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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

AIBU to think if you go veggie for animal rights reasons you might as well be vegan?

47 replies

crazycatlady5 · 26/09/2018 21:41

Just that really.

My husband and I have finally decided to make the compassionate change to stop eating meat (my husband has decided to be pescatarian but I won’t be eating fish).

However, I know the dairy and egg industrys are also cruel but am not ready to rule these out yet. AIBU to think we’re not making any real difference if we still consume dairy and eggs?

OP posts:

sunsunsunsunsun · 26/09/2018 22:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

hibbledibble · 26/09/2018 22:47

It's absolutely worth going vegetarian, and it does make a big difference.

You are right that from an animal welfare point of view, being vegan makes the most sense. However it is a big jump from meat eating to vegan. You can see vegetarian as a transitional measure, and later become vegan when you are ready.

I've been vegetarian since birth, and vegan-ish for coming up to a year. I've done a slow transition to veganism, cutting out more egg and dairy gradually. Now I find that dairy and egg is in no way appealing

JemAppelleLafayette · 26/09/2018 22:48

I am trying to reduce the amount of animal produce I eat but still buy eggs from my local city farm. I reckon if I can see the chickens are well looked after and happy that’s the best i can do.

RrreCansada · 26/09/2018 22:52

I think what most people miss on the the "free range egg" point is that every chicken that is born male are therefore surplus as they cannot lay eggs. They are either thrown into a giant blender (alive) or some are gassed. (Even here in the UK)

Even free range hens are sent to slaughter at just 72 weeks. It's a tough buisness,farmers have to make difficult price saving decisions.

PickAChew · 26/09/2018 22:54

Every little step towards less meat or even higher welfare meat makes a difference, however small.

Howtodeal · 26/09/2018 22:57

We gave up meat 2 years ago, but we're still eating lots of fish and seafood. We've recently cut that out apart from as a treat (e.g. going for sushi, king prawns in a takeaway) and are buying no fishy products to keep / cook at home. Plan is to get to full veggie next, but I think I too would struggle with veganism, I love cheese too much and have yet to find something to replace milk in tea. Eggs I could do without if I had to I think. I think as long as you don't try to label yourself something you're not (yes colleague, I'm looking at you with the 'vegan' wife who eats meat but is apparently vegan because she doesn't eat dairy ), then I feel like now I'm doing more than I was before, and in a few months time I'll be doing more than I am now, which I still think we should be proud of!

AntiHop · 26/09/2018 22:58

I've been veggie for a couple of decades, as has dp. We're raising dd veggie. But we find it too hard to make the leap to veganism. I wish I had the self discipline, but I really don't.

Nichelette · 26/09/2018 23:00

I've been veggie for 15 years now. To be honest vegan isn't something I remember being used much back then. I would like to go vegan but I'm human and struggle. The way I see it being veggie is better than nothing. I really hate the thought of having something dead in my mouth which is what turned me in the end. Maybe try to have a few vegan days as a compromise?

Pardalis · 26/09/2018 23:01

Anything anyone eats unless they have produced it themselves has had an impact on an animal. Wildlife gets killed when harvesting crops. Or their habitat is destroyed.
Many crops exploit bees. Especially almond milk. And lots of others too numerous to mention.
Go vegetarian or vegan if you want to. But not because you are saving animals' lives by doing so. It's impossible.
I am totally in awe of our natural world. Massively respectful of our farmers who work so hard to provide us with food.
My personal contribution to this is to make sure that I treat every bit of food with respect and get the best out of it. Whether it's meat or veg. Nothing gets wasted, every chicken carcass is used, I only buy what gets eaten - nothing edible is thrown away.
I consider my effort to be just as beneficial and gives greatest respect to all involved

Okki · 26/09/2018 23:14

I'd recommend Yeo Valley for dairy as a) their bull calves go into a beef herd and they're not slaughtered at birth and b) they're organic. They're also involved in projects in Africa bringing cows to rural families enabling them to be more self sufficient etc. Their ice cream is amazing too

thaegumathteth · 26/09/2018 23:17

I agree OP but I’ve been vegetarian for almost 3 decades now and I figure somethings better than nothing.

RrreCansada · 26/09/2018 23:17

I agree to an extent. Palm oil has an devastating impact on the environment but most crops are grown to supplement the meat industry (70% of soy is feed to livestock)
But culling animals is brutal and not 'respectful' sorry.

VimFuego101 · 27/09/2018 02:30

What is the link between bees and almond milk @Pardalis?

I try and stick to a vegan diet but am not entirely vegan. I would happily eat eggs if I could keep my own hens or get eggs from someone who kept them truly free range. I just suspect that the cage free labels in supermarkets are not really an indicator that they really have a happy life.

Rebecca36 · 27/09/2018 03:10

You can believe in animal rights and be a meat eater. Meat eaters would not buy any meat or poultry product where animals were not humanely farmed and slaughtered, eggs that were not free range or fish not responsibly sourced. In this country laws have changed in favour of animals being treated humanely. Not so easy elsewhere.

Spanglyprincess1 · 27/09/2018 03:42

Hello, I've been veggie for 16years and it is for welfare reasons but not because I'm against the slaughter of animals for food. I don't agree with intensive farming and believe animals should have a life pre slaughter and not be transported alive for long distances à. I try to eat organic if possible as there are welfare standards or off local farms where I know how animals in dairy or poultry are treated. I have never bought anything but free range eggs and usually from farms I know it people with chickens/family.
I did go vegan but really struggled, although I am cutting back a lot on dairy

Catastic · 27/09/2018 04:08

Rebecca36 I'm sorry but that is untrue. The words humane slaughter are bandied around a lot, but in reality there is no such thing. I encourage anyone who thinks the UK animal industry is humane to watch this documentary (or many of the others that are available). Please don't stick your head in the sand about this if your conscience is bothering you:

Also, there is no humane slaughter for free-range hens: www.tamarakenneallyphotography.com/the-price-of-eggs/

There are so many excellent support groups for anyone thinking of going vegan. Search Facebook for a group in your area and you will get loads of support, recipes and tips on the best supermarkets and stockists in your local area. I used Vegans in Australia's Facebook page as my Bible when I first transitioned.

Going vegan was the best thing I ever did. I have so much more energy and feel so much better now I am vegan in my 40s than I did when I was vegetarian in my 20s!

NotANotMan · 27/09/2018 06:20

Meat eaters would not buy any meat or poultry product where animals were not humanely farmed and slaughtered, eggs that were not free range or fish not responsibly sourced

if meat eaters wouldn't buy such products how come they are sold in supermarkets?

Eeevvvveee · 27/09/2018 07:01

YABVU.

AccidentallyRunToWindsor · 27/09/2018 07:11

YANBU, however it's a big change to go from eating everything to a vegan diet IMO. I went veggie last year as I hated the thought of eating animals, but the diary and egg industry is just as cruel so I am working towards being vegan as well.

I eat out several times a week and I'm lucky that there are plenty of hipster places es nearby that have vegan menus so I choose the vegan option where I can. I make 1 vegan meal a week at home as well.

DH and DSS still eat meat, the longer I go without it, the less I find it appealing.

stopfuckingshoutingatme · 27/09/2018 07:12

For the tea and coffee drinkers / oat milk is honestly a great substitute

mydogisthebest · 27/09/2018 07:14

Me and DH have been vegetarian for over 30 years. We have thought about going vegan but both like eggs too much. We only buy them from a neighbour though whose hens are rescued battery hens and they have full run of her garden.

We use oat milk in drinks and cooking. We tried all the different milks and it is the only one DH thought tasted the same as cow's milk. It makes good Yorkshire puddings, sauces etc.

I am not keen on cheese so eat very little (probably could give that up totally). We eat vegan ice cream and yoghurt

pinkmagic1 · 27/09/2018 07:30

Crazy cat, if you live in an urban area and want to buy ethical eggs, have you a City Farm locally? Ours sells free range eggs from their hens and ducks and all the birds are rescued.

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