What is a vegan?

What's the difference between vegan and vegetarian?

A vegan does not consume any products from animals, including milk, fish, eggs, honey, etc. Most vegans will not wear clothing from animals (wool, silk, etc) either.

Can't I just switch to organic dairy produce?

Yes you could, of course you could. I’m not going to tell you what to eat one way or the other.

All I’m gonna do is give you MY reasons. Those who oppose traditional dairy farming because of the cruelty involved often think that organic farming is the answer. However, the fundamental principles of dairying still apply within the organic industry: continual pregnancies, unwanted offspring, problems of disease, together with the distress of transport and slaughter.

Not to mention the fact that in order to comply with the strict regulations the organic farming industry demand – many animals are not treated with medication when they are ill.

What's wrong with free range eggs?

'Free Range' eggs conjure up idyllic images of hens scratching in the farmyard. The reality is often very different. They are often kept in 'Barn'-type houses in flocks of up to 16,000 in large sheds. They are often debeaked. The birds must have access to the outdoor range area, which can be stocked at a maximum of 2,500 birds per hectare of land available to the hens. However, in large-scale free range units, often less than 50% of the birds regularly go outside. As with all commercial laying hens, after usually a year of egg production they are slaughtered.

If everyone went vegan, how would that affect the environment?

Contrary to popular belief, rumours and heresy, often started by meat industries, much more land is required to produce animal foods such as meat & milk than to produce the equivalent amount of plant foods. So, when everyone goes vegan, the same population can be fed on less farm land, and there will be no more need to destroy areas of natural environment to make new farm land. Indeed, the farm land that is already under cultivation could support a much larger human population, and some of it could be returned to nature, and recreational use. Plant foods also require less water and energy to produce, providing further benefits.

Why is vitamin B-12 important?

Deficiency of this vitamin results in cognitive (thinking, memory) and other neurologic problems early on. Anemia often occurs later. Only 2.4 micrograms a day of vitamin B-12 is necessary for adults with normal digestive systems (slightly more for pregnant or lactating women). Modern hygienic methods of food production eliminate soil-derived bacteria that produce vitamin B-12, so, aside from animal products, fortified foods or supplements are the only reliable sources. Foods that are sometimes fortified to provide the Recommended Dietary Allowance include soy milk, cereals, and nutritional yeast. Marmite is a great source of B12…..you either love it or you hate it but it really is a vegetarian’s best friend.

How do I identify animal free foods?

It is easy to avoid meat, fish, eggs, milk, cheese, honey and foods listing these as ingredients. But you also need to be aware of animal products often contained in the ingredients of food, such as gelatine - made from animal bones - whey and casein, which are milk derivatives, and carmine which is a red colorant made from crushed beetles.

There are plenty of excellent books out there for the conscious shopper and many that cover the subjects of veganism.

The Vegan Society produce a pocket-sized book entitled Animal Free Shopper which explains these names and lists many common products that have been confirmed so far as practicable as being animal free.