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What’s the difference between vegan and vegetarian?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katherine-livingstone-324808">Katherine Livingstone</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p>Vegan and vegetarian diets are <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-023-03086-z">plant-based diets</a>. Both include plant foods, such as fruits, vegetables, legumes and whole grains.</p> <p>But there are important differences, and knowing what you can and can’t eat when it comes to a vegan and vegetarian diet can be confusing.</p> <p>So, what’s the main difference?</p> <h2>What’s a vegan diet?</h2> <p>A <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-023-03086-z">vegan diet</a> is an entirely plant-based diet. It doesn’t include any meat and animal products. So, no meat, poultry, fish, seafood, eggs, dairy or honey.</p> <h2>What’s a vegetarian diet?</h2> <p>A <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-023-03086-z">vegetarian diet</a> is a plant-based diet that generally excludes meat, poultry, ﬁsh and seafood, but can include animal products. So, unlike a vegan diet, a vegetarian diet can include eggs, dairy and honey.</p> <p>But you may be wondering why you’ve heard of vegetarians who eat fish, vegetarians who don’t eat eggs, vegetarians who don’t eat dairy, and even vegetarians who eat some meat. Well, it’s because there are variations on a vegetarian diet:</p> <ul> <li> <p>a <strong>lacto-ovo vegetarian</strong> diet excludes meat, poultry, fish and seafood, but includes eggs, dairy and honey</p> </li> <li> <p>an <strong>ovo-vegetarian</strong> diet excludes meat, poultry, fish, seafood and dairy, but includes eggs and honey</p> </li> <li> <p>a <strong>lacto-vegetarian</strong> diet excludes meat, poultry, fish, seafood and eggs, but includes dairy and honey</p> </li> <li> <p>a <strong>pescatarian</strong> diet excludes meat and poultry, but includes eggs, dairy, honey, fish and seafood</p> </li> <li> <p>a <strong>flexitarian</strong>, or semi-vegetarian diet, includes eggs, dairy and honey and may include small amounts of meat, poultry, fish and seafood.</p> </li> </ul> <figure class="align-center zoomable"><a href="https://images.theconversation.com/files/594474/original/file-20240516-16-wjg71m.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=1000&fit=clip"><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/594474/original/file-20240516-16-wjg71m.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/594474/original/file-20240516-16-wjg71m.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=456&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/594474/original/file-20240516-16-wjg71m.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=456&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/594474/original/file-20240516-16-wjg71m.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=456&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/594474/original/file-20240516-16-wjg71m.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=573&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/594474/original/file-20240516-16-wjg71m.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=573&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/594474/original/file-20240516-16-wjg71m.png?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=573&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /></a><figcaption></figcaption></figure> <h2>Are these diets healthy?</h2> <p>A <a href="https://academic.oup.com/eurheartj/article/44/36/3423/7224412">2023 review</a> looked at the health effects of vegetarian and vegan diets from two types of study.</p> <p>Observational studies followed people over the years to see how their diets were linked to their health. In these studies, eating a vegetarian diet was associated with a lower risk of developing cardiovascular disease (such as heart disease or a stroke), diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), dementia and cancer.</p> <p>For example, in a <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916523054497?via%3Dihub">study</a> of 44,561 participants, the risk of heart disease was 32% lower in vegetarians than non-vegetarians after an average follow-up of nearly 12 years.</p> <p>Further evidence came from randomised controlled trials. These instruct study participants to eat a specific diet for a specific period of time and monitor their health throughout. These studies showed eating a vegetarian or vegan diet led to reductions in weight, blood pressure, and levels of unhealthy cholesterol.</p> <p>For example, one <a href="https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/fullarticle/1832195">analysis</a> combined data from seven randomised controlled trials. This so-called meta-analysis included data from 311 participants. It showed eating a vegetarian diet was associated with a systolic blood pressure (the first number in your blood pressure reading) an average 5 mmHg lower compared with non-vegetarian diets.</p> <p>It seems vegetarian diets are more likely to be healthier, across a number of measures.</p> <p>For example, a 2022 <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s00394-022-02942-8">meta-analysis</a> combined the results of several observational studies. It concluded a vegetarian diet, rather than vegan diet, was recommended to prevent heart disease.</p> <p>There is also <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s13668-024-00533-z">evidence</a> vegans are more likely to have bone fractures than vegetarians. This could be partly due to a lower body-mass index and a lower intake of nutrients such as calcium, vitamin D and protein.</p> <h2>But it can be about more than just food</h2> <p>Many vegans, where possible, do not use products that directly or indirectly involve using animals.</p> <p>So vegans would not wear leather, wool or silk clothing, for example. And they would not use soaps or candles made from beeswax, or use products tested on animals.</p> <p>The motivation for following a vegan or vegetarian diet can vary from person to person. Common motivations <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2475299123157957">include</a> health, environmental, ethical, religious or economic reasons.</p> <p>And for many people who follow a vegan or vegetarian diet, this forms a central part of their <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9231820/">identity</a>.</p> <h2>So, should I adopt a vegan or vegetarian diet?</h2> <p>If you are thinking about a vegan or vegetarian diet, here are some things to consider:</p> <ul> <li> <p>eating more plant foods does not automatically mean you are eating a healthier diet. Hot chips, biscuits and soft drinks can all be vegan or vegetarian foods. And many <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-looked-at-700-plant-based-foods-to-see-how-healthy-they-really-are-heres-what-we-found-222991">plant-based alternatives</a>, such as plant-based sausages, can be high in added salt</p> </li> <li> <p>meeting the <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/nutrient-reference-values/nutrients">nutrient intake targets</a> for vitamin B12, iron, calcium, and iodine requires more careful planning while on a vegan or vegetarian diet. This is because meat, seafood and animal products are good sources of these vitamins and minerals</p> </li> <li> <p>eating a plant-based diet doesn’t necessarily mean <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-you-should-eat-a-plant-based-diet-but-that-doesnt-mean-being-a-vegetarian-78470">excluding</a> all meat and animal products. A healthy flexitarian diet prioritises eating more whole plant-foods, such as vegetables and beans, and less processed meat, such as bacon and sausages</p> </li> <li> <p>the <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines/australian-dietary-guidelines-1-5">Australian Dietary Guidelines</a> recommend eating a wide variety of foods from the five food groups (fruit, vegetables, cereals, lean meat and/or their alternatives and reduced-fat dairy products and/or their alternatives). So if you are eating animal products, choose lean, reduced-fat meats and dairy products and limit processed meats.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225275/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> </li> </ul> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katherine-livingstone-324808">Katherine Livingstone</a>, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Shutterstock</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/whats-the-difference-between-vegan-and-vegetarian-225275">original article</a>.</em></p> </div>

Food & Wine

We looked at 700 plant-based foods to see how healthy they really are. Here’s what we found

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/laura-marchese-1271636">Laura Marchese</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katherine-livingstone-324808">Katherine Livingstone</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p>If you’re thinking about buying plant-based foods, a trip to the supermarket can leave you bewildered.</p> <p>There are plant-based burgers, sausages and mince. The fridges are loaded with non-dairy milk, cheese and yoghurt. Then there are the tins of beans and packets of tofu.</p> <p>But how much is actually healthy?</p> <p>Our nutritional audit of more than 700 plant-based foods for sale in Australian supermarkets has just been <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889157524000516">published</a>. We found some products are so high in salt or saturated fat, we’d struggle to call them “healthy”.</p> <h2>We took (several) trips to the supermarket</h2> <p>In 2022, we visited two of each of four major supermarket retailers across Melbourne to collect information on the available range of plant-based alternatives to meat and dairy products.</p> <p>We took pictures of the products and their nutrition labels.</p> <p>We then analysed the nutrition information on the packaging of more than 700 of these products. This included 236 meat substitutes, 169 legumes and pulses, 50 baked beans, 157 dairy milk substitutes, 52 cheese substitutes and 40 non-dairy yoghurts.</p> <h2>Plant-based meats were surprisingly salty</h2> <p>We found a wide range of plant-based meats for sale. So, it’s not surprising we found large variations in their nutrition content.</p> <p>Sodium, found in added salt and which contributes to <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/bundles/healthy-living-and-eating/salt-and-heart-health">high blood pressure</a>, was our greatest concern.</p> <p>The sodium content varied from 1 milligram per 100 grams in products such as tofu, to 2,000mg per 100g in items such as plant-based mince products.</p> <p>This means we could eat our entire <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/salt">daily recommended sodium intake</a> in just one bowl of plant-based mince.</p> <p>An <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09637486.2022.2137786">audit</a> of 66 plant-based meat products in Australian supermarkets conducted in 2014 found sodium ranged from 316mg in legume-based products to 640mg in tofu products, per 100g. In a <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/11/11/2603">2019 audit</a> of 137 products, the range was up to 1,200mg per 100g.</p> <p>In other words, the results of our audit seems to show a consistent trend of plant-based meats <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09637486.2022.2137786">getting saltier</a>.</p> <h2>What about plant-based milks?</h2> <p>Some 70% of the plant-based milks we audited were fortified with calcium, a nutrient important for <a href="https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliving/calcium">bone health</a>.</p> <p>This is good news as a <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/5/1254">2019-2020 audit</a> of 115 plant-based milks from Melbourne and Sydney found only 43% of plant-based milks were fortified with calcium.</p> <p>Of the fortified milks in our audit, almost three-quarters (73%) contained the <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/food-essentials/five-food-groups/milk-yoghurt-cheese-andor-their-alternatives-mostly-reduced-fat">recommended amount of calcium</a> – at least 100mg per 100mL.</p> <p>We also looked at the saturated fat content of plant-based milks.</p> <p>Coconut-based milks had on average up to six times higher saturated fat content than almond, oat or soy milks.</p> <p><a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6643/12/5/1254">Previous audits</a> also found coconut-based milks were much higher in saturated fat than all other categories of milks.</p> <h2>A first look at cheese and yoghurt alternatives</h2> <p>Our audit is the first study to identify the range of cheese and yoghurt alternatives available in Australian supermarkets.</p> <p>Calcium was only labelled on a third of plant-based yoghurts, and only 20% of supermarket options met the recommended 100mg of calcium per 100g.</p> <p>For plant-based cheeses, most (92%) were not fortified with calcium. Their sodium content varied from 390mg to 1,400mg per 100g, and saturated fat ranged from 0g to 28g per 100g.</p> <h2>So, what should we consider when shopping?</h2> <p>As a general principle, try to choose whole plant foods, such as unprocessed legumes, beans or tofu. These foods are packed with vitamins and minerals. They’re also high in dietary fibre, which is good for your gut health and keeps you fuller for longer.</p> <p>If opting for a processed plant-based food, here are five tips for choosing a healthier option.</p> <p><strong>1. Watch the sodium</strong></p> <p>Plant-based meat alternatives can be high in sodium, so look for products that have <a href="https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/eating-well/how-understand-food-labels/food-labels-what-look">around</a> 150-250mg sodium per 100g.</p> <p><strong>2. Pick canned beans and legumes</strong></p> <p>Canned chickpeas, lentils and beans can be healthy and low-cost <a href="https://www.heartfoundation.org.au/getmedia/71522940-decf-436a-ba44-cd890dc18036/Meat-Free-Recipe-Booklet.pdf">additions to many meals</a>. Where you can, choose canned varieties with no added salt, especially when buying baked beans.</p> <p><strong>3. Add herbs and spices to your tofu</strong></p> <p>Tofu can be a great alternative to meat. Check the label and pick the option with the highest calcium content. We found flavoured tofu was higher in salt and sugar content than minimally processed tofu. So it’s best to pick an unflavoured option and add your own flavours with spices and herbs.</p> <p><strong>4. Check the calcium</strong></p> <p>When choosing a non-dairy alternative to milk, such as those made from soy, oat, or rice, check it is fortified with calcium. A good alternative to traditional dairy will have at least 100mg of calcium per 100g.</p> <p><strong>5. Watch for saturated fat</strong></p> <p>If looking for a lower saturated fat option, almond, soy, rice and oat varieties of milk and yoghurt alternatives have much lower saturated fat content than coconut options. Pick those with less than 3g per 100g.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/222991/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/laura-marchese-1271636">Laura Marchese</a>, PhD Student at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/katherine-livingstone-324808">Katherine Livingstone</a>, NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow and Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-looked-at-700-plant-based-foods-to-see-how-healthy-they-really-are-heres-what-we-found-222991">original article</a>.</em></p>

Food & Wine

Vegan raw food influencer dies of suspected "starvation and exhaustion"

<p>Zhanna Samsonova, a well-known vegan raw food influencer with a significant following on social media, has tragically passed away in Malaysia reportedly due to starvation and exhaustion resulting from her 'extreme' tropical fruit diet.</p> <p>For a decade, Zhanna, also known as Zhanna D'Art, had maintained a raw plant-based diet, which mainly consisted of exotic fruits, sunflower seed sprouts, fruit smoothies, and juices. Additionally, she occasionally practiced 'dry fasting,' abstaining from food and water for extended periods.</p> <p>The 39-year-old influencer, who had not consumed water for over six years, replaced it solely with fruit and vegetable juices. On July 21, she succumbed to what her mother described as a cholera-like infection exacerbated by her highly restrictive eating habits.</p> <p>At the time of her passing, Zhanna was in Malaysia, continuing her travels across Asia, which had spanned 17 years. Her family faced bureaucratic challenges in repatriating her body back to Russia, making the mourning process even more difficult. At the time of writing, her official cause of death has not yet been determined.</p> <p>Zhanna's mother, Vera Samsonova, expressed her disapproval of her daughter's extreme diet and had attempted to persuade her to adopt a more balanced approach, but her efforts were in vain.</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtLLqS1PecT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CtLLqS1PecT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Raw food Creation by Zhanna D’art (@rawveganfoodchef)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Over time, the influencer transitioned from a vegan diet to a purely raw food diet, sharing what she believed were 'healthy' recipes on her Instagram profile. However, her social media presence started to reveal an increasingly emaciated appearance, raising concerns among her followers, friends, and family.</p> <p>Many of her loved ones warned her about the potential dangers of her extreme diet, but Zhanna remained steadfast in her convictions. Ultimately, her refusal to heed their advice led to a tragic outcome, with reports indicating that her raw food diet contributed significantly to her demise.</p> <p>In 2021, during a trip to Russia, Zhanna contracted COVID-19 and chose to handle it through an unorthodox method of dry fasting, lasting more than ten days. Despite initially claiming to have overcome the virus, her health may have been compromised, leading to further complications down the line.</p> <p>The passing of Zhanna Samsonova has sparked discussions about the importance of balanced and informed dietary choices. Her story serves as a cautionary tale, urging individuals to approach extreme diets with care and consideration for their overall well-being.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Body

Piers Morgan lays into vegan activist Tash Peterson

<p>Prominent Australian vegan activist Tash Peterson found herself in the middle of a fiery debate with British media personality Piers Morgan during her appearance on his TV program, Uncensored.</p> <p>The 29-year-old activist donned a T-shirt with the slogan "end this holocaust" and an image of a caged pig, which immediately sparked heated discussions.</p> <p>Morgan began the conversation by suggesting that people might be turning away from veganism because they felt overwhelmed by aggressive approaches. He referred to Peterson's habit of entering restaurants and playing sounds of animals being slaughtered, aiming to draw attention to the treatment of animals in the meat industry.</p> <p>Peterson defended her actions, stating that it raises awareness about what she calls the "animal holocaust." However, Morgan took issue with her choice of words, asserting that the term "holocaust" should be reserved for the mass extermination of six million Jewish people during World War II. He questioned the use of such emotive language, fearing it would offend people.</p> <p>“You’re (Peterson) one of those people that runs into restaurants and plays sounds from screaming animals in abattoirs and so on,” said Morgan.</p> <p>“No, I don’t think so at all," replied Peterson. "I think it brings more attention to the animal holocaust.”</p> <p>“Why would you use the word 'holocaust'?" interjected Morgan. “Holocaust is the mass extermination of more than six million Jewish people by Adolf Hitler and the Nazis. Why would you use that very emotive language knowing it would offend people?”</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Peterson stood her ground, arguing that the term "holocaust" is applicable when looking at the broader definition of the word, as it refers to mass slaughter or destruction. She believed that multiple holocausts have occurred throughout history, extending the idea to include the suffering of non-human animals.</span></p> <p>“If you look at the definition of a holocaust it is slaughter or destruction on a mass scale," she said. "Multiple holocausts have occurred throughout human history and non-human animals can be subjected to the same atrocities that humans can.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cu9Pz8mKSjM/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cu9Pz8mKSjM/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Tash Peterson (@vganbooty)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Tomi Lahren, another guest on the show and a conservative political commentator from a ranching family, joined Morgan in opposing the comparison made by Peterson. Lahren emphasised the care given to animals within the farming and ranching communities.</p> <p>The conversation also touched on British TV personality Bear Grylls, who had recently given up veganism. Peterson accused Grylls of being a "fake vegan," which Morgan questioned, pointing out that Grylls had authored a vegan cookbook. Peterson, however, maintained that true vegans would never abandon their ethical stance against animal abuse and murder.</p> <p>Morgan concluded the discussion by criticising Peterson's protest methods, urging her to explore more effective ways to promote veganism rather than resorting to disruptive actions like entering restaurants and playing distressing animal sounds.</p> <p>Peterson is currently in the UK for the Vegan Camp Out Festival, where she is scheduled to be a guest speaker. However, she had to seek clearance from a Perth court due to charges related to an incident in which she allegedly refused to leave a restaurant during a <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/furious-chef-lets-loose-after-clash-with-vegan-protestors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">confrontation with anti-vegan chef John Mountain</a>.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Anti-vegan chef launches clothing line against activist

<p dir="ltr">Chef John Mountain has taken his feud with vegan activist Tash Peterson to the next level by unveiling a clothing line that names and shames her and her animal rights beliefs. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Perth chef, who has taken legal action against Ms Peterson after the pair tussled during protests at his restaurant Fyre, showed off the provocative range of tank-tops, t-shirts and hoodies on his new merchandise website.</p> <p dir="ltr">The merch page, which was launched on Saturday, promises customers will love the clothing “hopefully more than Tash loves chef”.</p> <p dir="ltr">It is now selling clothing that carries the restaurant's branding and slogans such as “Pleased to meat stew”, “no animals were harmed in the making of this shirt” and “all they have done is added fuel to the Fyre”.</p> <p dir="ltr">One t-shirt design features a half-star Google-style review graphic with the words: “Absolutely f***ing chaotic Tash Peterson”, which makes fun of Ms Peterson's description of a protest and the flood of Fyre reviews posted by vegans.</p> <p dir="ltr">Another design asks. “What's the difference between a vegan and a heroin addict? The vegan keeps it to themselves.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The clothing line comes after John Mountain announced all vegans would be banned from his restaurant due to “mental health reasons”.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mountain and Peterson have clashed several times at the Perth eatery, with Peterson’s latest demonstration resulting in legal action being taken against the staunch vegan and animal rights activist. </p> <p dir="ltr">After Peterson <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/furious-chef-lets-loose-after-clash-with-vegan-protestors" target="_blank" rel="noopener">stormed</a> his booked-out restaurant with other activists in tow, they stood outside with a megaphone, while shouting and playing sounds of squealing pigs, moments before the altercation was caught on camera.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mountain and Peterson came to physical blows as he wrestled them out of the restaurant, as he defended his choice to retaliate against the protestors, saying he chose to stand up to the bullies to "protect my business". </p> <p dir="ltr">"Bullies come in all different shapes and sizes and these lot just happen to be the vegans."</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: A Current Affair / Fyre</em></p>

Legal

Furious chef lets loose after clash with vegan protestors

<p>Celebrity chef John Mountain has doubled down on his vow to ban vegans from his restaurant in Perth, after he was targeted by angry vegan activists for the second time. </p> <p>The chef clashed with vegan protestor Tash Peterson on Saturday, after she stormed his booked-out restaurant with other activists in tow. </p> <p>Peterson and other activists stood outside with a megaphone, while shouting and playing sounds of squealing pigs, moments before the altercation was caught on camera.</p> <p>Speaking candidly on <em>A Current Affair</em>, Mountain said he planing his revenge to aggravate the protestors in retaliation. </p> <p>"You're barred for life and whenever I open any other business, now I'm going to start opening steak restaurants just to piss you off," John Mountain told <em>ACA</em> host Leila McKinnon about the activists who tried to storm his restaurant.</p> <p>When Peterson and her posse of protestors stormed his restaurant, called Fyre, on Saturday, Mountain said he'd had enough and confronted them. </p> <p>"I lost my cool because now it's really disrupting my business and I could see the look on my customers' faces, my staff — they were all a little scared and a bit nervous and I just stormed out," Mountain said.</p> <p>Police are investigating allegations of assault during the clash, after Peterson filed a report with attending officers.</p> <p>"We're not going after this restaurant because they're banning vegans — yes that was maybe a reason that instigated it — but at the end of the day it's because this man is profiting from animal abuse and murder and he's also glamourising it," she said on Sunday. </p> <p>Mountain defended his choice to retaliate against the protestors, saying he chose to stand up to the bullies to "protect my business". </p> <p>"Bullies come in all different shapes and sizes and these lot just happen to be the vegans."</p> <p>The chef became emotional while discussing the altercation, sharing how the war against vegans has greatly impacted his personal life.</p> <p>"I lost my partner because of this, I lost a relationship, I thought I was going to marry this woman and she just couldn't handle the amount of attention," he said while choking up with emotion.</p> <p>"Thanks vegans."</p> <p>The clash with protestors comes just weeks after Mountain posted on social media that vegans were now <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/f-k-vegans-top-chef-bans-vegans-from-restaurant" target="_blank" rel="noopener">banned</a> from his restaurant due to "mental health reasons", sparking outrage among activists and the vegan community.</p> <p><em>Image credits: A Current Affair / 9News </em></p>

Legal

“F**k vegans”: Top chef bans vegans from restaurant

<p dir="ltr">Top Aussie chef John Mountain has banned all vegans from his restaurant in Connoly, Perth after an ugly dispute with a customer split the internet.</p> <p dir="ltr">The chef took to Instagram on Tuesday to announce that vegans won’t be catered to at his restaurant Fyre, which is a big missed steak for the vegans.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Sadly all vegans are now banned from Fyre (for mental health reasons),” he wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We thank you for your understanding. Xx.”</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctq0GAXP1Lm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctq0GAXP1Lm/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Fyre (@fyrerestaurant)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">The ban reportedly came after a diner complained about the lack of vegan options and was charged $32 for a vegetable dish that was “okay but not that filling”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The young woman also added a personal attack against Mountain and said that his lack of accommodation showed his “shortcomings as a chef”.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also added that she’s “seen many restaurants come and go from that building and none of them last.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you don’t get with the times, I don’t hold out faith that your restaurant will be the one that does.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mountain accepted the complaint but not the personal attack, so he replied: “Thanks for your negative review… please feel free to share your s**tty experience and I look forward to not seeing you again.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“How very childish. You and all your vegan mates can all go and enjoy your dishes in another venue. You are now banned”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mountain, who was all Fyred up, also said: “F**k vegans seriously … I’m done. At the end of the day, it’s not what I want to do, they can f**k off.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Since the entire ordeal Fyre has been flooded with one star reviews, but many others have awarded it five stars and flooded the comments with positive messages.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Because of your news article I'm now following you and intend to book ! Love your comments and your wit!” wrote one person.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Never been to your restaurant before but we sure will be coming for a steak soon!!! Good on you for standing up for your restaurant,” commented another.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I can’t understand why so many vegans behave like meatheads,” commented a third.</p> <p><em>Image: Nine/ Instagram</em></p>

Food & Wine

"Makes us feel sick": Angry vegan slams meat-eating neighbours

<p>A letter from a vegan neighbour has gone viral, as they asked a close-by resident to close their windows while they cook meat. </p> <p>The hand-written note was published on a community Facebook page for the Perth northern coastal suburb of Burns Beach, and was labelled as an "Important message" for the recipient to "Please take seriously".</p> <p>The note began, "Hello, neighbour."</p> <p>"Could you please shut your side window when cooking, please?"</p> <p>"My family are vegan (we eat only plant-based food), and the smell of the meat you cook makes us feel sick and upset."</p> <p>"We would appreciate your understanding."</p> <p>The letter went viral not long after it was posted, and drew in a range of divided comments. </p> <p>Some people believed the request was a ridiculous ask, with many people wondering where they draw the line when it comes to catering for others. </p> <p>"I'd understand if they were smoking cigarettes and the smoke and smell was spreading and affecting the family's health," one person wrote.</p> <p>"But not liking the smell of meat, this isn't really a good reason to ask someone to close their windows."</p> <p>"What does she do when she takes the kids to the park, and people are cooking BBQs? Ask them to stop cooking. Audacity."</p> <p>Others thought the request was reasonable, and praised the writer's politeness. </p> <p>"I feel like this was a genuinely polite letter, and it’s true the smell of meat is overpowering," one person wrote.</p> <p>"It would be nice to see some respect for your neighbours, and not publicly trying to shame them for holding strong ethical morals."</p> <p>Another put it simply, "Be vegan. Eat meat. Each to their own!"</p> <p>One commenter suggested the recipient resort to good old neighbourly pettiness, encouraging them to "Write back and say you're offended and sad by what they said about your cooking and could they please move to a different room as you would appreciate their understanding."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Food & Wine

Alicia Silverstone bares all for cause she truly believes in

<p>Alicia Silverstone bared it all and posed nude in only faux leather boots for PETA’s new campaign.</p> <p>The campaign is an effort to promote more sustainable, vegan versions of the material.</p> <p>“If it takes me getting naked for you to care about animals then that is what I’m after,” the Clueless star, 46, said in a campaign video.</p> <p>“I never, ever, get naked in TV, in film, nothing, never, nope — but I’ve done it for PETA because that’s how much it matters to me,” the actress explained.</p> <p>“I’d rather go naked than wear animals,” Silverstone declared.</p> <p>“There’s this idea that leather is somehow better for the earth but what they don’t realise is the amount of resources – water, food, oil for transport – the amount of energy that goes into making leather is extraordinary. It’s just not sustainable. The Earth can’t handle it,” she refuted.</p> <p>Silverstone also posed with a cactus to encourage people to buy different types of vegan leather.</p> <p>“DON’T BE A PRICK,” the PETA picture proclaims. “Wear Vegan. Buy cactus, mushroom or apple leather instead!”</p> <p>This isn’t the first time the Clueless star has stripped down for a cause she loves. In 2019, she took it all off for PETA to encourage everyone to ditch wool, featuring on a Times Square billboard.</p> <p>Her new campaign will have its own billboard just in time for the New Year’s Eve ball drop.</p> <p>Silverstone has been a vegan since 1999 when she was 21 and has continued to live meat-free.</p> <p><em>Images: Peta</em></p>

Beauty & Style

Impossible Pork: “You may have a hard time convincing yourself it's not the real thing”

<p dir="ltr">California-based Impossible Foods is launching Impossible™ Pork at a number of iconic local restaurants and cafes across Australia. </p> <p dir="ltr">Impossible Pork is as versatile as pork from pigs and can be served in any minced pork dish like sausage rolls, meatballs, chilli, dumplings and xiao long bao. Because it’s made from plants, it uses 51% less water, 94% less land and generates 85% less greenhouse gasses (GHG) than its animal counterpart in Australia and rivals minced pork from pigs with its mild savoury flavour balanced with umami richness, without being gamey or overpowering.</p> <p dir="ltr">It contains no animal hormones, antibiotics, or added nitrates and it is certified gluten-free. Each 113-gram serving of Impossible Pork delivers 17.7 grams of protein and is a good source of zinc, calcium, and B vitamins (Niacin, B6 and B12).</p> <p dir="ltr">Now is the opportunity for local foodies across the country to enjoy a wide range of classic pork dishes made with Impossible Pork at restaurants including the acclaimed Vietnamese restaurant<a href="https://www.redlantern.com.au/"> Red Lantern</a> in Sydney, the iconic plant-based eatery<a href="https://www.smithanddaughters.com/"> Smith & Daughters</a> in Melbourne, and at any location of the cult dining institution<a href="https://www.buttersydney.com.au/"> Butter</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">A blind taste test in Hong Kong revealed over half of consumers surveyed prefer Impossible Pork over ground pork from pigs. Impossible Pork scored higher in every category tested, including flavour liking, texture liking, and purchase intent. </p> <p dir="ltr">Tasters in the US have also given Impossible Pork rave reviews, with<a href="https://www.cnet.com/health/impossible-pork-will-finally-be-available-commercially-starting-in-restaurants/"> CNET</a> saying: “Fair warning: You may have a hard time convincing yourself it's not the real thing,” and<a href="https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/10/18/the-evolution-of-an-empire-at-momofuku-ssam-bar/amp"> The New Yorker</a> restaurant critic calling the Spicy Rice Cakes served with Impossible Pork Ragu at David Chang’s Momofuku Ssäm Bar “a rare gastronomic gift that tastes more indulgent than it is.”</p> <p dir="ltr">“Australia is one of the heaviest meat-consuming markets per capita in the world and pork plays a central role in some of the nations’ favourite cuisines, so launching Impossible Pork there felt like the natural next step for our expansion,” said Jordan Sadowsky, Director of International at Impossible Foods. “We’re working with some of the most exciting chefs in Australia to showcase the culinary versatility of this product, and we think people are really going to love it.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Availability</p> <p dir="ltr">For the arrival of Impossible Pork, Impossible Foods has enlisted a number of Aussie chefs and restaurateurs to celebrate the nation’s love for all things local. Each chef has incorporated Impossible Pork in their own iconic food traditions, from dumplings to sausage rolls, giving consumers the chance to try it for brekky, lunch, dinner and smoko. Now available exclusively at:</p> <p dir="ltr"> </p> <p dir="ltr">NSW</p> <p dir="ltr">● <a href="https://www.redlantern.com.au/"> Red Lantern</a>, Darlinghust - serving Lemongrass Impossible™ Pork skewers served on a vermicelli, herb and pickled vegetable salad</p> <p dir="ltr">● <a href="https://singleo.com.au/surryhills/"> Single O</a>, Surry Hills - serving Impossible™ Pork Breakfast terrine with haloumi, saltbush crusted egg, smoked tomato achiote coulis and sea lettuce salsa verde</p> <p dir="ltr">● <a href="https://www.tacosmuchachos.com.au/"> Tacos Muchachos</a>, Redfern - serving Vegan Tacos Al Pastor Chorizo with Impossible™ Pork, guacamole salsa, red salsa, onion, cilantro and pineapple</p> <p dir="ltr">● <a href="https://www.buttersydney.com.au/"> Butter</a>, Chatswood, Surry Hills, Parramatta - serving Burnt Endz Impossible™ Pork Hot Ballz Ramen</p> <p dir="ltr">VIC</p> <p dir="ltr">● <a href="https://www.smithanddaughters.com/"> Smith & Daughters</a>, Collingwood - serving Classic Smith & Daughters Impossible™ Pork Sausage Roll and Braised Iranian Impossible™ Pork & buckwheat meatballs with pomegranate and farinata</p> <p dir="ltr">● <a href="https://breadclub.com.au/"> Bread Club</a>, North Melbourne - serving Impossible™ Pork Sausage Roll and Lasagne pie</p> <p dir="ltr">QLD</p> <p dir="ltr">● <a href="https://www.southside-restaurant.com.au/"> SouthSide</a>, South Brisbane - serving Spicy Impossible™ Pork Mapo Tofu, Impossible Pork Xiao Long Bao. Note: Available from Friday 19 August onwards </p> <p dir="ltr">● <a href="https://www.donnachang.com.au/"> Donna Chang</a>, Brisbane City - serving Impossible™ Pork Mapo Tofu</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-69117f28-7fff-d1b1-606e-278d18b71af0"></span></p> <p dir="ltr">To find other local restaurants serving Impossible Pork, visit:<a href="https://impossiblefoods.com/au-en/locations"> https://impossiblefoods.com/au-en/locations</a>.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Supplied</em></p>

Food & Wine

Boss’ unethical demands to employees

<p dir="ltr">A boss who demanded his employees clock off every time they’re away from doing their job has been called out. </p> <p dir="ltr">The vegan bakery in Oregon, USA, had the list of demands stuck to a door and a photo of it was shared to Reddit. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Always clock out when passing this door,” a bold line heads the note. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Including bathroom breaks, 10-minute shift breaks, lunch breaks, questions regarding personal requests.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Questions regarding production should not require leaving the production area, please see floor manager on duty.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Paid break times will be added to your paycheck in accordance with hours worked.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Reddit users slammed the boss for the inhumane demands, saying it’s an easy way to get your employees to leave.</p> <p dir="ltr">“If you want to buy my body for 8 hours, you will pay for its needs, too,” someone wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr">“How to lose 1/4 of your staff in one go,” another commented. </p> <p dir="ltr">“I need water and food to get through a work day. That means I need to get rid of that water and food during the work day as well. Don‘t like it? Hire a robot,” someone else wrote. </p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Reddit</em></p>

Money & Banking

Renowned activist strips down again moments after leaving court

<p>A vegan activist notorious for her outlandish stunts has staged another topless protest in Perth. This comes moments after being convicted for a similar stunt.</p> <p>A magistrate on Wednesday found her guilty of disorderly conduct, after she stormed the Perth Louis Vuitton store wearing only underwear and covered in fake blood in August of 2021.</p> <p>Outside the court, Peterson once again stripped down, baring her chest - with only her nipples covered - which showed the message “wear ur own skin!”</p> <p>Video of the Louis Vuitton stunt shows Peterson topless in her underwear, her body smeared with fake blood as she berated customers in-store.</p> <p>The well-known vegan activist stormed the Rain Square boutique, armed with a sign reading “rather be naked than wear someone else’s skin”.</p> <p>Inside the store, Peterson can be seen shouting and yelling in front of customers and their children that “there is blood on your hands if you’re not a vegan”, before she is escorted out.</p> <p>Her boyfriend and co-accused Jack Higgs and another protestor filmed the act for social media. The trio did not deny undertaking the protest, but argued they were not acting disorderly.</p> <p>“I’m just using my bodily freedom to raise awareness for those who have no bodily autonomy,” she said outside court last week.</p> <p>While Peterson was on Wednesday convicted of acting disorderly, magistrate Michelle Harries found Peterson’s boyfriend and the third protestor not guilty of the charges against them.</p> <p><em>Image: 7News</em></p>

Legal

Vegan meal option at wedding sparks outrage

<p dir="ltr">A photo of the lacklustre vegan meal option at a wedding reception has gone viral online, sparking outrage.</p> <p dir="ltr">The image, initially posted to the wedding guest’s social media account, shows a plate on which rests a handful of wilted rocket leaves, three pieces of rockmelon and honeydew melon, and a few drops of balsamic dressing. Her caption reads, “Vegan option at a wedding”, along with an eye-roll emoji.</p> <p dir="ltr">The post has since been shared to Reddit, prompting hundreds of responses, both from vegans and non-vegans alike. One commenter wrote, “What the fudge is this supposed to be? This is so insulting,” while another said, “This is literally so rude to your guest. I’d be so pissed.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A third person wrote, “It’s a couple mouthfuls of pure arugula and like half a bite of fruit. I’d send this back & get my own food if necessary. This is straight up disrespectful.” Another commenter said, “In these scenarios, you’re more than justified in drinking 3x your normal alcohol consumption and going on an angry vegan rant.”</p> <p dir="ltr">One commenter summarised popular opinion well, writing, “I’m not a vegan, but this lack of planning would infuriate me. Your life choices should be heard and accepted, regardless of anyone else’s feelings. To provide that as a meat-free alternative is frankly poor.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Many assumed that the couple were responsible for the bland meal, with one commenter writing, “Please be considerate about people’s choices at your wedding.”</p> <p dir="ltr">However, others argued that the caterers were responsible, with one commenter sharing their own experiences, writing, “I’m trying to plan a wedding right now and most caterers won’t even provide a vegan option unless at least two people will be eating it and I’m pretty sure I’m gonna be the only vegan there. It’s very difficult for me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">A chef shared their perspective, writing, “As a chef - that’s not the couple, that’s a poorly-run kitchen. No self-respecting chef would serve this.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Fellow vegans agreed that meals like this were a depressingly regular occurrence, with one writing, “I’ve got relatives that would pull something like this. My whole life they ****ed with me because I’m a veggie.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Other commenters failed to see the problem, with one person commenting, “It’s vegan, isn’t it?”</p>

Food & Wine

New study finds vegetarians and vegans more likely to suffer from depression

<p><em>Image: Getty</em></p> <p>Researchers from Queensland’s Bond University have found that a low-quality plant-based diet, compared to a diet rich in fresh produce, could lead to poorer mental health.</p> <p>Nutritional psychiatry researcher Megan Lee said the finding was particularly significant given the increasing popularity of vegan and vegetarian lifestyles and the proliferation of packaged foods targeted at those groups.</p> <p>Processed foods are high in refined vegetable oils, grains, salt and sugar.</p> <p>“There is a general perception that following a plant-based diet is inherently healthy but like any diet it comes down to what you put in your mouth,” Lee said.</p> <p>“Vegans and vegetarians are not automatically eating heaps of fruit and veg because there are all these products out there that are fully processed, fully refined.”</p> <p>People may inadvertently be consuming high levels of processed plant foods which is a known risk factor for increased depression.</p> <p>During the study, researchers looked at the diet and mental health of 219 vegans and vegetarians aged 18-44 across the country, who were then asked to complete relevant questionnaires.</p> <p>Researchers found those with lots of fresh fruit, vegetables, nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains in their diet were at a lower risk of depression compared to those on low-quality diets.</p> <p>The link in diet and the risk of depression was likely due to the presence of complex carbohydrates, fibre, probiotics and antioxidants, which have all been found to decrease symptoms of depression, Lee said.</p> <p>“It seems to have more a protective role,” she said.</p> <p>“Our research did not find that a plant-based diet was a treatment or fix for those who were already depressed.”</p> <p>Vegans and vegetarians are already more vulnerable to depression than the general population, Lee added.</p> <p>“We think this (susceptibility to depression) might be because vegans and vegetarians tend to be more conscious about external issues—animal welfare, environmental concerns—and they can be ostracised socially because of their choice of diet,” she said.</p> <p>The research also found meat-eaters can also protect their mental health by consuming more fruits and vegetables.</p>

Food & Wine

Five things for over-65s to consider when switching to a plant-based diet

<p>There are plenty of reasons people switch to a plant-based diet, including ethical and environmental reasons. However, a growing number of people are shunning meat for health reasons. Evidence shows that plant-based diets may help support the immune system, lower the risk of heart disease and stroke, and may be good for overall health.</p> <p>While a well-planned plant-based diet can support healthy living in people of all ages, our nutritional needs change with different life stages, so people over the age of 65 may need to take more care when opting for a plant-based diet. They may have specific nutritional needs and may need certain nutrients, vitamins and minerals to stay healthy.</p> <p>Here are some things over-65s may want to consider when switching to a plant-based diet:</p> <p><strong>1. Eat enough protein</strong><br />Older adults need more protein compared to the general adult population in order to preserve lean body mass, body function and good health. While most adults only need around 0.75g of protein per kilogram of body weight a day, it’s recommended that healthy older adults should increase their daily protein intake to 1.0-1.2g per kilogram of body weight. This is even higher for older adults who are malnourished or have a severe illness, as these conditions trigger a hypermetabolic state, where the body needs more energy and protein to function.</p> <p>To ensure adequate protein intake, make sure meals and snacks contain plant-based proteins, such as chickpeas, tofu, black-eyed beans, kidney beans, lentils, quinoa, wild rice, nuts and seeds, nut butters and soya alternatives to milk and yoghurt. Eggs and dairy products are also good protein sources if you’re including these in your diet.</p> <p><strong>2. Include calcium and vitamin D</strong><br />Calcium and vitamin D both play an important role in maintaining good bone health, which is extremely important in older age as osteoporosis and associated fractures are a major cause of bone-related diseases and mortality in older adults.</p> <p>Most adults need 700mg of calcium per day. However, women past the menopause and men over 55 should have 1200mg of calcium per day. There’s a wide range of non-dairy food products that contain calcium for those who are plant-based, including calcium fortified soya milk and almond milk, calcium fortified cereals, pitta bread, chapatti and white bread.</p> <p>For those who include fish in their diet, fish such as whitebait, and sardines and pilchards (with bones) contain good amounts of calcium per serving.</p> <p>Older adults are also recommended to get 10 micrograms (mcg) of vitamin D daily. Not only is vitamin D important for bone health, it’s also one of the nutrients involved in supporting the immune system and helping it to function properly. Older adults are more vulnerable to deficiency as they may have less sunlight exposure, and their skin is less able to synthesise vitamin D.</p> <p>Mushrooms grown in sunlight, fortified spreads, breakfast cereals, and dairy alternatives are all good sources of vitamin D.</p> <p>Having said this, it’s hard to get vitamin D from diet alone, so a supplement of 10mcg a day (especially in the winter for those who may not get outside often), is recommended. It’s worth noting that some vitamin D supplements aren’t suitable for vegans, as they may be derived from an animal source, so vitamin D2 and lichen-derived vitamin D3 may be used instead.</p> <p><strong>3. Get your vitamin B12</strong><br />Vitamin B12 is essential for making red blood cells, keeping the nervous system healthy, and providing energy. Older adults need 1.5 micrograms of vitamin B12 per day, similar to younger adults. But many older people may be at risk of vitamin B12 deficiency, affecting an estimated one in twenty people aged 65 to 74 and one in ten people over 75.</p> <p>Those who don’t eat meat, fish or eggs may not be getting enough vitamin B12, as it’s found abundantly in animal-based food sources. Some plant-based sources of vitamin B12 include fortified breakfast cereals, yeast extracts (like Marmite), soya yoghurts, and non-dairy milks. People may consider taking a Vitamin B12 supplement. Taking 2mg or less a day of vitamin B12 in supplements is unlikely to cause any harm. However, they should consult their doctor or registered dietitian first.</p> <p><strong>4. Eat iron-rich foods</strong><br />Low iron intake can be an issue for those who don’t have a varied diet, especially for men aged 65 and over living in residential care homes and women over 85.</p> <p>Iron is essential for making red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. It’s also essential for physical performance, wound healing, supporting the immune system, cognitive development and function and thyroid metabolism. Older adults need 8.7mg of iron a day.</p> <p>Foods containing vitamin C – such as citrus fruits – may help the body absorb iron better. Alexandra Anschiz/ Shutterstock<br />Plant sources include wholegrains, green leafy vegetables like spinach, seeds, pulses and dried fruits. Since iron in plant foods is absorbed less efficiently compared to iron in animal proteins, having vitamin C-rich foods like citrus fruits, green pepper and broccoli can help iron be better absorbed.</p> <p><strong>5. Make every bite count</strong><br />Some people find their appetite decreases as they get older. This can be caused by difficulties with chewing and swallowing, constipation, acute illness, impaired taste, vision and smell. But reduced appetite can contribute to unintentional weight loss and nutritional deficiencies. It’s therefore important to find ways to get adequate nutrition in every meal, especially when plant-based, such as:</p> <ul> <li>Including protein in each meal.</li> <li>Eat small meals and snacks in between throughout the day.</li> <li>Include plant-based milks (such as soya, almond, or coconut milk) in your tea, coffee or smoothie.</li> <li>Add olive, vegetable or sunflower oil to your favourite meals.</li> <li>Mix plant creams or vegan cheese in mashed potatoes, soups and stews.</li> <li>Add nut butters to bread, dairy-free yoghurt and smoothies.</li> </ul> <p>No matter your age, switching to a plant-based diet may have many health benefits if planned properly. Consulting with a registered dietitian before making the switch may help you develop the best plant-based diet tailored to your specific needs.</p> <p><em>Written by Taibat Ibitoye. This article first appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/vegetarian-and-vegan-diet-five-things-for-over-65s-to-consider-when-switching-to-a-plant-based-diet-144088">The Conversation</a>.</em></p>

Food & Wine

What meat eaters really think about veganism

<p>Most people in the UK are committed meat eaters – but for how long? My <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/11/23/6844">new research</a> into the views of meat eaters found that most respondents viewed veganism as ethical in principle and good for the environment.</p> <p>It seems that practical matters of taste, price, and convenience are the main barriers preventing more people from adopting veganism – not disagreement with the fundamental idea. This could have major implications for the future of the food industry as meat alternatives become tastier, cheaper and more widely available.</p> <p>My survey of 1,000 UK adult men and women found that 73% of those surveyed considered veganism to be ethical, while 70% said it was good for the environment. But 61% said adopting a vegan diet was not enjoyable, 77% said it was inconvenient, and 83% said it was not easy.</p> <p>Other possible barriers such as health concerns and social stigma seemed not to be as important, with 60% considering veganism to be socially acceptable, and over half saying it was healthy.</p> <p>The idea that most meat eaters agree with the principles of veganism might seem surprising to some. But other research has led to similar conclusions. <a href="https://www.sentienceinstitute.org/press/animal-farming-attitudes-survey-2017">One study</a> for example, found that almost half of Americans supported a ban on slaughterhouses.</p> <p>The prevalence of taste, price, and convenience as barriers to change also mirrors previous findings. One <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/vegans-aggressive-british-people-turn-off-vegetarianism-meat-dairy-study-a7880251.html">British survey</a> found that the most common reason by far people gave for not being vegetarian is simply: “I like the taste of meat too much.” The second and third most common reasons related to the high cost of meat substitutes and struggling for meal ideas.</p> <p>These findings present climate and animal advocates with an interesting challenge. People are largely aware that there are good reasons to cut down their animal product consumption, but they are mostly not willing to bear the personal cost of doing so.</p> <p><strong>Food motivation</strong></p> <p>Decades of <a href="https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/0b73/a4602c6d0c01e9a2cab64ea8003926add00f.pdf">food behaviour research</a> has shown us that price, taste and convenience are the three major factors driving food choices. For most people, ethics and environmental impact simply do not enter into it.</p> <p>Experimental research has also shown that the act of eating meat can alter peoples’ views of the morality of eating animals. <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195666310003648">One study</a> asked participants to rate their moral concern for cows. Before answering, participants were given either nuts or beef jerky to snack on.</p> <p>The researchers found that eating beef jerky actually caused participants to care less about cows. People seem not to be choosing to eat meat because they think there are good reasons to do so – they are choosing to think there are good reasons because they eat meat.</p> <p>In this way, the default widespread (and, let’s be honest, enjoyable) behaviour of meat eating can be a barrier to clear reasoning about our food systems. How can we be expected to discuss this honestly when we have such a strong interest in reaching the conclusion that eating meat is okay?</p> <p>Fortunately, things are changing. The range, quality, and affordability of vegan options has exploded. My survey was conducted in September 2018, a few months before the tremendously successful release of Greggs’ <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/greggs-staff-bonus-vegan-sausage-roll-steak-bake-sales-a9274766.html">vegan sausage roll</a>.</p> <p>Since then, we have seen an avalanche of high-quality affordable vegan options released in the British supermarkets, restaurants and even <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-7869531/High-Street-vegan-lunches-contain-FIVE-teaspoons-sugar.html">fast food outlets</a>. These allow meat eaters to easily replace animal products one meal at a time. When Subway offers a version of its meatball marinara that is compatible with your views on ethics and the environment, why would you choose the one made from an animal if the alternative tastes the same?</p> <p>The widespread availability of these options means that the <a href="https://www.finder.com/uk/uk-diet-trends">growing number</a> of vegans, vegetarians and <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/01/third-of-britons-have-stopped-or-reduced-meat-eating-vegan-vegetarian-report">flexitarians</a> in the UK have more choice than ever. Not only will this entice more people to try vegan options, but it will make it far easier for aspiring vegetarians and vegans to stick to their diets.</p> <p>With consumer choice comes producer competition, and here we will see the magic of the market. If you think those looking to cut down their meat consumption are spoilt for choice in 2020, just wait to see the effect of these food giants racing to make their vegan offerings better and cheaper as they compete for a rapidly growing customer segment.</p> <p>We may be about to witness an explosion in research to perfect plant-based meat analogues. Meanwhile, the development of real animal meat grown from stem cells without the animals is <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/09/can-lab-grown-food-save-the-planet">gaining pace</a>.</p> <p><strong>Cheaper and tastier</strong></p> <p>While these replacements get tastier, more nutritious and cheaper over the next ten years, meat from animals will largely stay the same. It is no wonder the animal farming industry is nervous. Demand for meat and dairy is <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/red-meat-sales-hit-as-800-000-people-go-vegetarian-kpz2k3xnz">falling drastically</a> while the market for alternatives has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/food/2019/jul/19/plant-based-milk-the-choice-for-almost-25-of-britons-now">skyrocketed</a>.</p> <p>In the US, two major dairy producers have <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-01-10/distaste-for-dairy-sends-milk-processors-to-bankruptcy-court">filed for bankruptcy</a> in recent months, while a <a href="https://www.rethinkx.com/press-release/2019/9/16/new-report-major-disruption-in-food-and-agriculture-in-next-decade">recent report</a> estimated that the meat and dairy industries will collapse in the next decade.</p> <p>This leaves the average meat eater with a dilemma. Most agree with the reasons for being vegan but object to the price, taste, and convenience of the alternatives.</p> <p>As these alternatives get cheaper, better and more widespread, meat eaters will have to ask themselves just how good the alternatives need to be before they decide to consume in line with their values. Being one of the last people to pay for needless animal slaughter because the alternative was only “pretty good” will not be a good look in the near future.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important; text-shadow: none !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/129583/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /></p> <p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/chris-bryant-939232">Chris Bryant</a>, PhD Candidate, <a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-bath-1325">University of Bath</a></em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-meat-eaters-really-think-about-veganism-new-research-129583">original article</a>.</em></p>

Food & Wine

Why we shouldn’t all be vegan

<p>After decades in which the number of people choosing to cut out meat from their diet has steadily increased, 2019 is set to be the year the world changes the way that it eats. Or at least, that’s the ambitious aim of a major campaign under the umbrella of an organisation simply called <a href="https://eatforum.org/">EAT</a>. The core message is to discourage meat and dairy, seen as part of an “over-consumption of protein” – and specifically to target consumption of beef.</p> <p>The push comes at a time when consumer behaviour already seems to be shifting. In the three years following 2014, according to research firm GlobalData, there was a <a href="https://www.reportbuyer.com/product/4959853/top-trends-in-prepared-foods-2017-exploring-trends-in-meat-fish-and-seafood-pasta-noodles-and-rice-prepared-meals-savory-deli-food-soup-and-meat-substitutes.html">six-fold increase</a> in people identifying as vegans in the US, a huge rise – albeit from a very low base. It’s a similar story in the UK, where the number of vegans has increased by 350%, compared to a decade ago, at least according to <a href="https://www.ipsos.com/ipsos-mori/en-uk/vegan-society-poll">research</a> commissioned by the Vegan Society.</p> <p>And across Asia, many governments are promoting plant-based diets. New government dietary guidelines in China, for example, call on the nation’s 1.3 billion people to reduce their meat consumption <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/jun/20/chinas-meat-consumption-climate-change">by 50%</a>. Flexitarianism, a mostly plant-based diet with the occasional inclusion of meat, is <a href="https://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Article/2017/08/15/Flexitarianism-almost-a-third-of-Brits-carve-meat-intake">also on the rise</a>.</p> <h2>‘Conquering the world’</h2> <p>Big food companies have noticed the shift and have jumped onto the vegan wagon, the most prominent ones tightly associated with EAT through its <a href="https://eatforum.org/initiatives/fresh/">FReSH program</a>. Unilever, for instance, is a very vocal partner. Recently, the multinational announced it was acquiring a meat-substitute company called “The Vegetarian Butcher”. <a href="https://www.unilever.com/news/press-releases/2018/unilever-acquires-the-vegetarian-butcher.html">It described</a> the acquisition as part of a strategy to expand “into plant-based foods that are healthier and have a lower environmental impact”. Currently, Unilever sells just under 700 products under the “V-label” in Europe.</p> <p>“The Vegetarian Butcher” was conceived in 2007 by farmer Jaap Kortweg, chef Paul Brom and marketer Niko Koffeman, a Dutch Seventh-Day Adventist who is vegetarian for religious and ideological reasons. Koffeman is also at the origin of the <em>Partij voor de Dieren</em>, a political party advocating for animal rights in The Netherlands. Like EAT, the Vegetarian Butcher seeks to “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/dec/19/unilever-joins-meat-free-revolution-after-buying-the-vegetarian-butcher">conquer the world</a>”. Its mission is “to make plant-based ‘meat’ the standard” – and the alliance with Unilever paves the way.</p> <p>The dietary shift would require a remarkable turn around in consumer habits. Of course, there is much that both can and should be done to improve the way that we eat, both in terms of consumer health and environmental impact. And yes, a key plank of the strategy will be shifting consumers away from beef. But the extreme vision of some of the campaign’s backers is somewhat startling. Former UN official Christiana Figueres, for example, thinks that anyone who wants a steak should be banished. “How about restaurants in ten to 15 years start treating carnivores the same way that smokers are treated?”, Figueres <a href="https://www.svt.se/nyheter/utrikes/vill-forbjuda-kott-pa-restauranger-kottatare-ska-behandlas-som-rokare-pa-krogen">suggested</a> during a recent conference. “If they want to eat meat, they can do it outside the restaurant.”</p> <p>This statement is typical of what social scientists call “<a href="https://www.learnliberty.org/videos/bootleggers-and-baptists/">bootlegger and Baptist</a>” coalitions, in which groups with very different ideas – and values – seek to rally under a common banner. And this is what worries us. The campaign to “conquer the world” can be rather simplistic and one-sided, and we think this has some dangerous implications.</p> <h2>A skewed view?</h2> <p>EAT, for example, describes itself as a science-based global platform for <a href="https://eatforum.org/">food system transformation</a>. It has partnered with Oxford and Harvard universities, as well as with the medical journal The Lancet. But we have concerns that some of the science behind the campaign and the policy is partial and misleading.</p> <p>It is long on things that we all know are bad, such as some excesses of factory farming and rainforest clearing to raise beef cattle. But it is mostly silent on such things as the <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174012003385?via%3Dihub">nutritional assets</a> of animal products, especially for <a href="https://academic.oup.com/jn/article/137/4/1119/4664672">children</a> in rural African settings, and the <a href="http://www.fao.org/ag/againfo/home/en/news_archive/2017_More_Fuel_for_the_Food_Feed.html">sustainability benefits</a> of livestock in areas as diverse as sub-Saharan Africa to traditional European upland valleys. And, if vegetarian diets show that traditional markers for heart disease, such as “total cholesterol”, are usually improved, this is not the case for the more predictive (and thus valuable) markers such as the triglyceride/HDL (or “good” cholesterol) ratio, which even <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3996202/">tend to deteriorate</a>.</p> <p>More importantly, most nutritional “evidence” originates from epidemiology, which is not able to show causation but only statistical correlations. Not only are the associations <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174015300218">weak</a>, the research is generally confounded by <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5574618/">lifestyle</a> and <a href="https://www.nature.com/articles/ejcn201563">other dietary factors</a>. Not to mention that part of the epidemiological data, such as the <a href="https://www.acc.org/latest-in-cardiology/articles/2018/08/22/14/15/tues-515am-pure-esc-2018">PURE study</a>, show that the consumption of meat and dairy can be associated with less – rather than more – chronic disease.</p> <h2>Not so simple</h2> <p>In any case, even if plant-based diets can in theory provide the nutrients people need, as long as they are supplemented with critical micronutrients (such as vitamin B12 and certain long-chain fatty acids), that is not to say that in practice shifting people towards them will not result in a great many people following poorly balanced diets and suffering ill health in consequence. And when a vegan diet fails, for instance due to poor supplementation, it may result in serious physical and cognitive impairment and <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/70/4/582">failure to thrive</a>.</p> <p>The approach seems particularly risky during pregnancy and for the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/10408398.2018.1437024">very young</a>, as also documented by a long list of clinical <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3407531/">case reports</a> in medical literature. Animal products are exceptionally nutrient-dense dietary sources – removing them from the diet compromises metabolic robustness. Without sufficient insight in the complexities of nutrition and human metabolism, it is easy to overlook important issues as the proportion of nutrients that can be absorbed from the diet, nutrient interactions and protein quality.</p> <p>The same <a href="https://www.efanews.eu/en/item/6053-the-eat-lancet-commission-will-launch.html/">debate needs to be had</a> when it comes to consideration of the environmental question. Too fast or radical a shift towards “plant-based” diets risks losing realistic and achievable goals, such as increasing the benefits of natural grazing and embracing farming techniques that reduce the wasteful feeding of crops to animals, lower climate impact and enhance biodoversity.</p> <p>A shift towards a radically plant-based planetary diet loses the many benefits of livestock – including its deployment on land that is not suitable for crop production, its contribution to livelihoods, and the many other benefits that animals provide. It mistakenly assumes that land use can be swiftly altered and ignores the potential of farming techniques that <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0308521X17310338">may even have mitigating effects</a>.</p> <p>Sustainable, ecological and harmonious animal production really should be part of the solution of the “world food problem”, considered from both the nutritional and environmental scenarios. The Earth is an extraordinarily complex ecosystem – any one-size-fits-all solution risks wreaking havoc with it.</p> <p></p> <p><span><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/martin-cohen-406203">Martin Cohen</a>, Visiting Research Fellow in Philosophy, <em><a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-hertfordshire-799">University of Hertfordshire</a></em> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/frederic-leroy-659117">Frédéric Leroy</a>, Professor of Food Science and Biotechnology, <em><a href="http://theconversation.com/institutions/vrije-universiteit-brussel-2958">Vrije Universiteit Brussel</a></em></span></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="http://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-we-shouldnt-all-be-vegan-109308">original article</a>.</p>

Body

Vegans slam Bunnings for charity sausage sizzle to support bushfire victims

<p>Vegans have hit out at Bunnings for holding a sausage sizzle to raise funds for bushfire victims.</p> <p>The hardware retailer is set to hold a nation-wide fundraiser on November 22 in support of communities affected by the bushfires and drought ravaging New South Wales and Queensland.</p> <p>The initiative has been slammed on a Facebook group for Australian vegans.</p> <p>“Why oh why are people selling sausages to raise money when it’s known that meat is a contributing factor to climate change? Which is a contributing factor to these fires!” one person wrote.</p> <p>“It honestly baffles my mind and makes me so sad.</p> <p>“It’s a heartbreaking vicious cycle.”</p> <p>Some agreed with the woman’s post, saying, “They can shove their sausage where the sun don’t shine.”</p> <p>However, others said priority should be given to the efforts in fighting the blazes. “Right now, helping those fighting the fires is more dire than fighting the meat industry for climate change,” one commented.</p> <p>The post has since been deleted.</p> <p>Former NSW Liberal leader Kerry Chikarovski said the comment failed to regard the communities that Bunnings supports.</p> <p>“They’re community-based sausage sizzles, they happen every week,” she said.</p> <p>“All they’re doing is extending that, and saying this time we’re going to give all the money to victims, which is a great thing.</p> <p>“Every corporate in the country should be thinking about how they can contribute to helping people rebuild their lives.”</p> <p>The death toll from the bushfires had risen to four, with a severe fire danger rating in place for the far north coast, north coast, Greater Hunter, Greater Sydney Region and Illawarra-Shoalhaven.</p>

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Disney’s US theme parks are expanding their vegan menu

<p>For people with dietary restrictions, dining at the amusement park can be less than festive with limited variety and food options. But now Disney has made an effort to cater to vegetarians and vegans as it expanded its <span><a href="https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/disney-theme-parks-vegan/index.html">plant-based offerings</a></span> at all of the major restaurants within its US theme parks.</p> <p>Hundreds of plant-based options will be added to the menu at all of Disney’s major quick and table service restaurants, with a green leaf symbol to denote the vegan- and vegetarian-friendly meals.</p> <p>The new menu items will be rolled out in Florida’s Walt Disney World starting October, and in Anaheim’s Disneyland starting spring 2020. Visitors will find more than 400 plant-based dishes, including steamed Asian dumplings at Le Cellier, chili-spiced crispy fried tofu bowl at Animal Kingdom and cashew cheesecake at California Grill.</p> <p>The initiative to include vegan options on every menu is limited to the US. However, there are also animal-free options at international parks, such as caramel mix nuts banana cake at Shanghai Disney Resort and risotto-style spelt with mushrooms in Paris.</p> <p>Previously, herbivore visitors had to sort out their meals on their own. A blog titled <span><a href="https://vegandisneyworld.com/vegan-options/vegan-animal-kingdom/"><em>Vegan Disney World</em></a></span> listed all the vegan food options within the Disney Parks, ranging from pineapple Dole Whip to roasted vegetable bowl.</p>

International Travel

Pete Evans slams vegan parents after tragic case of malnourished baby girl: “This is so sad”

<p>Celebrity chef Pete Evans has criticised those who force their children to follow a strict vegan diet, after a couple from Sydney were convicted over the malnourishment of their baby girl.</p> <p>The parents were sentenced to 18 months prison yesterday, but still managed to escape time behind bars. Although, after police discovered their 20-month-old girl severely malnourished and suffering from rickets, their remaining children were taken away.</p> <p>Her diet consisted of just oats, bread and a few mouthfuls of vegetables a day for months after the mother became “increasingly fixated” on veganism.</p> <p>The young girl looked like a three-month old, weighing only 4.89kg. She was unable to crawl or sit up with help, had zero bone development and suffered from swollen legs due to fluid build-up.</p> <p>But after switching up her diet in April 2018 and provided extra support, she began to grow and her teeth emerged.</p> <p>The<span> </span><em>My Kitchen Rules</em><span> </span>judge had a few things to say about the incident, saying it was wrong for depriving a young child of meat.</p> <p>“This is so, so sad,” said the paleo chef in a Facebook post.</p> <p>“I will repeat it again and again. Humans are omnivores and we are designed to eat meat in our diet. Children should not be on a vegan plant-only diet.”</p> <p>The 46-year-old pleaded with parents to “please use common sense”, especially when it came to their kids’ diets.</p> <p>“If you choose to eat a plant-based diet as an adult then that is your choice and go for it … but please, please be wise with choices of what you feed your children.”</p> <p>But not everyone was happy with the chef’s choice of words, saying it had nothing to do with veganism, and was simply due to neglect.</p> <p>“The fact the diet was ‘vegan’ really has nothing to do with it. It was simply inadequate,” wrote one user.</p> <p>“There are vegan diets of crap pizza, pasta and chips … and vegan diets of wholesome organic vegetables and produce. There is a HUGE difference,” said another.</p>

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Vegans slam Bunnings for charity sausage sizzle to support bushfire victims

Disney’s US theme parks are expanding their vegan menu

Pete Evans slams vegan parents after tragic case of malnourished baby girl: “This is so sad”

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