V is for Vegan

Veganism is a conscious avoidance of any human uses of animals which has contributed to exploitation, and the term differs from ‘plant-based’ in that veganism carries a more active role and ethics-based mind.

As diet preferences are self-reported, it is difficult to determine exactly how many people in Australia subscribe to a vegan or plant-based diet, however it is generally understood to be around 2% of the population. This does not take into account the reason why someone might adopt a plant-based diet as they vary from animal rights, ethics, health, or religious reasons, and the consequences of eating plant-based foods can vary depending on those reasons.

In late 2017, a woman with a severe dairy allergy died from anaphylaxis in the UK two-hours after consuming a vegan-labelled wrap containing coconut yogurt. In response, lawyers from CoYo, who license their product in the UK as Planet Coconut, said “The term 'dairy-free' has no fixed or established meaning in the industry”.

This is where the term ‘vegan’ on food labels and requests becomes confusing to the point of fatal danger. As a part cross-over with the 2% of the population who report that they are vegan, there are 2% of the population who have a dairy allergy. Sometimes when an order is placed for an oat latte, it may be that the customer is avoiding dairy for serious health reasons and an accidental mis-order may result in fatality. There are also around 1.5% who are allergic to eggs, and an unknown number who are allergic to penicillin and tetracyclines (antibiotics found in red meat) or directly allergic to meat from mammals and poultry.

Many ‘vegan’ products will be labelled with the disclaimer that the product ‘may contain’ dairy or egg. These statements are called precautionary allergen labelling, but are not legally required in Australia. However, products with the term ‘free-from’ on the label must not contain the products which they are intended to be free-from and should be batch tested.

When a portion of those who adopt a vegan or plant-based diet have dairy, egg, or other allergies, how might the common population-wide biases against vegans impact those with allergies?

Many who openly and actively criticise ‘vegans' also openly agree that factory farms and any animal harm should be avoided. Interestingly, those who were most vocal were found to have attempted and failed to adapt to a vegan diet. It was also found that many who actively oppose vegans are actually performing ‘mental gymnastics’. Despite the growing prevalence and popularisation of arguments against eating animal products, most people haven’t changed their behaviour so they need to justify their actions to remain within their self-determined impression that they are a ‘good person’.

“The tension that results can make us feel stressed, irritated, and unhappy. But instead of resolving it by changing our beliefs or behaviour, it’s quite normal to blame these feelings on something else entirely – all without realising we’re doing it.”

Surveys have found that half of those who identify as ‘vegan’ have experienced discrimination, and that ten percent reported a family member ceased their relationship. Restaurants have openly revealed that they have deliberately served meat or derivatives to vegans and vegetarians, and adult hosts of children’s birthday parties have claimed to do the same to children in their care. A lack of respect or understanding for the array of reasons someone might be a vegetarian or vegan has the potential to end in disaster if those reasons include health or, particularly, anaphylactic allergy.

What if a customer at that restaurant became ill, or worse? What if it wasn’t just one restaurant who liked to play dangerous tricks on vegans, but was in fact a company who mass produces a product which contains an ingredient which vegans try to avoid? What if a child at that party was actually allergic? What if that decision, based on their personal mental gymnastics goes further than just a child’s birthday party and impacts someone in the wider world?

What if, instead of throwing all those who avoid animal products into the same category as the activists they so clearly detest, we look at the spectrum of reasons why someone might avoid certain foods?

What can be done?

When purchasing products, including those labelled as ‘vegan’, ask the manufacturer(s) directly if the product contains any traces on dairy or eggs.

Attending parties or sending our children to parties has, it seems, become fraught with a lack of respect for personal choice or potential health impacts. Again, it needs to be made clear that these choices are personal and must be respected. It might be worth sending our children with their own food to avoid the danger of disrespect, or in finding friends who have the same level of compassion as we do.

Those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind.