The news rippled through the global community dedicated to health, ethics, and compassionate living: John Robbins, the visionary author and advocate for a whole food, plant-based lifestyle, passed away peacefully at his Santa Cruz home on June 12, 2025.
His death, attributed to complications from post-polio syndrome, marked the end of a remarkable life dedicated to illuminating the profound connection between our food choices and the well-being of ourselves, our planet, and all its inhabitants.
John Robbins was more than just a writer; he was a revolutionary. Born into the Baskin-Robbins ice cream dynasty, he made the radical decision to turn away from a life of inherited wealth and conventional success, choosing instead a path of integrity and activism.
This pivotal decision laid the groundwork for a career that would profoundly shape the way millions viewed food, health, and ethical living.
Through his groundbreaking books, most notably “Diet for a New America,” Robbins meticulously exposed the hidden truths of the modern food industry, from the environmental devastation caused by factory farming to the health consequences of a diet rich in animal products.
His work was not merely a critique; it was a powerful call to action, providing compelling evidence and inspiring alternatives that resonated deeply with a growing number of people seeking a more conscious way of life.
He championed the idea that food is not simply sustenance, but a powerful tool—a means for healing our bodies, strengthening our communities, and fostering a more sustainable and compassionate world.
For over 40 years, John Robbins has been a guiding light. He co-founded the Food Revolution Network with his son, Ocean Robbins. In an email yesterday, Ocean said the grief he feels at the loss of his father is profound, but so too is his gratitude.
“While this is a time of immense sorrow, I also feel a deep sense of joy. In fact, the two feel inseparable. We’re only grieving because we have so much gratitude for the light and the love that my dad has brought into our lives.”
The Food Revolution Network has become a powerful platform that amplifies the plant-based message. It is a tribute to both father and son. FRN continually features online summits, courses, and resources that empower individuals to make informed dietary choices and advocate for a healthier, more just food system.
Though his physical presence may be gone, the legacy of John Robbins endures. His pioneering work laid much of the foundation for the widespread understanding and adoption of the whole food, plant-based movement.
His unwavering commitment to truth, compassion, and a better future continues to inspire countless individuals to reconsider their plates, to question the status quo, and to embrace a way of eating that honours life in all its forms.
His impact will undoubtedly continue to unfold through the informed choices people make every day, ensuring that the food revolution he ignited burns brightly for generations to come.
The following is a list of some of the printed works he is most noted for:
- Diet for a New America: How Your Food Choices Affect Your Health, Happiness and the Future of Life on Earth (1987) – This is his most well-known book, linking factory farming to human health, animal welfare, and environmental issues.
- May All Be Fed: Diet For a New World (1992)
- Reclaiming Our Health: Exploding the Medical Myth and Embracing the Source of True Healing (1996)
- The Awakened Heart: Meditations on Finding Harmony in a Changing World (1997)
- The Food Revolution: How Your Diet Can Help Save Your Life and Our World (2001) – An update to his earlier work, incorporating information on organic food, genetically modified food, and factory farming.
- Healthy at 100: The Scientifically Proven Secrets of the World’s Healthiest and Longest-Lived Peoples (2006)
- The New Good Life: Living Better Than Ever in an Age of Less (2010)
- No Happy Cows: Dispatches from the Frontlines of the Food Revolution (2012)
- Voices of the Food Revolution: You Can Heal Your Body and Your World with Food! (2013).
John was a gifted communicator, as the following videos illustrate:
