ST. LOUIS, Missouri (The Adobo Chronicles) – A new study from the University of Missouri confirms what botanists have long suspected: plants and vegetables have feelings just like humans and animals.

The research shows that plants can sense when they are being eaten and send out defense mechanisms to try to stop it from happening.

The study was carried out on thale cress, which is closely related to broccoli, kale, mustard greens, and other siblings of the brassica family and is popular for science experiments.

According to the research study, the thale cress produces mustard oils that are mildly toxic when eaten and sends them throughout its leaves to try to keep the predators away. The research also revealed that when the plants feel or hear “munching vibrations” from caterpillar and other plant-eating organisms, they send out extra mustard oils.

This new finding is greatly disturbing to vegans and vegetarians, most of whom practice this lifestyle because they cannot fathom the thought of animals being killed or butchered for food. “Now what alternative do we have if we can’t eat meat or vegetables,” said one practicing vegan living in San Francisco’s Haight District.

Meanwhile, Catholics around the globe are anxiously awaiting a pronouncement from Pope Francis, who, in just the last several weeks, said that all animals go to heaven.  The question they want answered by The Vatican is: do plants and vegetables go to heaven too?