PETA lobbies for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to go vegan in upcoming series

It is no secret the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles enjoy fuelling up with pizza, and as the characters are set return to the screens again PETA is asking Nickelodeon for the cartoon crime fighters to choose vegan slices this time.

The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) organisation sent a letter to the president of the network asking for dairy-free options for Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo to be taken into consideration, claiming the show's fans and their parents are moving towards "compassionate eating".

“Modern kids are embracing vegan food, so why shouldn’t modern Ninja Turtles?” asks PETA Senior Vice President Lisa Lange.

The television series 'Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' was announced last March and has been described as a "re-imagining of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise".

"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," wrote Lauren Thomasson from Peta in the letter to Cyma Zarghami.

According to the letter, PETA claims consumers are becoming more mindful about what is on their plate.

"Generation Z already scarfs down 57 percent more tofu and chugs 550 per cent more non-dairy milk than millennials do," Ms Thomasson wrote.

Ms Thomasson added: "I’ve got to believe that the Turtles would be willing to help save other animals’ lives."

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It is believed there will be 26 episodes in the season, which is expected to be released later this year.