investigation by Agriculture Victoria and the Federal Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) after alleged animal cruelty by their employees was secretly filmed at their abattoir. The age reported.

Ms Chhabra became a vegetarian ten years ago, but gave up all meat five years later when she became aware of the way animals were raised and slaughtered for meat, dairy and eggs.

She also has her own vegan YouTube channel.

“I believe that if children knew this reality, they would ask for vegan sausages,” Ms. Chhabra wrote.

The animal campaigner is also concerned that meat served at post-match barbecues, such as bacon and beef sausages, are ‘classified as group one carcinogens’.

The vegan mum believes the club has ‘seriously fallen short’ with the food they choose to cook and serve, saying there are ‘significant concerns’ about the health impact, as well as the impact on environment and ethical aspects.

The animal rights campaigner believes sausages are not suitable to be served in the morning and is concerned that beef sausages and bacon are so unhealthy they are classified as ‘group one carcinogens’.

Ms Chhabra argued that the very place where the meat is served should be a place where health and wellbeing should be encouraged.

She urged other parents to be aware of the negative impact of meat if the club continues to serve it, although she would prefer only vegan sausages to be available after matches.

“If that were to happen and the parents still chose to do it, then that’s their choice,” she said.

Ms Chhabra’s son has also been vegan for five years.

She said The age he felt left out while his friends ate their sausages and he chose to make ‘the more ethical, health-conscious and environmentally friendly choice’.

The activist claims that the football club where her son plays is exactly the place where health and wellbeing should be promoted. Pictured are the South Melbourne District Ausick juniors in action

The South Melbourne club has remained silent on the issue, but the activist has sparked a debate among other football clubs.

While some clubs are happy to cater to modern tastes, many will only serve the most popular.

“If they want vegan sausages, we’ll do that too,” a volunteer manning the barbecue at another junior club told Nine News.

“But it doesn’t all have to be vegan sausage.”

Ralphs Meat Company said this in a statement The age they take the welfare and humane treatment of animals ‘extremely seriously’.

The company said it is already highly regulated, but following an internal review it has taken “several corrective actions” and is working with the DAFF.