Jump to content

Veganism

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by Rosemaryamey (talk | contribs) at 20:13, 19 May 2004 (copyedit). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.


In its adjective form, vegan describes:

  • people (who avoid all animal products),
  • diets (plant-based),
  • food (containing no animal products), and
  • products (containing no animal products and not animal tested).

As a noun, a vegan is a person who follows a vegan lifestyle (i.e. avoiding animal products). Some vegans see this usage as offensive, and prefer to be referred to using the adjective form.

Veganism is defined in the following quote from the Memorandum of Association, the British Vegan Society (2004):

"The word 'veganism' denotes a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practical — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, including humans and the environment.
In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."

Overview

The word vegan (pronounced vee-gun, but less commonly as vay-gun) was originally derived from vegetarian in 1944 when Elsie Shrigley and Donald Watson founded the UK Vegan Society. The word starts and ends with the first three and last two letters of vegetarian, representing that veganism begins with vegetarianism and then takes it to its logical conclusion. Therefore the term vegan was originally coined to differentiate those vegetarians who (primarily for ethical or environmental reasons) sought to eliminate all animal products in all areas of their lives from those who simply avoided eating meat.

Those who are vegans for ethical reasons today generally oppose the violence and cruelty they see as involved in the (non-vegan) food, clothing and other industries. By extension cruelty and exploitation are avoided in all human activities and relationships between people as well as with animals. Animal products such as leather, silk or wool are avoided. Soap must be of vegetable oil instead of animal. Toothpaste and hair products, etc., must not be tested by animal experiments such as the Draize or the LD50 tests.

The group argued that the elimination of exploitation of any kind was necessary in order to bring about a more reasonable and humane society. From its inception, veganism was defined as a "philosophy" and "way of living." It was never intended to be merely a diet and, still today, describes a lifestyle and belief system that revolves around a reverence for life. - Joanne Stepaniak (author of The Vegan Sourcebook).

That the vegan movement has distanced itself, over the years, from the simple dietary practice of vegetarians is evidenced in British supermarkets such as Sainsburys, Tesco and the Co-op by the numerous products which are marked either "suitable for vegetarians" or "suitable for vegetarians and vegans" - clearly giving mainstream acceptance to the difference between the two systems. For instance, the Co-op supermarket has a website where customers can learn more about these two philosophies' dietary requirements.

Other goals may include polyculture and other means of sustainable agriculture. Some vegans see this as part and parcel of their veganism.

Animal products

Animal products include all forms of meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, eggs, dairy products, fur, leather, wool, silk, and byproducts such as gelatin, rennet, whey, and the like. The Vegan Society and most vegans include insect products such as honey and beeswax in their definition as well. There is some debate on the finer points of what constitutes an animal product; some vegans avoid cane sugar that has been filtered with bone char and some won't drink beers and wines clarified with egg whites, animal blood (this is exceedingly rare today), or isinglass (even though they are not present in the final product). Further, some vegans won't eat food cooked in pans if they have ever been used to cook meat, while other vegans are content to simply remove meat, fish, eggs, and milk from their diets. An exception is human milk, when freely given by the lactating mother.

Motivation

Many vegans cite, as their primary motivation, the concept of reducing animal suffering. Utilitarian philosopers, such as Jeremy Bentham, and especially Peter Singer, argue that the suffering of all sentient animals should be taken into consideration when making ethical decision; thus, by abstaining from consuming products from animals exploited for food - veganism is the application of this system of ethics. Though Peter Singer's ethical theory recognizes the suffering of sentient animals, it does not, however, rely on the concept of rights. However, philosophers such as Tom Regan and Gary Francione believe that because sentient animals are capable of valuing their life, they have the inherent right to possess their own flesh, and therefore it is unethical to treat sentient animals as property, or as a commodity.

For many, the vegan philosophy also has close connections with the concept of Ahimsa, a Sanskrit word central to the Jain sect of Hinduism and taught by Mahatma Gandhi - Ahimsa roughly means "non-killing and non-harming." The American Vegan Society website says: "It is not mere passiveness, but a positive method of meeting the dilemmas and decisions of daily life. In the western world, we call it Dynamic Harmlessness." Ahimsa is also used as a backronym: Abstinence from animal products, Harmlessness with reverence for life, Integrity of thought, word, and deed, Mastery over oneself, Service to humanity, nature, and creation, and Advancement of understanding and truth.

Those who avoid animal products for reasons of health (eg, due to allergies or to avoid cholesterol) rather than compassion sometimes describe themselves as "dietary vegans". However, popular vegan author Joanne Stepaniak argues that this term is inappropriate because veganism is by definition about helping animals. She believes that a term such as "total vegetarian" would be a better categorisation for those who, for example, avoid eating meat and dairy products, but continue to buy new leather shoes.

A Time/CNN poll published in Time Magazine July 7, 2002, found that 4% of Americans consider themselves vegetarians, and 5% of self-described vegetarians consider themselves vegans. This small-sampled poll may suggest that two-tenths-of-one-percent of Americans are vegans; therefore, there are about half-a-million American vegans. A 2000 poll suggested closer to 0.9% of the USA population may be vegan, i.e. 2.5 million citizens.

In the UK, research [1] showed that 0.4%, approximately 250 000 people were vegan in 2001.


Modern veganism in context

Veganism is a modern idea in the developed world, as a reaction to the exploitation of nature, including imposing unnecessary suffering on non-human animals. Thus it is seen as a minor and localised reaction to the excesses of the developed world.

But modern veganism can be contrasted with traditional 'veganism'. A 'vegan' diet has been followed for thousands of years by adherents of many Eastern religions, e.g. Jainism, Buddhism and is an integral part of a lifestyle which tries to promote harmony and non-suffering. (See the discussion of 'Ahimsa' elsewhere on this page, and in Wikipedia).

Also, in most parts of the world, animal products are a minor part of the diet , and this has been true for many centuries (whether for religious or ethical reasons, or for more pragmatic reasons like health, climate or lack of infrastructure).

This traditional avoidance of animal products is continuously threatened by the increased Westernisation of less developed countries. It is known that 'progress' in these countries brings a wide range of new illnesses, partly through the changes in the eating patterns of its people.

It is therefore felt that the developed world, notwithstanding the concept of veganism, still has some way to go before it can claim to constructively promote a healthful and authentic diet, and a natural, sustainable way of life.

Similar diets

There are several diets similar to veganism, including the aforementioned fructarian diet, raw foods, and the macrobiotic diet. There are also numerous religious groups that regularly or occasionally practice a similar diet, including some sects of Buddhism, Hinduism, and Jainism, as well as some Christian sects as the Eastern Orthodox church and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

More recently, many young people who subscribe to the anarcho-punk or straight edge punk movements have embraced veganism, and corresponding beliefs of the animal rights movement.

Vegan Nutrition

For references on nutrition, see below.

The best way for any person, Vegan or not, to attain adequate nutrition is to eat a variety of foods from different food groups (see Food pyramid). Vegans start off with potentially high advantages: increased vegetable intake (normally), and avoidance of foods high in animal fats and saturated fats, such as fatty meat, cheese and eggs.

However, care still needs to be taken. The vegan diet is not necessarily healthful, since it is couched in negative terms (it prescribes what is not to be eaten rather than what is). Good nutrition requires regular positive choices of a wide variety within various food types.

The needs for various minerals and vitamins will be met by eating a wide variety of unprocessed foods. Vitamin B12 can be obtained in some yeast extracts (check labels). Some feel vegans must consume foods that are supplemented with it: others point out that the bacteria which produce cyanocobalamine (B12) will survive in the human digestive system and produce the B12 without the need for supplements. However, no scientific test has yet found a reliable vegetable source (ie. one that works consistently for all testees) of B12, and the UK Vegan Society recommends the use of supplements derived from bacteria.

Omega-3 fatty acids can be obtained from Vegan sources such as fresh, cold pressed flaxseed or canola (rapeseed) oils, as well as in walnuts and dark green leafy vegetables.

There is research which shows that vegans have lower levels of calcium in their body, but this is not supported by any research to show that these low levels are harmful. It is thought that vegans are better able to maintain calcium levels in their body than those following higher protein diets (see Langley, 1988, page 77).

One should note that nutrition is about balance. Too much or too little of one nutrient can be dangerous. Dietary supplementation can be problematic for this reason. Most countries have recommended daily allowances for all vitamins and minerals.

Trans fat (partially hydrogenated oils) can be found in some popular Vegan and vegetarian products such as veggie-burgers, French fries and almost all baked goods. Trans fat does not occur naturally and can lead to heart disease.

Possible benefits

Besides diminishing animal suffering, a vegan diet can reduce the risk of many health problems, including heart failure, obesity, diabetes, asthma, high blood pressure, and cancer.

Veganism also may be friendlier to the environment and may improve the conditions of low income people in and out of third world countries by freeing more food for human consumption - for most forms of livestock, approximately 10kg of grain are needed for every kg of meat produced.

Vegan cuisine

For a list of vegan recipes complementary to this article see the wiki cookbook section, Vegan cuisine.

Criticism and Backlash

Criticism

Veganism is often criticized on nutritional and ethical bases. Many of these are reactions to vegan criticisms of meat eating and agricultural practice.

Backlash

Like most alternative lifestyles, veganism has generated backlash from outsiders. Much of this is harmless parody; however, veganism is also a ready target of conspiracy theory.

Examples:

  • The website "People Eating Tasty Animals", featuring essays and articles about hunting and the consumption of animal products. Best known for the creator's legal battle with PETA.
  • The paintings and writings of artist Trenton Doyle Hancock feature creatures called vegans which take control of a people's stomachs, turning them into "vegan vessels".
  • In the reality television program "Surviving Nugent", host Ted Nugent, widely known for his anti-animal rights viewpoints, regularly derided the only vegan contestant. Nugent's comments are indicative of a growing tension between vegans and hunting enthusiasts.

Many vegans experience hostile attitudes and remarks towards their diets from friends, family, and coworkers. Vegans are often accused of forcing their views on non-vegans, often phrased "shove veganism down their throats". Vegans may also be accused of being overly sympathetic or sensitive or of not caring about humans.

See also

References

  • Stephen Walsh Plant Based Nutrition and Health, The Vegan Society 2003, ISBN 0-907337-26-0 (paperback), ISBN 0-907337-27-9 (hardback).
  • Gill Langley Vegan Nutrition: a survey of research, The Vegan Society 1988, ISBN 0-907337-15-5

Vegan organizations

Resources for vegans

Vegan essays online

Nutrition

General

(See also external links on the vegetarianism page.)

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Veganism&oldid=3696666"