Kevin Bacon joins us to launch Beansday to help save animals

Every individual can make a difference for animals and play a part in creating a more humane world. That is the foundational belief at the heart of animal advocacy of the best kind.  

And in that spirit, I’d like to talk about the 1984 film Footloose. Hear me out.  

If you recall, Kevin Bacon plays the lead character, Ren McCormack, who moves from Chicago to a small Utah town where dancing and certain kinds of music have been banned. Ren loves dancing—and he shows his new friends and love interest (who happens to be the Reverend’s daughter) the joy and positivity that comes from dancing. It causes quite a stir, but through small steps (literally!), he had big impact, and—long story short (and spoiler alert)—dancing prevails.  

The film isn’t far-fetched—it’s actually based on a true story of a town in Oklahoma. And in my experience, it rings true that this is how change happens: Individuals with a passion for how to make the world a better place can inspire reverberating change.  

I’ve been thinking of Kevin Bacon’s Footloose character as we’ve come closer to an exciting new campaign for animals. And what a coincidence! That very same award‑winning actor, who happens to be a longtime animal champion, Kevin Bacon, joins us to launch Beansday, and temporarily become “Kevin Bean,” bringing the campaign to life. 

What if helping animals could be as simple as switching one meal a week? That’s the idea behind Beansday. This is a new, easy-to-follow weekly habit where every Wednesday people swap in beans to reduce demand for animal agriculture and therefore reduce animal suffering. 

Beansday is built on a simple truth: small, repeatable actions add up. By making at least one intentional choice each week, anyone can be part of creating a more humane food system. 

And when we say small steps, big impact, we mean it. Because the status quo propagates a systemic tragedy of epic proportions: 

The sad fact is that more animals than ever before are used and killed for food each year: Most recently measured data (from 2024) showed it was 97.6 billion land animals alone (not including fish). I’ll repeat that. 97.6 billion animals. This number represents a staggering scale of animal suffering, largely in factory farming settings.  

Today's global food production methods and consumption habits are utterly unsustainable. Global food systems are responsible for about one-third of all human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, and the production of animal-based foods in particular is responsible for about 57% of these emissions. That’s nearly double that of plant-based foods.  

Meat, dairy and aquaculture production systems use the vast majority (83%) of the world’s farmland despite providing just 18% of global calories and 37% of protein.  

Farmed animal production has also dominated land-use change, pushing crop production and pastures into wild habitats and contributing to an alarming rate of species extinction.  

And it does not have to be this way. That’s why, for years, we’ve partnered with major food, food service, hospitality companies and others, to expand plant-based options. Beansday invites everyone to be part of the solution.  

Desikan Thirunarayananapuram/Holy Cow! Vegan Recipes

Cuban Black Bean Stew

Shifting toward more plant-based meals can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, use less land and water, and help build a food system that’s better for animals, people and the planet. Beans are also good for you: Packed with protein and fiber, beans can help regulate blood sugar and body weight and have been linked to lower risk of heart disease and cancer.  

If you’re in need of recipe ideas, we’ve got you: The Beansday Hub is filled with irresistible recipes and easy, week‑to‑week tools. Pledge to join Beansday and receive weekly emails with inspiring recipes and tips—helping you make a simple swap that creates a big impact for animals. 

As the actor Kevin Bean, formerly known as Kevin Bacon, puts it: “Over the years, I’ve developed a deep connection with animals. You get to know them as individuals, and it makes you reflect deeply about the food choices you make,” he said. “That’s why I loved the idea of Beansday. One simple change in what you eat every Wednesday makes a difference for animals. And if becoming Kevin Bean for a little while helps get people involved, I’m all in.” 

Spill the beans: Tell your family and friends that every Wednesday is Beansday.