Paul McCartney's Vegan Plea Hits East Rutherford

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ — Ahead of Paul McCartney's tour stop on Thursday at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, the animal rights nonprofit PETA erected a billboard at the intersection of Meadowlands Plaza and Sheraton Plaza Drive that features the English singer and his push for the coffee chain Starbucks to end the vegan milk surcharge, PETA said in a news release.

PETA is also offering fans animal rights materials and vegan starter kits at every stop on McCartney's national tour, the news release said.

"Starbucks in the USA has an extra charge for plant-based milks as opposed to cow's milk. I must say this surprised me as I understand that in other countries there is the same charge for both types of milk and I would like to politely request that you consider this policy also in Starbucks USA," McCartney wrote in a letter to then Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson. “I sincerely hope that for the future of the planet and animal welfare you are able to implement this policy.”

PETA noted in the news release that the dairy industry is a "major producer" of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Likewise, Starbucks found, in an environmental assessment, that dairy is the company's biggest source of carbon dioxide emissions, the Financial Post reported.

A Starbucks spokesperson told Patch on Tuesday that the company has "nothing immediate to share on plans in the U.S. to remove the additional cost." However, the spokesperson said, Starbucks does not charge extra for a "splash" of non-dairy, or plant-based, milk to coffee.