Vegan jerky made in W.Va. wins PETA award

MORGANTOWN - A tiny West Virginia-based company with only a half- dozen employees has won an animal rights group's award for best new vegetarian snack.

Primal Spirit Foods of Moundsville promises "full meaty satisfaction" from its Primal Strips, but co-founder Emil Sofsky swore Thursday the soy-based jerky contains no real meat.

"It's all in the spices," he said.

Sofsky repeatedly uttered one word - "Wow!" - after learning that People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals had singled out Primal Strips in its second annual Proggy Awards. Proggys go to companies "that exemplify animal-friendly progress in 21st century culture and commerce."

PETA President Ingrid Newkirk said vegetarianism has gone mainstream, and Primal Spirit Foods is supplying a tasty product for consumers concerned about animal welfare and their own health. …

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