Guest guest Posted February 6, 2009 Report Share Posted February 6, 2009 Hi All! First of all thanks to Ellen for the link to the great article about gelatin and how it is produced. I actually did know where it comes from before I posted the Cherry Salad recipe - just wasn't thinking I suppose, but will certainly be more aware in the future. As a diabetic I have to eliminate or restrict many things in my diet and will confess that the sugar-free gelatins have been one thing that I enjoy and have been able to use. I guess the main defining factor here between thinking of it as an animal product along with things like milk, cheese, butter, eggs, etc., is that it comes from dead animals. The Wikipedia article brings up a number of commonly used food and other products that many people wouldn't think of as containing gelatin - like some ice creams, low-fat yogurts,and drinks that contain beta-carotene (and I'm sure there are many hundreds of others)! I personally do not buy products that are animal-tested, or contain animal products that involve the death of the animal, when I am aware of it, and I do make an effort to stay well-informed as much as possible. I guess it's a bit off-topic since this is a recipe group, but I have a question for the other members if I may - just in the spirit of learning more about how other vegetarians and vegans practice their lifestyles. The Wikipedia article also talks about non-food products such as sandpaper, match heads, photographic films and papers, glossy printing papers, crepe paper, playing cards, shells of paintballs, etc. in which gelatin is used. Then there are the pharmaceutical products, such as capsules to hold medications, etc. My question is this...in keeping with a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, how strict are you about the use of any sort of animal products, and how do you always know WHICH products are the culprits? I'm a notorious " label- reader " , but even that doesn't cover all products that we find in use in our daily lives. I guess it's food for thought! I'm very much enjoying this group and hope to keep finding things that make us all more informed and aware. Blessings! MtWitchCat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 HI and thanks for the great question! While vegans can't be perfect in knowing and being able to avoid ALL animal products under any circumstances, it is much more about doing what we CAN to the best of our abitlities to reduce the amount of suffering in the world, of both animals and people. It's not about purity or perfection; like I say it's doing whatever we can where it can be avoided or at least eased. Unfortunately there are animals products in almost everything, from buildings to the tires on our cars, but I think as long as we make a conscious, compassionate effort to cause as little harm and unnecessary suffering as is humanly possible and realistic/reasonable, then that is really the main purpose of being vegan and in living in keeping with our principles. Hope this answers your question. --- On Fri, 2/6/09, mtwitchcat <mtwitchcat wrote: The Wikipedia article also talks about non-food products such as sandpaper, match heads, photographic films and papers, glossy printing papers, crepe paper, playing cards, shells of paintballs, etc. in which gelatin is used. Then there are the pharmaceutical products, such as capsules to hold medications, etc. My question is this...in keeping with a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, how strict are you about the use of any sort of animal products, and how do you always know WHICH products are the culprits? I'm a notorious " label- reader " , but even that doesn't cover all products that we find in use in our daily lives. I guess it's food for thought! I'm very much enjoying this group and hope to keep finding things that make us all more informed and aware. Blessings! MtWitchCat Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 7, 2009 Report Share Posted February 7, 2009 Greetings antcheek! Your response to my post is appreciated. It's always interesting to hear thoughts on topics such as this, because as you say, none of us can entirely eliminate the terrible practices of animal cruelty that go on in the world, or all of the products, businesses, etc. that contribute to it. Like many others, I do whatever I can and whenever I can. Apparently, due to my slip-up in the recipe I posted with the gelatin, there are those in this group who think that I had no clue as to the meanings of the vegetarian and vegan lifestyles. That is, of course, far from fact, but I won't belabor the point as it really isn't necessary. I have received some extremely nasty personal e- mails off-list over the matter - evidently from individuals who have never under any circumstances made ANY mistakes (LOL)! I have to admit that I was a bit surprised to think that there are those who would go to the trouble to rant at me over a simple mistake - which I did take the trouble to explain and apologize for, and to go to great lengths to tell me what I am and am not. As I said previously, I joined this group with the intention of sharing what I can and learning from others, just as I have with any group I belong to. I would imagine that many others are here for the same reason. Thanks again for your response to my post and for expressing your ideas so plainly - it's nice to know that there are those who are willing to engage in the exchange of ideas and opinions in a thoughtful and respectful manner! Blessings! MtWitchCat , antcheek wrote: > > HI and thanks for the great question! While vegans can't be perfect in knowing and being able to avoid ALL animal products under any circumstances, it is much more about doing what we CAN to the best of our abitlities to reduce the amount of suffering in the world, of both animals and people. It's not about purity or perfection; like I say it's doing whatever we can where it can be avoided or at least eased. > Unfortunately there are animals products in almost everything, from buildings to the tires on our cars, but I think as long as we make a conscious, compassionate effort to cause as little harm and unnecessary suffering as is humanly possible and realistic/ reasonable, then that is really the main purpose of being vegan and in living in keeping with our principles. Hope this answers your question. > > --- On Fri, 2/6/09, mtwitchcat <mtwitchcat wrote: > > The Wikipedia article also talks about non-food products such as > sandpaper, match heads, photographic films and papers, glossy > printing papers, crepe paper, playing cards, shells of paintballs, > etc. in which gelatin is used. Then there are the pharmaceutical > products, such as capsules to hold medications, etc. My question is > this...in keeping with a vegetarian or vegan lifestyle, how strict > are you about the use of any sort of animal products, and how do you > always know WHICH products are the culprits? I'm a notorious " label- > reader " , but even that doesn't cover all products that we find in use > in our daily lives. I guess it's food for thought! > > I'm very much enjoying this group and hope to keep finding things > that make us all more informed and aware. > > Blessings! > MtWitchCat > > > > > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 8, 2009 Report Share Posted February 8, 2009 I am sorry this happened to you via this group. It is strictly against group rules for people to send nasty offlist notes to members, and that will not be tolerated here at TFV. I am sending you an email so hopefully we can right this wrong. Sincerely, PT *list moderator* , " mtwitchcat " <mtwitchcat wrote: I have received some extremely nasty personal e- > mails off-list over the matter - evidently from individuals who have > never under any circumstances made ANY mistakes (LOL)! I have to > admit that I was a bit surprised to think that there are those who > would go to the trouble to rant at me over a simple mistake - which I > did take the trouble to explain and apologize for, and to go to great > lengths to tell me what I am and am not. As I said previously, I > joined this group with the intention of sharing what I can and > learning from others, just as I have with any group I belong to. I > would imagine that many others are here for the same reason. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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