RE: Fwd: Billy's Bar--the power bar with vegan honey - other thoughts on word vegan

[Guest guest]

Hi Everyone,

 

I hope you don't mind my sharing a few thoughts I have related to this topic. I followed the thread on the Billy Bar, and I think it's great that Warren acted and the producer responded in a positive and appropriate manner. I do have some other related comments on the use of the word "vegan".

 

I am a vegetarian who does my best to avoid dairy products and egg products, though I do occasionally eat honey in prepared products. I used to consider myself vegan, but now when it comes up I simply state I am vegetarian, and then later, at work for example, I will decline cakes or cheesy pizza with a comment about not eating dairy and/or eggs. People immediately then identify me as vegan(even though I point out I'm not, I eat honey, but I don't wear leather, etc). It's not that vegan is a bad thing, but I do think people immediately make assumptions about people with that label. For example, once people find out about my eating habits at work and take it upon themselves to call me vegan, they begin making comments about it at every food event - which almost always makes me feel like an outsider, or criticize me if I eat something junky like potato chips or candy, which are veg, but obviously not healthy, or make comments like "oh your

one of those people that would get naked in a cage (derogatory comment about PETA)." Even though I believe strongly in the ethics of a veg lifestyle and would Gladly explain/defend in the appropriate situation, I am a quiet, and somewhat shy person, and, in general these comments make me extremely uncomfortable. Though I agree with the philosophy behind veganism, I think that word is scary to a lot of people, and it becomes too easy for them to reassure themselves that you are a radical person and your eating habits have nothing to do with them. This is something I've come to feel more and more strongly about after over 15 years of vegetarian and mostly "vegan" living. Even if I did not eat honey, I would shy away from the term vegan (though I hope it's clear I harbor no negative feelings for those who do use the term).

 

Also, while I do like to buy "vegan" labeled products because I feel so much more confident in the purity of ingredients, I've also noticed more products not using the word "vegan" but "dairy-free", "egg-free", "no animal products". I think these terms might be more concrete to a food producer and these claims should be easily verifiable. Of course, I would still want to read the label to make sure the ingredients were acceptable to me. Using that terminology might also make delicious "vegan" products more accessible to non-veg people who think "vegan" means not yummy.

 

Echoing some comments on the last email by Melissa - I agree that there is not always clarity on what is considered vegan, and it's a loaded concept all around. I prefer not to get hung up on the terminology and focus on doing the best I can to abide by my personal beliefs in the many choices I make in my day to day life.

 

Just curious if other people have similar thoughts. I'll check out the sources Melissa posted. I've also found the Vegan Outreach newsletter to be consistently educational and helpful to me in clarifying and reinforcing my viewpoint on not getting hung up on the rules of one label or another.

 

Emily

 

"Tammy, Bay Area Vegetarians" <t wrote:

 

Kudos to Warren for taking the time to talk to vendors at the Green Festival, and then alerting us to this company's misuse-use of the word "vegan" on their new product.

This is a great example of how one individual can make a difference by speaking up -- this also includes everyone who took the time to write in response to Warren's alert.

 

Is there a lot of strong sentiment against mis-use of the words vegan and vegetarians by restaurants, businesses, and others when it comes to selling food products? Just wondering if there is enough energy (and commitment from individuals) to make a concerted effort/campaign to educate local businesses about appropriate labeling and advertising.

 

Cheers,

Tammy

 

 

 

 

 

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