argumentative essay topics on veganism

54 Veganism Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best veganism topic ideas & essay examples, ⭐ good research topics about veganism, ❓ veganism research questions.

• Vegan vs. Vegetarian Diets: Impacts on Health However, vegetarians have the option of consuming animal products like eggs and milk, but this option is not available to vegans; vegetarians tend to avoid the intake of all the animal proteins.
• Worldwide Vegan Dairies: Digital Marketing Of particular importance is the promotion of vegan cheese in Australia, where information technology is also developed and the culture of a vegetarian lifestyle is flourishing.
• The Impact of Vegan and Vegetarian Diets on Diabetes Vegetarian diets are popular for a variety of reasons; according to the National Health Interview Survey in the United States, about 2% of the population reported following a vegetarian dietary pattern for health reasons in […]
• Health 2 Go: Vegan Waffles for Everyone All fruits and berries are purchased daily from local suppliers and stored in a contaminant-free unit of the Health 2 Go.
• City’s Finest as a Vegan Ethical Shoe Brand The brand is focused on authenticity and transparency, producing the shoes locally and sourcing recycled and reclaimed materials that combine the principles of veganism and sustainability.
• Moral Status of Animals: Vegetarianism and Veganism The significance of acknowledging the concept of sentience in this context is the fact that vegetarians and vegans accept the idea that animals are like humans when they feel something.
• Vegan Parents’ Influence on Their Children’s Diet The first reason why a vegan diet should not be imposed on children is that every parent should pay close attention to the needs of their toddlers.
• Positive Reasons and Outcomes of Becoming Vegan Being vegan signifies a philosophy and manner of living that aims at excluding, as much as achievable, any kind of exploitation of, and cruelty against, animals for meat, clothing and other uses while promoting and […]
• Herb’aVors Vegan Drive-Thru Product Business Model As a result, the wide public will be able to receive the brand-new service with the excellent health promotion characteristics and traditional cultural implications of fast-food. The breakthrough of the offered concept is the vegan-based […]
• The Shattered Into Pieces: Veganism
• How Veganism Could Contribute to a Human’s Life
• Utilitarian Defense for Veganism
• The Myth Behind the Claim That Veganism Is a Healthy Balanced Diet
• The Definition, History, and Benefits of Veganism, a Lifestyle Choice
• The Ethical Argument for Veganism
• Veganism: Pro and Contra Arguments
• Vegetarianism and Veganism: Not Eating Meat
• Saving the Environment With Veganism
• Are Veganism Means Not Eating Meat?
• What Does Veganism Mean?
• Veganism and Vegetarianism Are Becoming a Growing Trend
• Could All People Adapt to Veganism?
• Analyzing the Pro Veganism
• The Vegan Lifestyle Article – Veganism, Vegetarianism
• Animal Products and Eating Meat: Veganism and Vegetarianism
• Protecting the Environment and Veganism
• The Origin, History, and Effects of Veganism
• Veganism Might Save Us: From One Meat Lover to Another
• Why Is Veganism an Ethical Issue?
• Is Veganism Harmful to Health?
• Why Is Veganism a Social Issue?
• What Is the Main Idea of Veganism?
• How Does the Body Change While Following Veganism?
• What Percentage of the World Is Veganism?
• What Does Veganism Allow You to Eat?
• How Many Animals Are Saved by Veganism?
• Why Do People Stop Following Veganism?
• What Country Is Mostly Veganism?
• In Which Country Is It the Hardest to Stick To Veganism?
• How Long Can People Stick To Veganism?
• What Challenges Do Vegans Face?
• Why Does Veganism Not Allow You to Eat Honey?
• When Did Veganism Originate?
• How Does Veganism Affect the Economy?
• Is Veganism a Problem?
• Why Do People Disagree With Veganism?
• What Are the Cons of Veganism?
• How Does Veganism Affect the Psychological State of a Person?
• Where Are the Largest Number of Vegan Social Events?
• Do People Who Follow Veganism Look Older?
• Does Veganism Improve Health?
• At What Age Can a Child Be Introduced to Veganism?
• Why Is Veganism Bad for Society?
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Essays About Veganism: Top 5 Examples and 10 Prompts

Veganism is on the rise. See below for our great examples of essays about veganism and helpful writing prompts to get started. 

Veganism is the practice of abstaining from animal-based foods and products. The movement originated from the philosophies against using animals as commodities and for capitalist gains. Now a booming industry, veganism promises better health benefits, a more humane world for animals, and an effective solution to global warming. 

Here is our round-up of essays examples about veganism:

1. A Brief History of Veganism by Claire Suddath

2. animal testing on plant-based ingredients divides vegan community by jill ettinger, 3. as vegan activism grows, politicians aim to protect agri-business, restaurateurs by alexia renard, 4. bezos, gates back fake meat and dairy made from fungus as next big alt-protein by bob woods, 5. going vegan: can switching to a plant-based diet really save the planet by sarah marsh, 1. health pros and cons of veganism, 2. veganism vs. vegetarianism, 3. the vegan society, 4. making a vegan diet plan, 5. profitability of vegan restaurants, 6. public personalities who are vegan, 7. the rise of different vegan products, 8. is vegan better for athletes, 9. vegans in your community, 10. most popular vegan activists.

“Veganism is an extreme form of vegetarianism, and though the term was coined in 1944, the concept of flesh-avoidance can be traced back to ancient Indian and eastern Mediterranean societies.”

Suddath maps out the historical roots of veganism and the global routes of its influences. She also laid down its evolution in various countries where vegan food choices became more flexible in considering animal-derived products critical to health. 

“Along with eschewing animal products at mealtime, vegans don’t support other practices that harm animals, including animal testing. But it’s a process rampant in both the food and drug industries.”

Ettinger follows the case of two vegan-founded startups that ironically conducts animal testing to evaluate the safety of their vegan ingredients for human consumption. The essay brings to light the conflicts between the need to launch more vegan products and ensuring the safety of consumers through FDA-required animal tests. 

“Indeed, at a time when the supply of vegan products is increasing, activists sometimes fear the reduction of veganism to a depoliticized way of life that has been taken over by the food industry.”

The author reflects on a series of recent vegan and animal rights activist movements and implies disappointment over the government’s response to protect public safety rather than support the protests’ cause. The essay differentiates the many ways one promotes and fights for veganism and animal rights but emphasizes the effectiveness of collective action in shaping better societies. 

“Beyond fungus, Nature’s Fynd also is representative of the food sustainability movement, whose mission is to reduce the carbon footprint of global food systems, which generate 34% of greenhouse emissions linked to climate change.”

The essay features a company that produces alternative meat products and has the backing of Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Al Gore. The essay divulges the company’s investments and plans to expand in the vegan market while providing a picture of the burgeoning alternative foods sector. 

“Experts say changing the way we eat is necessary for the future of the planet but that government policy is needed alongside this. If politicians are serious about wanting dietary changes, they also need to incentivise it, scientists and writers add.”

The article conveys the insights and recommendations of environmental and agriculture experts on how to turn more individuals into vegans. The experts emphasize the need for a whole-of-society approach in shifting more diets to vegan instead of putting the onus for change on an individual. 

10 Writing Prompts on Essays About Veganism

Here is our round-up of the best prompts to create interesting essays about veganism: 

While veganism has been a top choice for those desiring to lose weight and have a healthier lifestyle, some studies have also shown its detrimental effects on health due to deficiencies in specific vitamins. First, find out what existing research and experts say about this. Then, lay down the advantages and disadvantages of going vegan, explain each, and wrap up your essay with your insights.

Differentiate veganism from vegetarianism. Tackle the foods vegans and vegetarians consume and do not consume and cite the different effects they have on your health and the environment. You may also expand this prompt to discuss the other dietary choices that spawned from veganism. 

The Vegan Society is a UK-based non-profit organization aimed at educating the public on the ways of veganism and promoting this as a way of life to as many people. Expound on its history, key organizational pillars, and recent and future campaigns. You may also broaden this prompt by listing down vegan organizations around the world. Then discuss each one’s objectives and campaigns. 

Write down the healthiest foods you recommend your readers to include in a vegan diet plan. Contrary to myths, vegan foods can be very flavorful depending on how they are cooked and prepared. You may expand this prompt to add recommendations for the most flavorful spices and sauces to take any vegan recipe a notch higher. 

Vegan restaurants were originally a niche market. But with the rise of vegan food products and several multinational firms’ foray into the market, the momentum for vegan restaurants was launched into an upward trajectory—research on how profitable vegan restaurants are against restos offering meat on the menu. You may also recommend innovative business strategies for a starting vegan restaurant to thrive and stay competitive in the market. 

From J.Lo to Bill Gates, there is an increasing number of famous personalities who are riding the vegan trend with good reason. So first, list a few celebrities, influencers, and public figures who are known advocates of veganism. Then, research and write about stories that compelled them to change their dietary preference.

The market for vegan-based non-food products is rising, from makeup to leather bags and clothes. First, create a list of vegan brands that are growing in popularity. Then, research the materials they use and the processes they employ to preserve the vegan principles. This may prompt may also turn into a list of the best gift ideas for vegans.

Many believe that a high-protein diet is a must for athletes. However, several athletes have dispelled the myth that vegan diets lack the protein levels for rigorous training and demanding competition. First, delve deeper into the vegan foods that serve as meat alternatives regarding protein intake. Then, cite other health benefits a vegan diet can offer to athletes. You may also add research on what vegan athletes say about how a vegan diet gives them energy. 

Interview people in your community who are vegan. Write about how they made the decision and how they transitioned to this lifestyle. What were the initial challenges in their journey, and how did they overcome these? Also, ask them for tips they would recommend to those who are struggling to uphold their veganism.

Make a list of the most popular vegan activists. You may narrow your list to personalities in digital media who are speaking loud and proud about their lifestyle choice and trying to inspire others to convert. Narrate the ways they have made and are making an impact in their communities. 

To enhance your essay, read our guide explaining what is persuasive writing . 

If you’d like to learn more, check out our guide on how to write an argumentative essay .

Yna Lim is a communications specialist currently focused on policy advocacy. In her eight years of writing, she has been exposed to a variety of topics, including cryptocurrency, web hosting, agriculture, marketing, intellectual property, data privacy and international trade. A former journalist in one of the top business papers in the Philippines, Yna is currently pursuing her master's degree in economics and business.

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Arguments For and Against Veganism

For veganism.

• ANIMAL WELFARE: Eating meat requires the death of a living being. Eating dairy usually involves animals being separated from their children, causing distress to both mother and calf. Dairy cattle frequently develop bovine mastitis (a painful infection and inflammation of the udders), and factory farmed animals are kept in cramped conditions and pumped full of antibiotics and growth hormones in order to maximise profit. Unlike wild animals, humans do not require meat to survive (and definitely not dairy products from other animals). Eating meat is a choice and, as moral actors, the correct choice is surely to give up meat and dairy.
• ENVIRONMENT: When cows eat grass, microbes in their gut break down their meal and produce methane. This methane (a greenhouse gas) is released into the atmosphere via the magic of cow burps and farts, making livestock farming one of the biggest contributors to global warming. Factor in deforestation from land clearance, biodiversity loss, and air and water pollution, and animal agriculture is terrible for the environment.
• HEALTH: Vegan diets tend to be rich in foods that have proven health benefits: fresh fruit, vegetables, seeds, nuts, beans and pulses. A vegan diet is typically higher in fibre, and  lower  in cholesterol, protein, calcium and salt compared to a non-vegan diet. Research suggests that vegans may have a lower risk of heart disease than non-vegans. It is true that vegans need to supplement their diets with B12, but this is easy to do (e.g. via yeast extracts such as Marmite).

AGAINST Veganism

• NATURE: Humans (and our ancestors) have eaten meat for an estimated  2.6 million years . In fact, scientists argue that animal protein was vital for helping early hominids develop larger brains, meaning that humans likely wouldn’t even exist if it weren’t for eating meat. We evolved to have meat as part of our diets. Animals eat meat and it would be cruel to prevent them from doing so. Well, guess what? Humans are animals too, and meat is a natural part of our diets.
• CULTURE: Food is a central part of all human cultures. And, around the world, people celebrate their cultures by cooking meat dishes. If the world went vegan, we would lose iconic cultural traditions such as bolognese sauce, tandoori chicken, sashimi, currywurst, and Peking duck.
• HEALTH: A balanced diet is a healthy diet. Eating moderate amounts of fish, meat, and dairy alongside fruit, vegetables and pulses gives us all the vitamins, minerals, fatty acids, and other things we need to stay healthy. Research does suggest that vegans have a lower risk of heart disease, but that same research also indicates they have a higher risk of strokes (possibly due to B12 deficiency), and it’s unclear whether the supposed health benefits of veganism are anyway less about diet and more about broader lifestyle (e.g. vegans tend to exercise more, be non-smokers, not drink to excess, be more moderate in what they consume, etc.).

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• The Strongest Argument for Veganism

This collection of articles was first published on the website of Sentience Politics .

Strong arguments derive their (surprising, counter-intuitive and far-reaching) conclusions from modest premises that everybody accepts. Here’s one such premise:

(1) We shouldn’t be cruel to animals, i.e. we shouldn’t harm animals unnecessarily.

(2) The consumption of animal products harms animals.

This is quite obvious for meat, but it’s also true for milk and eggs . Animals often suffer terribly as a result of overbreeding, from dreadful conditions on farms, during transportation and in the slaughterhouse. Studies show that stunning fails regularly . The egg industry painfully gasses all male chicks right after they hatch. In short: The production of animal foods generally leads to lots of acts of violence against animals and large amounts of suffering. – Here’s a further premise:

(3) The consumption of animal products is unnecessary.

One might ask how this third premise could be uncontroversial, given that food production is a pretty necessary practice. The question, however, is not “Is food necessary?”, but “Is animal food necessary (here and now)?” – Or in other words: “Are there viable nutritional alternatives to animal products?” For one cannot plausibly argue that something is necessary in the presence of viable alternatives. So let’s take a look at the scientific facts: The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics – the largest nutritional organisation in the world – has a position paper stating that “appropriately planned vegetarian diets, including total vegetarian or vegan diets, are healthful, nutritionally adequate, and may provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases.” Official health bodies around the globe support this view . And the existence of millions of healthy vegans and a growing number of vegan top athletes bears it out. Also, “appropriate planning” is very easy in today’s world – healthy and tasty vegan (or at least vegetarian) food is available everywhere.

To sum it up: If our own health depended on eating animals, then there could be an argument for violence against animals (serving nutritional purposes) being necessary. But that’s not the case. We’re not inflicting horrible suffering on animals in order to preserve our own health and thus prevent our own suffering. We’re inflicting suffering on billions of animals in order to get a little more culinary pleasure at most. And very likely not even that: In an experiment at the University of Bochum , 90% of the students didn’t notice that their “beef goulash” was vegan. The availability of vegan gourmet food is increasing rapidly too. Last but not least, it’s largely a matter of culinary socialization anyway: Nobody craves exotic foods (such as dog, dolphin or chimp meat) that don’t exist and are taboo in our society. The same would be true in a vegan society (providing plenty tasty cruelty-free meats) with regard to all meat that requires violence against any sentient animal.

The (rather trivial) premises (1) – (3) logically imply that the consumption of animal products harms animals unnecessarily and satisfies the definition of “cruelty to animals”, which leads to the conclusion:

To recap the Strongest Argument for Veganism:

(1) We shouldn’t be cruel to animals, i.e. we shouldn’t harm animals unnecessarily. (2) The consumption of animal products harms animals. (3) The consumption of animal products is unnecessary. (4) Therefore, we shouldn’t consume animal products.

At which point could one plausibly block this line of reasoning?

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Essays About Being a Vegan

The importance of writing an essay on veganism.

Writing an essay on veganism is important because it helps to raise awareness about the benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. Veganism is not just a dietary choice, but a way of living that has a positive impact on the environment, animal welfare, and personal health. By writing an essay on veganism, you can educate others about the ethical and environmental reasons for choosing a vegan lifestyle, and inspire them to make more conscious choices.

Here are some tips for writing an essay on veganism:

• Research the topic thoroughly to understand the key principles of veganism and its impact on different aspects of life.
• Include statistics and studies to support your points about the environmental and health benefits of veganism.
• Address common misconceptions about veganism and provide evidence to debunk them.
• Include personal stories or testimonials from vegans to add a human element to your essay.
• Consider the opposition and address counterarguments in a respectful and informative manner.
• End your essay with a call to action, encouraging readers to consider the positive impact of veganism on their lives and the world.

By writing an essay on veganism, you can contribute to the growing conversation about sustainability and ethical living. Your words have the power to spark change and inspire others to make more conscious decisions for a better world.

Best Vegan Essay Topics

Looking for inspiration for your vegan essay? Here are 20 unique and engaging Essay Topics that go beyond the ordinary:

• The impact of veganism on the environment
• The ethics of animal testing in the beauty industry
• The rise of plant-based meat alternatives
• Veganism and social justice
• The health benefits of a vegan diet
• The portrayal of veganism in the media
• Veganism and cultural appropriation
• The future of vegan fashion
• Veganism and food accessibility
• The intersection of veganism and feminism
• Veganism and spirituality
• The role of veganism in combating climate change
• Veganism and sustainable living
• The challenges of being a vegan athlete
• The impact of veganism on global food systems
• Veganism and mental health
• The cultural significance of vegan food
• The economics of the vegan industry
• Veganism and food deserts
• The psychology of veganism

Vegan Essay Topics Prompts

Looking for a creative spark for your vegan essay? Here are 5 engaging prompts to get you started:

• Imagine a world where veganism is the norm. How would society be different?
• Write a letter to a non-vegan friend, explaining why you chose a vegan lifestyle.
• Create a dialogue between two people with opposing views on veganism.
• If animals could talk, what would they say about veganism?
• Write a persuasive essay convincing someone to adopt a vegan diet.

With these thought-provoking Essay Topics and creative prompts, you'll be well on your way to writing a compelling and impactful essay on veganism. Happy writing!

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Vegan Lifestyle: Why Veganism is More than a Diet

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The Physiological and Psychological Implications of a Vegetarian/vegan Diet on Endurance Athletes

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Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. An individual who follows the diet or philosophy is known as a vegan.

Vegetarianism can be traced to Indus Valley Civilization in 3300-1300 BCE in the Indian subcontinent, particularly in northern and western ancient India. Early vegetarians included Indian philosophers such as Parshavnatha, Mahavira, Acharya Kundakunda, Umaswati, Samantabhadra, and the Tamil poet Valluvar; the Indian emperors Chandragupta Maurya and Ashoka; Greek philosophers such as Empedocles, Theophrastus, Plutarch, Plotinus, and Porphyry; and the Roman poet Ovid and the playwright Seneca the Younger. The Greek sage Pythagoras may have advocated an early form of strict vegetarianism.

Ethical vegans” also avoid the use of animal products like skin (leather or fur), feathers, and other things that cause animal suffering during production. Approximately 5% of the US is vegetarian (close to 16 million people), and about half of those are vegan - meaning about 7.5 million Americans abstain from all animal products. Vegans get their protein from products like lentils, black beans, veggie burgers, tofu, nuts, peanut butter, and soy milk.

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Veganism - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

Veganism is a lifestyle and dietary choice that excludes all animal products and attempts to limit the exploitation of animals as much as possible. Essays could discuss the ethical, environmental, and health aspects of veganism, challenges faced by vegans, and the societal reaction to veganism. The impact of veganism on the food industry could also be explored. We’ve gathered an extensive assortment of free essay samples on the topic of Veganism you can find at PapersOwl Website. You can use our samples for inspiration to write your own essay, research paper, or just to explore a new topic for yourself.

Pros and Cons of Veganism

Veganism is a controversial topic among many people that often results in heated debates. Those who follow the vegan lifestyle, or at least advocate for it, argue that it is a clean and healthy way to live, a way that has positive effect on both a person's physical health and their impact on the environment. On the other hand, there are people who counter that veganism is a radical and impractical lifestyle that is almost impossible to maintain in today's […]

Positive Effect of Veganism on Environment

What is veganism, and why should people be for being vegan in the first place? Veganism is a specialized diet that ignores all animal products and is targeted around plant-based foods. The vegan and omnivorous diets both differ from one another on an ethical stand point, when referring to our health, the environment, as well as onto the animals themselves. If those things aren’t enough to change societies perspective. There are a couple of different opposing arguments that are going […]

Why we shouldn’t all be Vegan

A persuasive piece intended to present the findings and belief on how veganism is not the only way to stay healthy. This paper would be published in the New York Times health and fitness section and will be directed to those who believe that the only way to save the world, and your health is to be vegan. The New York Times has a wide audience as the range of ages are from millennial (ages 18-29) to generation X (ages […]

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A Look into Veganism and Plant Based Diets

In recent years the trend of converting to a vegan or plant based diet has been on the rise. As a result there has been rising debate among vegans and those who Maintain a western diet if veganism is a safe and healthy way to go about maintaining your health. It is to my understanding that converting to a vegan or plant based diet is completely possible to thrive on and encouraged. a vegan diet although completely devoid of animal […]

A Better Understanding of Veganism

Intro: Many people believe that humans are naturally supposed eat meat and dairy and that there is a humane way to produce meat and dairy products, when in reality, that is not the case. That idea stems from childhood. Diet is a learned behavior just as religion and culture is. Usually, a child may grow up in an omnivore household, eating the average diet of fruits, veggies, meat, dairy, and grains. In a vegetarian household, a child may be taught […]

Going Vegan for the Animals

For as long as I can remember, I always loved animals but I never asked myself as an animal lover if it was okay to eat other animals but now that I look back,I feel like a hypocrite, loving one animal and eating another. And I always ask myself why I didn’t think of it earlier but the reason I didn’t was because the people around me ate meat like it was okay and so it was normal for me […]

Why Veganism is not a Healthier Lifestyle

Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation, of and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or other purposes. Following a plant-based diet can have a lot of benefits for our body and our planet, but often happens that following a very strict vegan diet can lead to inadequate protein consumption. According to a study made by (Larson, Johansson 2002) in the Umea University in Sweden, about […]

The Benefits of Veganism on Animal Rights

Millennials are central drivers of this worldwide shift away from consuming animal products. But the plant-based movement is bigger than any one generation. Over recent years, veganism has turned from a fad into a healthy trend. While many people may think that the dietary limitations of a vegan lifestyle may not have many benefits, it does have a particular benefit in aiding animal rights. As animal activists seek to obtain a means to further their protest for animal rights, veganism […]

Might a Vegan Diet be Healthy, or Even Healthier?

While many people enjoy their steaks and burgers, a growing population of the world is turning to a plant based diet. Being vegan, otherwise known as people who have cut all animal products out of their diets, is one of the fastest growing trends in the world. Over 6% of the world is vegan, with almost 4% of them not using any animal products. With this growing trend, could any of it be bad? There are many things to look […]

Veganism and its Effects

The local coffee shop is always occupied with that one person who never fails to remind the baristas and surrounding customers that their extra soy non-dairy milk espresso with added hazelnut syrup is better for the environment than the usual black coffee with a splash of milk purely because it does not contain an animal byproduct. With the current situation of global warming, and the never-ending increase of Earth’s population, more and more people are turning to veganism. Trying to […]

Veganism in Modern World

The topic about veganism has received recognition not because of the adoption of its culture, but due to the controversies surrounding it. Veganism is the practice of people avoiding animal products and their byproducts. Instead, this group of people concentrates on healthier food, such as legumes, vegetables, fruits, and grains to name a few. Traditionally, people have relied on animal products such as meat and milk due to the belief that they enhance growing and developing strong bones. However, people […]

Is Veganism Detrimental to One’s Health

There are many reasons why people are inclined to practicing a vegan diet including, health conditions, ethical values, and to help the environment. Veganism has been said to reverse many conditions such as high blood pressure, heart disease, and even aging ("Animal products | Health Topics | NutritionFacts.org," n.d.). Moral value also plays a big part in the movement to become vegan as many animals are slaughtered and abused due to high demand. Because of this, approximately 1.6 million Americans […]

Veganism Might Save Us: from One Meat Lover to Another

Does the word "vegan" ring a bell? Yes, exactly. That's the face. Eyes glare, mouths twist, sometimes laughter erupts— and not the good kind. We are all quick to shut down our hearing system when somebody happens to mention they are vegan; we put them on mute and kindly nod our heads just enough to be polite. Well, maybe we shouldn't. Veganism is not only a much healthier lifestyle for us, not to mention the great impact it has on […]

Is Veganism Beneficial or Detrimental to Society?

Veganism, a "strict vegetarian diet," is a very popular, yet controversial lifestyle to follow today. According to Alina Petre, a registered dietitian, the online search for the term vegan has risen by more than 250%. The word vegan has become more and more popular amongst society and many have gained more knowledge on the lifestyle itself. When researching the term veganism, according to The Vegan Society the word veganism can be defined as: A philosophy and way of living which […]

Veganism: do the Anecdotes Hold Answers?

Veganism, seen as an extreme form of vegetarianism, is a lifestyle based on complete flesh-avoidance that can be traced back to ancient Indian and eastern Mediterranean societies (Suddath, 2008). The terms was first coined in November 1944 by British woodworker named Donald Watson, announcing that because vegetarians ate dairy and eggs, he was going to create a new term called "vegan," to describe people who did not. Watson's cause was fueled by the emergence of tuberculosis, which had been found […]

Veganism Unfolded: Navigating the Nuances of Vegan Vs Vegetarian Diet

In recent times, there has been a growing international discourse regarding dietary preferences, with vegan and vegetarian diets gaining prominence. Both have garnered attention not only as dietary preferences but also as ways of life that promote animal welfare and environmental sustainability and healthier livelihoods. The purpose of this essay is to analyze the distinctions between vegan and vegetarian diets, focusing on their environmental and health implications, as well as the ethical considerations that frequently influence these decisions. The fundamental […]

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A List Of Great Argumentative Essay Topics On Being A Vegetarian

Are you looking for a valid and unique topic for your argumentative essay on being a vegetarian? Do you want to write for or against being a vegetarian? Did you decide the niche you want to address in your essay? Do you need a great paper to impress your teachers? Do you want to collect fresh ideas to write a good paper? Do you think it is difficult to stay objective while writing such an assignment? Do you understand the requirements for a topic of an argumentative essay?

All these questions are normal for students looking to write an impressive essay. They want to impress their peers and teachers with a unique topic and choose a fresh approach towards the paper. It is comparatively easier for them to write a winning paper when they have a good topic to begin with. A topic is the most time consuming part of your paper because you need to make sure it is new, fresh, engaging, and precise as per your subject. If you are to choose a great topic for your argumentative essay on a vegetarian diet, then you can consider the following suggestions. Remember that these are only ideas and you do not have to use them as is without editing or altering to suit your style and approach

Topics for an argumentative essay on a vegetarian diet

• A vegetarian diet is healthier as compared to meat rich diet
• Vegetarians usually do not face issues of obesity because they have little fat intake
• People with Meat eating diets are more prone to heart conditions, cancer, and other chronic diseases
• Killing and hunting animals only for the sake of food is ethically and morally wrong
• Vegetables lack certain vitamins and protein essential for breastfeeding moms and infants
• Meat diet is expensive to afford while vegetables are cheaper
• A person needs to have a balance of both types of diet to stay healthy
• Religious oppression and non-vegetarian diets
• Vegetables should be consumed more because they are light and easy to digest
• Vegetables keep the skin healthier
• Meat diets keep the body functions proper
• If all people go on vegetarian diet, many people will lose their source of income and become jobless
• Vegetables are healthy as long as backed up with enough protein

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The 60 Most Common Arguments Against Veganism [Debunked]

Updated on November 8, 2023 Reviewed and fact-checked Found a mistake? Let us know!

As a vegan, you’ll be hit with various questions and criticisms from non-vegans in your life. Some of these questions will be asked sincerely. Other will be said defensively. Some may even be meant to attack your diet and lifestyle choices.

This post shares my personal answers to 60 common questions, objections, and critiques you’re likely to hear as a vegan. They’re not necessarily the “correct” answers. You may disagree with some of my responses. If you do, you may want to think about your own answers or even write them out.

Many of my answers make use of utilitarian ethics , which is explained more in Peter Singer’s book Animal Liberation . But I don’t consistently apply that ethical theory to the exclusion of others.

My view of ethics is also a bit more lax and relativistic compared to many ethical vegans. So I am less aggressive in some of my answers than others would be.

Adjust your answers to your own style, personal beliefs, and values. At the very least, you can use the list of questions and objections to brainstorm what your own answers might be!

Table of Contents

• “Where do you get your protein?”
• “Don’t you need fish for omega-3 fats?”
• “You can’t get vitamin B12 from plants.”
• “You can’t get enough iron from plants.”
• “You can’t get enough calcium without milk.”
• “Soy products aren’t healthy.”
• “Veganism relies on monoculture farming of grains—that’s not sustainable.”
• “Veganism requires supplements. That proves it’s not healthy.”
• “Vegans can’t gain weight/muscle to excel in sports like football.”
• “Vegan diets have too many carbs.”
• “Vegan diets have too many ‘anti-nutrients’ from grains and legumes.”
• “My body craves animal products because I need the nutrition in them.”
• “Veganism is a type of consumerism—it reinforces capitalism.”
• “Being vegan is impossible if you live in a food desert.”
• “You can’t be 100% vegan. All medications are tested on animals. Even roads contain animals.”
• “Humans are omnivores. Our bodies are made to eat meat. We have canine teeth.”
• “Eating meat is a personal choice.”
• “Eating meat is natural.”
• “Humans are at the top of the food chain.”
• “It’s the circle of life.”
• “Eating meat is what helped humans evolve to have such big brains.”
• “Plants feel pain, too.”
• “Even plant farming causes the deaths of field mice and insects.”
• “Farm animals only exist because we bred them for food—so they don’t have rights or lives without us.”
• “If everyone went vegan, what would happen to all the farm animals already alive?”
• “It hurts cows not to milk them. Cows like being milked.”
• “We are smarter and naturally superior to animals.”
• “Farm animals would never survive in the wild—so why should they have rights?”
• “If you eat every part of the animal, that is respectful and ethical.”
• “Animals would gladly eat you—so why not eat them?”
• “I only eat humanely slaughtered and humanely farmed animal products.”
• “Animals cannot enter into ethical or moral contracts with us.”
• “The animals are already dead. Why not eat the meat, so it doesn’t go to waste?”
• “We shouldn’t focus on animal rights until all human rights issues are handled.”
• “Medical conditions don’t allow everyone to be vegan.”
• “Only privileged people can afford vegan food. Veganism is expensive.”
• “The vegan community is just full of white people.”
• “The world will never be fully vegan.”
• “You buy other things that are made with unethical labor, like clothes from sweatshops.”
• “Veganism is boring—the food lacks taste and variety.”
• “There is no such thing as objective moral truth.”
• “Hitler was vegetarian.”
• “Sustainable vegan farming isn’t possible—animal manure is needed to fertilize plants.”
• “If everyone went vegan, so many people would lose their jobs.”
• “Vegans are preachy and pretentious.”
• “Meat tastes good.”
• “God put animals on earth to be food for us.”
• “If it’s wrong for humans to own and use animals, why do vegans have pets?”
• “So, do you force your cat or dog to be vegan, too?”
• “There has never been a vegan civilization in human history.”
• “Don’t force your beliefs on me.”
• “I don’t have enough time to be vegan.”
• “Meat and animal products are part of my culture.”
• “There’s no ethical consumption under capitalism.”
• “What if you were on a desert island or had to survive in the wild?”
• “What about mushrooms, yeast, and bacteria? They’re alive, too.”
• “Animals do not suffer when they’re slaughtered.”
• “Aren’t you projecting human desires and suffering onto other animals?”
• “I read a news story about a nutritionally deficient vegan baby…”
• “PETA is an offensive, racist, sexist organization.”

1. “Where do you get your protein?”

I get my protein from plants. Just like elephants and gorillas do. There are plenty of plant foods that have a good amount of protein: Beans, peas, lentils, peanut butter, quinoa, and many other veggies, nuts, seeds, and grains.

There are also plenty of meat substitutes and soy foods even higher in protein: Tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein (TVP), seitan, Beyond Meat, the Impossible Burger, Tofurkey, and all the other “mock meats.”

There are also vegan protein powders. Pea protein specifically is a complete protein with similar muscle-building effectiveness as whey. And there are many other vegan “protein blends” that are also complete proteins.

Most Americans eat far above the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA) for protein, while a vegan diet naturally falls closer to the RDA.

And even if you want to eat a lot of protein as an athlete or bodybuilder, you can do it on a well-planned vegan diet using the high-protein foods above.

2. “Don’t you need fish for omega-3 fats?”

Fish are not the only source of omega-3s. There are also plant sources, such as flaxseed, chia seed, hemp seeds, and walnuts.

Even when looking at the specific kind of omega-3s found in fish—DHA and EPA—those can be obtained from a vegan source, too.

Many companies now make vegan omega-3 supplements that contain DHA and EPA sourced from algae (“algal oil”). This is the original source that fish get their omega-3s from.

So another benefit of choosing vegan omega-3s from algae is that you’re getting it straight from the original source (algae), without the mercury or PCBs often found in fish.

3. “You can’t get vitamin B12 from plants.”

That’s okay—vegans can easily, affordably, and safely get vitamin B12 from supplements. B12 supplements have been shown to be effective, and there’s no need to eat animal products for B12.

All vitamin B12 is actually made by bacteria , which is found in soil. In the past, humans were able to get more B12 from plants, but due to sanitation practices and modern industrial farming today, our plant foods don’t provide as much contact with this B12-producing bacteria anymore.

The way animals are raised on factory farms, they must be given B12 supplements, too. That’s because their plant-based feed doesn’t contain much B12 anymore, either.

So even when you eat animal products for B12 today, the original source of the B12 is typically a supplement given to the animals. It’s not actually “made” by the animals or anything.

Side Note: This is the best free video introduction I’ve found on adopting a plant-based diet— the right way . You’ll learn how to lower your risk of cancer, heart disease, type-2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and obesity—all with plants. Watch the free Masterclass here .

4. “You can’t get enough iron from plants.”

There are plenty of high-iron plant foods, from beans and lentils to pumpkin seeds, cashews, tofu, chia seeds, and quinoa.

In addition, if you eat those foods along with foods high in vitamin C, then the iron absorption is boosted even further. Getting enough iron is not a problem on a well-planned vegan diet.

Read more on vegans and iron here .

5. “You can’t get enough calcium without milk.”

Most plant-based milks like soy milk and almond milk are now fortified with the same amount of calcium as in cow’s milk. So if you just replace cow’s milk with plant milk, you’ll typically get the same amount of calcium.

It’s also possible to get enough calcium from low-oxalate dark leafy greens like kale, as well as other plant foods, fortified foods, or supplements. Milk is not necessary by any means.

Read more on vegans and calcium here .

6. “Soy products aren’t healthy.”

Most credible sources, including Healthline.com and the Harvard Health Letter , state that soy foods are either neutral or beneficial—especially when eaten in less-processed forms like tofu, tempeh, and unsweetened soy milk.

However, there are conflicting studies and theories about soy, for sure. Many sources argue that you should limit isolated soy protein , like what’s found in many soy-based mock meats.

Luckily, a vegan diet does not require soy—so you can avoid soy as a vegan if you choose.

There are plenty of vegan protein sources besides soy, including beans, peas, lentils, seitan (wheat meat), nutritional yeast, peanut butter, hemp seeds, and more.

You can also buy vegan protein powders or protein bars made from pea protein or others. Many of the most popular “mock meats” today, like Beyond Meat, are made with pea protein— not soy .

7. “Veganism relies on monoculture farming of grains—that’s not sustainable.”

First, there are many ways to eat vegan—and not all of them include grains or soy. There are ways to eat low-carb vegan, vegan keto , or other grain-free vegan diets if you wish.

Second, animal agriculture also typically relies on monoculture farming. Most animals are grain-fed, and it takes a whole lot of grain to raise a cow to the point of slaughter. The leading driver of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest is the cattle industry. ( source )

So if you’re opposed to monoculture farming, you should also be opposed to eating the meat or other products of grain-fed livestock.

Third, there are forms of vegan farming out there that are more focused on sustainability. Look up “veganic” farming and “vegan permaculture” for two different approaches to sustainable food production without using animal products at any point in the process.

8. “Veganism requires supplements. That proves it’s not healthy.”

When it comes to vitamin B12—the most important supplement for vegans—there’s an interesting fact about that, which most people don’t know. First, vitamin B12 is actually made by bacteria—not plants or animals.

Humans used to get B12 from eating plants and drinking water from streams, because there was plenty of B12-producing bacteria in our soils.

But due to today’s industrial farming methods and sanitation practices, we no longer get much B12 through plants or water. So the main food source of B12 today is animal products.

However, what most people don’t know is that the B12 in most animal products actually got there because animals on farms are fed B12 supplements. That’s because the grains they’re fed don’t naturally contain much B12 anymore.

So even if you get your B12 from animal products, it’s most likely coming from a supplement originally anyway. And that’s necessary due to today’s farming and sanitation practices.

And it’s not totally unwarranted. Many physicians recommend that everyone take a vitamin D supplement, for example—because our modern lifestyles simply don’t include as much sunlight as our ancestors’.

Almost 20 million people in the U.S. take omega-3 supplements, too—because most of Western society has an imbalanced omega-3 to omega-6 ratio… not just vegans.

9. “Vegans can’t gain weight/muscle to excel in sports like football.”

Tell that to the “ 300-Pound Vegan ,” former NFL lineman David Carter.

Or tell it to a good bunch of the Tennessee Titans defensive line. As they explain in the documentary The Game Changers , something like a dozen players on the TItans went plant-based in 2018. They partially attributed their playoff run to the diet change.

Or tell it to vegan strongman Patrick Baboumian , who was declared “Strongest Man of Germany” in 2011.

There are plenty examples of people gaining muscle, size, and strength on a vegan diet. It takes some extra focus on protein and calories, but it can be done. And there are benefits as far as quicker athletic recovery, as well.

Even one of the strongest and most powerful animals in nature— the gorilla—eats a diet that is 97% plant-based or more (the exact percentage depends on the subspecies of gorilla).

10. “Vegan diets have too many carbs.”

There are a lot of misconceptions around “carbs.” They’re often associated with refined sugar and processed foods like bread, pasta, chips, pastries, and other low-nutrient foods. But carbs from whole foods like vegetables, fruit, whole grains, and beans are generally very healthy.

For most people today, their problem is not “too many carbs,” but too many processed foods of all kinds, in combination with too much saturated fat from animal foods.

That said, if you want to eat a low-carb diet for a specific reason, you can do that as a vegan. Simply focus on vegetables, nuts, seeds, avocados, oils, and mock meats as your major calorie sources. You can even be vegan keto if you choose.

11. “Vegan diets have too many ‘anti-nutrients’ from grains and legumes.”

This has become a more common argument against veganism in recent years. People warn of the lectins and other “anti-nutrients” in beans, grains, and other plant foods.

Based on the best science I’ve seen, these concerns are overblown. Lectins are mostly destroyed by soaking and cooking. Yes, if you eat raw, uncooked, dry beans, you would have an upset stomach and digestive problems to say the least.

But beans must be soaked and cooked for many hours. When you buy canned beans, they’re already cooked. Studies have shown that lectin activity is virtually non-existent after cooking. ( source )

Also, as it happens, these “high-lectin foods” are typically high in fiber, antioxidants, and other protective nutrients. So there seems to be very little actual cause for concern with lectins.

Population studies have also shown that people eating lots of whole grains and beans have better health and longevity. If the lectins in these foods were a serious health concern, we wouldn’t see this.

No major health organization promotes the dietary restriction of lectins. In fact, restricting lectin-containing foods goes against the advice of the American Heart Association, American Cancer Society, and American Diabetes Association. ( source )

12. “My body craves animal products because I need the nutrition in them.”

Cravings are rarely based on the nutrition you need to be healthy. Millions of people routinely crave cigarettes, drugs, ice cream, pizza, and chocolate cake.

So what explains cravings for animal foods? Our bodies evolved for survival in an environment where food was scarce. This has resulted in a human psychology that is very easy to tempt with high-calorie foods.

Meat and animal products are rich sources of calories and fat that would’ve been very beneficial to us in the evolutionary environments we evolved in.

But today, for the vast majority of us, we don’t need extra calories. What we actually need is more micronutrients—vitamins, minerals, antioxidants—and we need more water and fiber. That is, we actually need more colorful, healthy, whole plant foods. Not meat and cheese.

Luckily, if you stop eating animal products for a while, you will generally start to crave them less. Your taste buds will adapt and be able to appreciate vegetables, fruits, and other more subtle tastes again.

13. “Veganism is a type of consumerism—it reinforces capitalism.”

First, veganism isn’t just a consumer activity to the most committed, ethical vegans. It often involves other forms of action for animals and the earth, too—and many vegans are involved in other activist movements.

Second, consumer boycotts don’t inherently “reinforce capitalism.” Many people who oppose capitalism use boycotts as a tool to achieve their ends. Take the Palestinian movement for “Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions” (BDS) , which is supported by many socialists and anarchists.

Boycotts do not inherently “support” capitalism—they just use capitalism and market forces to achieve a specific effect in the world.

Third, even if veganism did “reinforce capitalism,” which is a stretch… once could argue that that’s okay, as it is supporting a more ethical form of capitalism. [Only add this point if you’re interested in trying to defend capitalism. Because it will probably lead to a broader debate about it!]

14. “Being vegan is impossible if you live in a food desert.”

Being vegan may be harder in a food desert, as any kind of specific diet might be. Saying it’s “impossible” is not precise, though, and it’s potentially condescending to people who live in food deserts and take great care to select the best food options from what they have access to.

Also, if it is harder to be vegan in a food desert, that’s not really a strike against veganism. That’s more of a strike against the food distribution systems in our society.

It may also be a strike against capitalism because it’s an example of free markets failing to meet the needs of people in those areas. But you can be vegan and also care about these other food justice issues.

There are vegan organizations like the Food Empowerment Project that are actively involved in food justice issues besides veganism itself, including programs to improve healthy food access in food deserts.

15. “You can’t be 100% vegan. All medications are tested on animals. Even roads contain animals.”

This statement assumes that “100% vegan” means “not ever consuming or using any animal by-products whatsoever .” But the most widely accepted definitions of “vegan” don’t suggest such perfection.

Here’s a quote from the Vegan Society’s definition of “vegan” :

“Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose.”

This definition contains an acknowledgment that veganism is about doing what’s “possible and practicable.” For most vegans, yes, you’ll need to use some products that contain animal by-products or were tested on animals. That’s just a fact of the world we live in.

But it still makes a difference to mostly avoid animal products. It still makes a difference to seek out non-animal alternatives when possible.

Being vegan is not about being perfect—it’s about making the impact we can each make.

16. “Humans are omnivores. Our bodies are made to eat meat. We have canine teeth.”

Many of our anatomical features are actually closer to those of herbivores than omnivores:

• Our intestines are long like an herbivore’s.
• Our canine teeth are tiny compared to a true omnivore like a dog. (And there are other herbivores with much bigger canine teeth than ours—like gorillas and male musk deer.)
• We lack claws.
• We drink water like herbivores—sipping, not lapping.
• Uncooked meat is disgusting to us.
• Killing an animal is disturbing and uncomfortable for most of us.
• Our closest animal relatives are chimps and bonobos, both of which eat a diet of primarily fruit. Meat is less than 2% of the chimpanzee diet.
• Our color vision, sense of smell, and hands are perfect for finding and grabbing fruit.
• After years of eating meat and saturated fat, our bodies tend to develop atherosclerosis. That doesn’t happen to true omnivores like dogs—but it does happen to herbivores like rabbits that are fed meat.

So there’s a good deal of evidence that we’re closer to herbivores than actually being full-on omnivores. That said, even if you want to say we’re omnivores since we can eat meat… that doesn’t mean we should eat meat. It just means we can .

So eating meat is an option we have, physiologically. But we also have the option to be vegetarian or vegan. And this leaves us with a responsibility to choose our diet based on our values.

For more about the food that humans are meant to eat, refer to this post.

17. “Eating meat is a personal choice.”

You can call it a personal choice, but the fact is that it has an impact on other people and especially on other animals besides yourself.

If it’s a personal choice, then it is a personal choice that has the power to hurt or help thousands of animals over the course of your life, and to make life better or worse for future generations on this planet.

In my opinion, it is a choice worth making carefully, and in an informed, values-driven way.

18. “Eating meat is natural.”

This is the naturalistic fallacy . Just because something is natural, that doesn’t mean it is good. There are many aggressive, selfish things we may get impulses to do—but we understand they are harmful, so we don’t do them.

19. “Humans are at the top of the food chain.”

First, it’s actually debated whether humans are at the “top of the food chain.” Academics have debated whether humans count as “apex predators” or not, and it’s far from agreed upon.

Just think about it: There are many incidents where humans are prey for larger predators like bears or sharks. And we don’t routinely eat these big predators, either. We mostly kill animals from lower “trophic levels.” So it’s a stretch to say we’re at the “top.”

If you want to say humans are at the “top” because we could kill any animal… Remember we’re only capable of that because of tools like guns. And most humans are not capable of actually building a gun. Many of us don’t even understand how guns work.

So it’s only a small number of humans who have invented the tools that allow us to kill bigger animals… and it’s only a small number of humans who actually hunt or raise animals today.

Also—this is a bit of a circular argument. How do you know that human beings are at the “top” of the food chain? Because we can kill other animals? And you’re saying that’s also the reason we should kill other animals? Because we can?

Lastly, this is another example of the naturalistic fallacy. Just because something is natural doesn’t mean it is good.

20. “It’s the circle of life.”

Our modern industrial food system is very far from being a “circle of life.” Animals on factory farms typically only live a small fraction of their normal life span . They are typically kept indoors for their entire lives. They’re fed loads of antibiotics.

Their bodies are often mutilated with practiced like tail-docking (pigs), debeaking (chickens), and castration without pain killers. It’s the least natural, least “cyclical” thing you could imagine.

Instead of living naturally off the land and animals, what’s happening today is pure exploitation : Everything is optimized toward producing the most meat, dairy, and eggs at the lowest cost possible.

Also, a “circle” would suggest that our own dead bodies will become nutrition for the soil, plants, and other animals in turn. But animals in our industrial food system are fed grains like corn and soy, which are made using monoculture farming and typically many pesticides and even GMOs.

Meanwhile most of us dead humans will be planted in coffins, away in specific graveyards. To call this the “circle of life” just seems really naive.

21. “Eating meat is what helped humans evolve to have such big brains.”

Eating meat may have helped early humans survive and spread across the globe—as did the consumption of starches like hard tubers, which also increased with stone tool usage.

But that doesn’t mean we should keep eating meat.

The truth is that today, we have large brains because we now have those instructions in our DNA. And your brain does not shrink if you stop eating meat!

On the contrary, a diet full of fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains can help optimize brain function and promote brain health, even reducing the risk of Alzheimer’s. ( source )

22. “Plants feel pain, too.”

I don’t actually buy that. There are ways to describe plant “behavior” that make it sound like plants experience pain… but plants do not have nerves or a central nervous system. So there is no known way they’d “feel” anything.

Also, most plants are sessile —rooted in one place. This suggests there would be no evolutionary purpose for sensations of pain. Pain in animals helps motivate us to run away from the painful stimuli. But plants can’t run away—so why would they feel pain?

The truth is that plants have entirely different ways of being than us.

There is no reason to believe that plants have consciousness, that they experience sensations of pain, or that such sensations are ethically relevant to which foods we eat.

Also, this is a completely separate point, but if you wanted to minimize the amount of plants you kill, a vegan diet would still be better than a diet including animal products.

This is because many more plants are killed in order to feed and sustain livestock on farms than are killed to actually feed humans directly. So if you want fewer plants to die, eating meat will not help!

Read more about how vegans justify killing plants here .

23. “Even plant farming causes the deaths of field mice and insects.”

This is similar to the argument that it’s impossible to be “100% vegan.” And my response, again, is that you don’t need to be perfect to have a massive positive impact.

Also—causing some unintentional deaths while doing what we need to do to survive (harvesting plants), is not the same as needlessly slaughtering animals.

We will probably always cause some harm to small creatures with our food production methods, even if we ate food solely from little gardens. But a vegan diet is comparatively less violent, less harmful, and more sustainable than other diets.

It’s most efficient for humans to eat plants directly, rather than feeding those plants to an animal and eating the animal. Less land, fuel, and water are needed when we eat plants directly.

24. “Farm animals only exist because we bred them for food—so they don’t have rights or lives without us.”

Regardless of how we’ve bred and raised farm animals, they fact now is that they exist and they suffer.

Imagine if we “bred” a new kind of human to become bigger and more docile, as we’ve done to farm animals. That wouldn’t give us the right to enslave or kill these new kinds of humans.

Animals are “subjects of a life.” They have preferences about what happens to them. They experience pain, and they’d prefer to avoid it. This means that how we treat them is ethically relevant.

It doesn’t matter that we gave them their life… Once they have that life and are capable of suffering, their suffering is ethically relevant.

25. “If everyone went vegan, what would happen to all the farm animals already alive?”

First, it’s not realistic that everyone will go vegan overnight. A much more likely scenario is that we would gradually become more and more plant-based, and meat could be phased out over time.

Second, if we ever decided to be vegan as a whole society, there would likely be support for allowing the remaining farm animals to live out their lives at animal sanctuaries.

These types of animal sanctuaries already exist, and they would find much more financial support in this hypothetical future where everyone is vegan.

26. “It hurts cows not to milk them. Cows like being milked.”

Yes, I’ve been told that cows seem to enjoy being milked when their udders are full of milk.

But that is different from a cow actually wanting to be confined indoors, artificially impregnated, separated from her calf, milked for 10 months, then artificially impregnated again, separated from her calf again, milked for 10 more months, then one more cycle of this—then killed around age 3 (even though their natural life span is 20 years).

So even if cows “like being milked,” that doesn’t mean they like being used as dairy cows overall.

The dairy industry is also intimately connected to the veal industry. The baby calves killed for veal are generally male calves from the dairy industry.

The dairy industry also emits a lot of methane, a greenhouse gas that contribute to climate change. Animal agriculture contributes 6-7% of the US’s total greenhouse gas emissions every year. 20% of that emission is methane from dairy cows (mainly from cow burps, actually).

So you have to look at the broader context of the cycle of impregnation and separation of mother and calf, as well as the broader impact of the dairy industry in the world.

If you do that, it’s easy to see why vegans don’t support dairy .

27. “We are smarter and naturally superior to animals.”

Animals don’t have to be smart for us to care about their pain, fear, and suffering. The fact that they can’t read books or do math, has nothing to do with the fact that they do suffer.

Most people would agree that it’d be wrong to hurt or kill unintelligent humans. We still care about the rights and welfare of people with lower IQs or mental disabilities. So how could you use a difference of intelligence to justify harming other animals

Arguably, being “higher animals” as humans is exactly what’s allowed us to develop ethics and morality that transcends our base instincts.

28. “Farm animals would never survive in the wild—so why should they have rights?”

Because they are conscious beings capable of suffering.

We don’t judge the moral standing of our fellow humans by whether they could survive in the wild, so why would this be relevant in our consider of other animals? (Many humans today wouldn’t survive in the wild, either!)

29. “If you eat every part of the animal, that is respectful and ethical.”

I would agree that seems more respectful than killing an animal for no reason. And I respect that some tribes or individuals may have ways of hunting or killing animals that feel much more wholesome compared to factory farms.

But here’s why I still don’t think it’s ethical:

Just imagine you’re a deer walking through the woods with your family. Then suddenly, someone shoots you or your family member. You’re terrified. You may be in horrible pain. Maybe you witness your family member die. And then maybe you’re alone after that—an orphan.

Now just imagine, after you experience this, the hunter explains to you: “Hey, sorry—but don’t worry about it—we’re going to eat your family member’s whole body, with the utmost respect.”

Would you be relieved? Does that make everything okay? Or would you still be terrified, alone, in pain, missing your family member, etc? Being hunted is bound to be terrifying for animals, even when it’s done “respectfully.”

And with the knowledge and technology we have today, it’s just not necessary. At least not in the developed world. So it’s a choice we make. And it’s a choice we make at the expense of those animals who have to feel that terror.

30. “Animals would gladly eat you—so why not eat them?”

First—most of the animals commonly eaten as meat are herbivores: Cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, deer, etc. So in fact, those animals would not “gladly eat me.”

Second, that’s not really a sound ethical argument. We don’t hold animals to the same standards of morality and ethics that we hold our fellow humans to. Animals don’t have the same power of reason as we do.

But when it comes to how we should treat animals , Jeremy Bentham said it well: “The question is not, Can they reason?, nor Can they talk? but, Can they suffer?”

We seek to spare animals suffering because we, too, know what suffering is like. And we know we don’t like it. And we don’t want to inflict that on any other sentient being if we don’t have to.

31. “I only eat humanely slaughtered and humanely farmed animal products.”

I appreciate that you care about the humane treatment of animals, and you want to choose humane options. But many of these labels are very misleading.

First—most terms like “humanely raised” are not legally defined. So depending on the exact term, it could mean different things. Many such terms are empty—they’re more about marketing than actual animal welfare.

“Grass fed” cows can still be fed grass indoors, for example. “Cage free” chickens are often stuffed by the thousands into sheds. The actual farms don’t necessarily look like the commercial with happy cows in a meadow.

Second—even when you see the best animal welfare certifications on a product, like Animal Welfare Approved (AWA) or Certified Humane (CH), there are still some cruel practices allowed.

One example is castration without pain relief, which is allowed on both AWA and CH products. So even the best certifications do not guarantee a complete lack of cruelty.

Third—there is just inherent exploitation in animal agriculture. One example is the heart-breaking separation of mother and calf in the dairy industry—it can’t be avoided, even on the most “humane” farms.

Also, farming animals pretty much necessitates keeping them confined and then eventually killing them. Even when those actions are done in less-cruel ways, it’s still confinement and killing.

For all these reasons, I’m personally not satisfied with “humane meat,” and I think the term is a bit of an oxymoron.

32. “Animals cannot enter into ethical or moral contracts with us.”

There are plenty of ethical frameworks that don’t depend on any kind of moral contract or agreement to be established between both parties. The fact that animals are conscious and capable of suffering is enough reason for us to care about reducing their suffering.

33. “The animals are already dead. Why not eat the meat, so it doesn’t go to waste?”

There are actually some contexts in which some vegans actually do agree with this logic.

There are “freegans” who are fully vegan except that they’re okay with eating meat if it’s just being thrown away otherwise. Often, freegans participate in “dumpster diving” behind grocery stores to retrieve this discarded food and take it home before it goes to waste.

But in most contexts, it’s not so clear that meat is going to be thrown away if we don’t eat it.

Usually, when we eat meat, we increase the total demand for meat. Most often, we are paying for meat, which sends financial signals to companies that they should keep producing more.

Even when we aren’t paying for meat, eating it usually sends a signal of demand at some level.

If you eat meat at your family dinner, your parents will be more likely to keep buying enough meat to feed you on an ongoing basis, for example. This also applies at big parties and gatherings, although the signal may be less clear.

But there are other reasons not to eat meat in such contexts, too.

By refusing to eat meat, we’re often increasing demand for vegan alternatives. Then we’re sending signals to companies that more people want vegan options. When they get enough of these signals, they’ll be likely to offer more vegan options, which will make it easier for others to go vegan, too.

Another valid reason not to eat meat is that some people just feel that it’s gross or wrong… and it just doesn’t feel good to participate in it! And it’s as simple as that.

34. “We shouldn’t focus on animal rights until all human rights issues are handled.”

There will always be multiple issues that demand our attention.

Most of us, including vegans, do value human life more than animals. So on a gut level, we understand that impulse. But when animals are suffering so badly on factory farms, it just becomes hard to ignore.

In many cases, human rights violations today are at least restricted by laws—and people are at least sometimes prosecuted for breaking those laws.

In contrast, there is not even one federal law protecting animals that live on factory farms. Billions of animals are raised each year—in incredibly cruel conditions—specifically to be killed. And it’s all legally protected.

So, it’s not that vegans think animal rights are more important than human rights overall… it’s just that animal rights are being so brutally violated on such a mass scale.

Also: You can be vegan and still focus on human rights. Going vegan only really takes time during the initial learning period. Once you’re used to it, being vegan doesn’t really take up time or energy.

In fact, being vegan will likely give you more health and energy, which you can put toward fighting for human rights issues. Countless people who fight human oppression have also made a choice to eat a vegan diet—including famous feminist and anti-racist activist Angela Davis .

35. “Medical conditions don’t allow everyone to be vegan.”

I’ve actually researched this issue quite a bit . And while I respect that everyone’s body is different and you should listen to your doctor, I can tell you it’s very rare that a vegan diet would actually be impossible based on a medical condition.

That said, a vegan diet can certainly be much harder any time you have to “stack” multiple diet requirements on top of each other.

So yes, if you need to eat a very specific diet for a medical condition, it can get quite restrictive to stack veganism on top of that. And when a diet becomes very restrictive, there can be worries about getting all needed nutrients.

But it can pretty much always be done, if you really want to do it. You can be a gluten-free vegan, soy-free vegan, low-carb vegan, nut-free vegan, and so on.

One of the most difficult medical conditions to pair with veganism might be kidney failure. If you’re on dialysis, you typically need high protein while keeping potassium and phosphorous lower. That can be a challenge with vegan foods.

But even in those “tricky” cases, a good dietitian could usually figure out a vegan meal plan that is safe and hits the needed targets. So in most cases, it just comes down to how much you actually want to be vegan and how much you actually care about figuring it out.

For more on this topic, see “ Can Everyone Be Vegan? 13 Medical Conditions That May Prevent It .”

36. “Only privileged people can afford vegan food. Veganism is expensive.”

Having more money and better grocery store access can make veganism easier, as it can make any specific diet easier. But veganism is possible at pretty much any budget.

Many common vegan staple foods are cheap and widely available: Potatoes, rice, oats, pasta, corn, beans, peanut butter, bananas, apples, frozen vegetables, etc.

Heck, there are even some vegan ramen noodle brands. (Last I checked, the Oriental flavor by Top Ramen is vegan—and that’s just one example.)

You don’t need to buy vegan cheese, Beyond Burgers, or expensive non-dairy desserts to be vegan. In fact, you will be healthier if you don’t buy them.

If you’re on a budget, don’t go to places like Whole Foods Market or natural foods stores. There are plenty of vegan options at Wal-Mart and other big chains, or discount places like Aldi.

If you’re short on money and short on cooking time, it can be harder to find cheap vegan convenience foods… but they exist. Look into fat-free baked beans, pasta, bananas and apples, peanuts and peanut butter, cereal or oatmeal, and ramen noodles like I said above.

It’s potentially quite condescending when people say poor folks can’t be vegan. Yes, being poor could be an extra hurdle as a vegan—just like it’s an extra hurdle in many endeavors—but if you’re committed to being vegan, you can do it.

37. “The vegan community is just full of white people.”

This is one of the more harmful stereotypes of the vegan movement , because it could become self-perpetuating. And most of us agree that we want vegan spaces to be inclusive.

The truth about veganism and whiteness, as far as I can tell, is that the media simply chooses to promote white vegan speakers, authors, and figureheads more than vegans of color.

Black vegans exist. Latino vegans exist. Asian vegans exist. Native American vegans exist.

The idea of veganism as a white people’s movement is not true and never was true. There have been important vegans of color and a prominent tradition of “vegan soul food” all throughout the history of veganism.

Many of the most vegan-friendly cuisines are traditionally eaten by people of color around the world—Ethiopian food, Indian food, and various other Asian cuisines.

When people say veganism is a “white person thing,” that’s erasing the contributions of countless vegans of color. And this makes the vegan movement a less inclusive place for vegans of color going forward.

I’ve heard from many vegans of color who say it’s the most frustrating thing to hear people say veganism is “a white people thing.” They’re just like standing there like, “Hello?”

38. “The world will never be fully vegan.”

First off, the world could be fully vegan someday—it’s not impossible.

Moral judgments about others issues, like human slavery, have dramatically changed across the world in the last 500 years or so. There’s no reason that moral values around animals couldn’t change, too.

Second, the world doesn’t need to be fully vegan in order for vegans to have an impact. Every animal that’s saved from suffering matters—and over a lifetime, each vegan saves thousands of animals .

Every person who goes vegan also decreases their carbon footprint and environmental impact, which helps keep our planet habitable for future generations.

39. “You buy other things that are made with unethical labor, like clothes from sweatshops.”

I’d like to do a better job with my other purchases over time, too. It’s not easy to remove ourselves from every single unethical practice or industry in the world… but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to do our best.

Going vegan is one of the most high-leverage, impactful changes we can all make. That’s because it not only helps the animals, but it also helps the environment and it’s good for our own health. So I started there.

But I don’t claim to be perfect or done with my journey to living a more compassionate life.

40. “Veganism is boring—the food lacks taste and variety.”

Maybe you’ve had a few bland vegan meals… but this certainly doesn’t apply across the whole spectrum of vegan options out there.

Some of the most vegan-friendly cuisines are Indian food, Thai food, Ethiopian food, and Mediterranean food. And from those four cuisines alone, you have such a wide variety of different flavors, spices, and types of food you can get vegan.

Then, add everything you can do with vegan Mexican food, vegan Chinese food, vegan pasta and pizza dishes, and so many more…

Most people find that going vegan pushes them to explore different cuisines and foods that they never tried before. Often, vegan foods like nutritional yeast , Soy Curls , and seitan become new favorites.

If vegan food seems boring, you probably just haven’t had that much yet.

41. “There is no such thing as objective moral truth.”

Depending on your view of things, this might be true. But even in that case, I’m sure we can agree: Personal values and following your own morality is an important part of being fulfilled and proud of who you are.

So I would just ask you to be honest with yourself: Do you actually feel that it’s okay to hurt animals, and like that’s something you want to contribute to?

Most people might say, “Yeah it’s okay, I don’t care about animal rights.” But if you really make yourself look at what’s happening… and if you see how it’s hurting these animals… you might start to feel some empathy for them.

I know that’s what changed it all for me. When I saw the videos of animals suffering in factory farms and slaughterhouses, I just had a feeling deep down that I didn’t want to support it anymore.

It wasn’t based on “objective morality,” logic, or what anyone else told me was wrong. It wasn’t based on a commandment or a specific moral theory. It was based on what I felt in my gut and in my heart about it.

42. “Hitler was vegetarian.”

It wasn’t Hitler’s vegetarianism that caused him to do any of the violent things he did. And that’s so obvious, I’m not even going to say anything else about it.

43. “Sustainable vegan farming isn’t possible—animal manure is needed to fertilize plants.”

Animal products like manure, bone meal, and blood meal are not needed to fertilize plants. There are nitrogen-fixing plants that can synthesize plenty of usable nitrogen through a symbiotic relationship with bacteria and fungi.

For examples of this, just look up “veganic” farming . (Vegan + organic = veganic.)

Veganic farmers plant nitrogen-fixing crops into their fields during the off-season (as a “cover crop”) or even at the same time as their main crop.

There is no magic ingredient in animal manure that you can’t get from nitrogen-fixing plants and fertilizers made from them.  The animals got their nitrogen from nitrogen-fixing plants in the first place.

Vegan permaculture also provides some interesting agricultural ideas for working with nature, harnessing natural biodiversity, and using predator-prey relationships to balance pests and control yields.

But vegan permaculture would also be a drastic departure from today’s monocrop farming. It may be unlikely for us to realistically see it widely applied in our lives.

Veganic farming overall, however, is not limited to personal gardens or community plots. One Degree is a profitable company whose cereals or breads you may have seen in grocery stores—especially if you ever shop at Whole Foods or health-food stores.

One Degree has a network of veganic farmers around the world who have successfully adopted the model. These include sizable farms (thousands of acres) that harvest their crop with combines and semi-trucks full of grains.

44. “If everyone went vegan, so many people would lose their jobs.”

First, everyone won’t realistically go vegan overnight. So if it ever happens, it’ll only happen gradually. That means the industry will have time to adapt. Very likely, some companies that currently make animal products would just switch to making plant-based versions.

Second— many of the jobs in animal agriculture are horrible . For example, workers at slaughterhouses often experience physical injuries, along with PTSD and other emotional, psychological issues from killing animals all day, every day. ( source )

Also, I personally believe the intense, life-long suffering of animals on factory farms is worse than the temporary issue of people losing their jobs. Most people who lose their jobs would find new ones just fine.

Many developments in human history have made old jobs obsolete. It happens all the time due to technology. But does that mean we should stifle our technology and stay in the past, just to allow people to keep their jobs?

People will adapt. People have to adapt. That’s just a fact of life, and specifically, it’s a fact of capitalism. You’re not entitled to a job if it’s no longer contributing value that is in demand.

45. “Vegans are preachy and pretentious.”

Honestly, I’d agree that some vegans can be preachy… But most of us are just passionate. We feel strongly that animals are suffering, and we really want to help. In order to do that, we have to convince others to go vegan, too. So we try to spread the message.

But don’t let a few preachy people ruin veganism for you. Going vegan doesn’t mean you have to love and agree with all other vegans. Honestly, I find some vegans obnoxious—but that’s okay.

I’m vegan for the animals and for myself. So it doesn’t really matter what the rest of the vegan movement is like. If some of them are obnoxious, that’s their own problem.

What I care about is eating and living in a way that feels good and right to me . I like how I feel eating plants and being vegan. I feel good about the impact I’m having, and it makes me healthier.

If you really dislike vegans and the vegan movement, you can always just call yourself “plant-based.” That’s a more neutral term with fewer associations.

46. “Meat tastes good.”

Yes, meat does taste good. And human meat would also taste good, I’m guessing. But that doesn’t mean it’s okay to kill humans to eat them.

And I’m saying the same about cow meat or chicken meat. Whether it tastes good is irrelevant to the question of whether it’s morally okay to kill an animal for it.

There are many things that would be pleasurable to do, but we don’t do them because it would cause suffering and harm to others. I’m saying that cow suffering also matters.

Plus, if you think about it, it’s not actually the meat itself that really tastes so good. Have you noticed that pretty much every meat is seasoned with salt (a mineral) and plant ingredients like tomato-based ketchup and BBQ sauce, mustard, herbs, olive oil, and so on?

47. “God put animals on earth to be food for us.”

I know many Christian vegans who would dispute that! For every passage in the Bible that seems to label animals as food, there are other passages that contradict it.

Many Christians would agree that God wants humans to be “stewards” of animals. But stewardship is not domination. Being a steward of animals means looking after them and taking care of them. Not building factories to exploit and kill them.

Many Christians believe that it was in God’s plan for us to out-grow the killing of other animals for food, and that veganism is perfectly in line with the values of mercy, compassion, and caring for God’s creation.

At the least, the Bible seems to be neutral on whether humans eat animals. It certainly doesn’t dictate that we should eat animals.

48. “If it’s wrong for humans to own and use animals, why do vegans have pets?”

This is actually an issue that’s debated among vegans. Some vegans do see an inherent ethical problem with pet ownership and the status of animals as property.

That said, most of us are practical enough to see a difference between providing a loving home to a rescued dog vs raising animals specifically to kill and eat them. So most vegans are okay with having pets.

Still, there are issues of exploitation and cruelty in the pet industry. Puppy mills churn out dogs to sell, while unwanted strays are put down at shelters. Many pets are neglected, mistreated, and generally lack freedom.

Most vegans just try to be conscious of these issues, and they do the best for their pets that they can.

49. “So, do you force your cat or dog to be vegan, too?”

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning they cannot survive on a fully plant-based diet. Some vegans may try to get around this with supplements, but most vegans respect that their cat needs to eat meat.

On the other hand, dogs are actually omnivores—not carnivores. Since evolving from wolves, dogs have become more capable of digesting starches and carbohydrates, and getting vitamin A from plants like humans can, too.

All this means that dogs can be healthy on a well-planned vegan diet. In fact, there are several dog food brands and supplements specifically made for vegan dogs.

One of the oldest dogs ever on record was actually a blue merle Collie in the UK named Bramble. Bramble lived to age 27 in good health, eating a mostly vegan diet of rice, lentils, and vegetables.

In practice, some vegans feed their dogs a vegan diet, but others don’t because it’s more expensive or they’re not confident about how to make sure it’s healthy.

For more on whether cats and dogs can be vegan, refer to this post .

50. “There has never been a vegan civilization in human history.”

That doesn’t mean there couldn’t be one today or in the future. And it doesn’t mean a vegan diet is unhealthy or unsustainable.

We’ve only really started to deeply understand the science of human nutrition in the past 100 years or so. The word “vitamin” didn’t even exist until 1913.

So it makes sense that we’re better positioned to safely eat a fully vegan diet today than in the past. That said, there has been a rich history of people experimenting with vegetarianism throughout history.

Did you know that Pythagoras started a vegetarian movement back in ancient Greece? (Yes, the guy from the theorem!) Followers of Jainism have a principle of “ahimsa” that calls for non-violence towards all living beings . So most Jains have always been vegetarian.

Buddhism also has ties to vegetarianism. Some scholars argue that the Budhha was a strict vegetarian, while others say he only ate meat when it was offered by a host. Meat-eating was also even banned in Japan for a period of ~1,200 years, from 675 A.D. to 1872.

The word “vegan” was only coined in 1944. But modern science is discovering that there are many benefits to a plant-based diet. And our modern technology makes it safer and easier than ever to be fully vegan.

For more on this kind of vegan history, refer to this post .

51. “Don’t force your beliefs on me.”

I’m not trying to forcing my beliefs on anyone. I’m just asking you to question your own beliefs.

Most of us grew up eating animals, and we never really questioned it. Since meat-eating is the norm in society, most of us just keep doing it without really looking into the facts.

But when you take the time to look at the impact on your health, on the animals, and on the planet… many people decide it’s more in line with their goals and values to eat plant-based.

All I’m trying to do is prompt you to ask these questions, and consider for yourself, what you really want to be doing with your diet—instead of just falling into the norm.

52. “I don’t have enough time to be vegan.”

It can take a little time to figure out veganism at first. But I’ve found that once you’re accustomed to it, veganism doesn’t take extra time at all.

There are so many quick vegan meals and snacks. Fresh fruit and nuts are some of the fastest foods of all. Many packaged snack foods like chips and cookies are “accidentally vegan”—you just need to learn which ones.

It’s also simple to carry trail mix with you, or quickly pack a vegan sandwich and carrots or fruit for lunch.

Chipotle is quick and easy to make vegan. Falafel places are great for a quick vegan lunch. There’s even a growing list of fast-food restaurants that offer the Beyond Burger. (See my full selection of vegan restaurant guides .)

If you want to be vegan, you can find the time to figure this stuff out.

53. “Meat and animal products are part of my culture.”

Increasingly, veganism is a global movement. More and more people of all cultures and cuisines are coming up with vegan versions of their diets.

Yes, cultural ideas about meat may vary—but there’s also a biological component to having compassion toward innocent creatures, and caring about our health and the Earth.

Food is emotional and social, so going vegan may seem very “against the grain” in some cultures and families. But all traditions and foods can be reimagined in a plant-based version.

As a vegan in a traditionally non-vegan culture, you can even be a part of building bridges between your culture and a vegan future. Create the vegan recipes in your cuisine if you can’t find them.

This can potentially make your culture that much more relevant to an up-and-coming generation that cares about food justice, health, and animal welfare.

If you’re confused or feeling lonely about going vegan in your culture, search and find others who have already done it. You should be able to find them online. Hear their perspective and the challenges they overcame, and know you’re not alone.

54. “There’s no ethical consumption under capitalism.”

Depending on your view of capitalism, this may be valid to an extent. There’s certainly a level of exploitation in most major industries, including “vegan” industries like the farming of grains and fresh produce.

That said, most of us would agree that it’s still good to boycott the worst industries and brands—even if the other ones aren’t perfect, either.

And animal agriculture has to be near the top of the list of “worst industries.” Not just for animal abuse, but for the abuse of human workers , too.

Workers at slaughterhouses commonly experience trauma and PTSD, becoming desensitized from killing so many animals and witnessing so much suffering. Workers are also frequently cut and injured themselves from the line moving so quickly.

As depicted in the movie Fast Food Nation , many workers in these facilities are also undocumented immigrants. As these immigrants often have no legal recourse to report unsafe working conditions, they may be regularly mistreated and hyper-exploited.

Angela Davis is just one of the many anti-capitalist figures who promote a vegan diet as a sensible, compassionate choice—even if it doesn’t solve every ethical problem in our economy today.

55. “What if you were on a desert island or had to survive in the wild?”

Well, I’m not on a desert island. And neither are you. We’re in modern human civilization.

Maybe meat was helpful in our species history. Maybe it was necessary back when we didn’t know much about nutrition and we had fewer food options. But it’s not necessary now.

Ethics is contextual. For example, most people agree that some violence is okay in the context of self-defense. But that’s different from initiating violence for no good reason.

So, asking if I’d still be vegan in a very different context (a desert island)… It’s just not the same question at all as whether I should be vegan in modern human civilization.

56. “What about mushrooms, yeast, and bacteria? They’re alive, too.”

Vegans aren’t against killing things that are “alive.” We’re against killing individuals who suffer, have preferences, and are subjects of a life.

Bacteria and fungi are “alive,” and so are plants—but we have no reason to believe that they suffer. Mushrooms and yeast do not have central nervous systems.

Some of these organisms may react to stimuli… but that’s different from feeling pain. There’s no reason for us to believe that these organisms have consciousness or a capacity to actually feel suffering.

Even when it comes to oyster and bivalves, which are animals, some vegans are okay with eating them because they don’t have central nervous systems. That’s a separate debate, though. Read this post on “ostrovegans” for more on that.

57. “Animals do not suffer when they’re slaughtered.”

There has been plenty of documentation of cases where animals visibly suffer in the process of slaughter.

Some animals are fully conscious when their throats are cut. This is still practiced in some parts of the world according to Jewish and Muslim rules of slaughter. It’s debated whether it is actually painful to the animals, but I imagine it is at least quite scary…

Most places in the world, animals are knocked unconscious before slaughter, using tools like a “captive bolt gun.” But these stunning practices don’t always go properly.

In 2019, the US Department of Agriculture deregulated pig slaughter. This has resulted in faster line speeds, less oversight, and more pigs that are still conscious as their throats are slit.

One USDA inspector found that, after deregulation, more pig carcasses were found with water in their lungs—a sign that these pigs were still breathing when dropped into scalding hot water tanks (that comes after having their throats cut). ( source )

Even in the majority of cases when animals are knocked out properly, videos show the animals expressing clear fear and stress as they’re transported, corralled, and then sequentially knocked out.

And even if slaughter were somehow totally painless… there is typically suffering inflicted at many other points in the animals’ lives.

Many animals undergo procedures like tail docking and castration without pain relief. And they’re often held in tiny indoor cages for their whole lives, living in filth and their own waste.

Some animal products are produced more humanely than others—but even the strictest animal welfare certifications are still considered inadequate by many advocates.

58. “Aren’t you projecting human desires and suffering onto other animals?”

This is a fair question to be asking. Certainly, animals don’t have all the same awareness as we have… so we could expect their fears and concerns to be different. There are likely situations that would be distressing to a human but not to another creature.

That said, there is quite a bit we can gather about animal experience by observing how they react to things. Many of us know from having pets, just how deeply animals can bond and feel. (I’d personally guess that my dog is more needy and emotional than most humans!)

We also have a scientific understanding of which animals have a central nervous system, and a fair bit of understanding about that stuff.

Also, the kinds of abuse that animals experience on factory farms is pretty blatant . It’s not just a little boredom or lack of freedom. It’s being castrated without pain relief, being separated from your mother at birth, and not even having space in your cage to turn around—things like that.

There are some animal rights conversations that could get a little more complicated… but when it comes to factory farms and slaughterhouses, we know that animals don’t want to be there.

59. “I read a news story about a nutritionally deficient vegan baby…”

Yes, it’s possible for vegan babies to become nutritionally deficient—just like this is possible for non-vegan babies. News outlets often latch onto vegan malnutrition stories, as the anti-vegan crowd is guaranteed to share the article far and wide.

But experts agree that babies and children of all ages can be healthy vegans. This has been stated by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the British Dietetic Association, and the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It just requires proper planning.

So if you’re planning to be pregnant or have a child, look up resources on those topics—such as the relevant chapters in Brenda Davis’s book Becoming Vegan . Perhaps seek out a registered dietitian to help plan the diet.

But a few cases of poorly planned vegan diets doesn’t mean the lifestyle isn’t sound when it’s done right.

60. “PETA is an offensive, racist, sexist organization.”

PETA does not speak for all vegans, and not all vegans support PETA. Some vegans are very against PETA , in fact.

PETA tends to use controversial campaigns to drive publicity. Some make comparisons between animal oppression and the oppression of women or people of color. Or they compare factory farming to the Holocaust.

Various PETA campaigns have been referred to as racist, sexist, homophobic, transphobic, fat-phobic, and more by critics. Many compassionate people have likely been turned off from veganism by these campaigns.

But again: Being vegan doesn’t mean you support PETA. As a vegan, you can be supportive, neutral, or opposed to PETA.

More on Vegan Ethics

For more discussion of vegan ethical arguments, check out my big post on vegan ethics here .

Two More Recommendations for Your Plant-Based Journey

1. This is the best free video training I’ve found on plant-based nutrition. You’ll learn how to reduce your risk of cancer, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and obesity—all with plant-based food. Watch the free “Food for Health Masterclass” here .

2. This is the  best vegan multivitamin I’ve found  in my 14 years of being vegan.  It has vitamin B12, vitamin D, omega-3—and nothing else. Translation: It only has the nutrients vegans are  actually low in . Read my  full review of Future Kind’s multivitamin here  (with 10% discount).

I’m Tyler McFarland, the editor and main author here. When I first went vegan 13 years ago, convenience products like veggie burgers and soy milk were a lot harder to find. Now they’re everywhere!

Affiliate Disclosure

This blog is reader supported. If you click a link on this page and buy something, I may receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Learn more here . As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Medical Disclaimer

The content on IAmGoingVegan.com is intended only for informational and educational purposes. It is not intended to give medical advice or replace your doctor or health practitioner. No content on this website is intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. The publisher of this content does not take responsibility for possible health consequences of any persons applying the information in this educational content. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, lifestyle, or nutritional supplementation.

© I Am Going Vegan

Argumentative Veganism Essay Example

• Pages: 3 (666 words)
• Published: October 19, 2016
• Type: Essay

There is no doubt that Veganism is a complex and highly controversial issue. Veganism is primarily known as a type of diet; one that excludes all animal products and byproducts as dairy, eggs, and honey. Basically, there are two groups of vegans. One of them lives the vegan lifestyle for ethical reasons the other for health reasons. Non-vegans claim that it is a logistical challenge to organize and cook vegan food. Another argument against the vegan diet is that vegan food does not fully supply the body with all essential nutrients. In the last years Veganism is running rampant more and more.

This is for sure to a large group a temporary fashion, but with elucidation of facts about the cruelty meat-eating involves, more people decide to abstain from animal products. It is a fact, that mass production of a

nimal products implies torment of animals. Many organizations for animal rights, e. g. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA), Vier Pfoten, Pro Animale, etcetera, are joined by Vegans, because they want to fight for better conditions for animals. The productive livestock, which is kept in mass stocks, suffers from bad terms such as little space, no natural habitat and social distance.

Often animals are stuffed with medicine, for example antibiotics or anti-invectives to keep them alive. Also growth hormones are used to get more profit in shorter time. Generally, factory farming made it possible to raise more animals for less money than ever before. With abstinence from eating animal products Vegans want to actively reduce the demand on animal goods. Today’s slaughter implicates rough and deadhearted methods on the assembl

line, which brings me to the next argument pro Veganism. Animals in fear of death distribute stress hormones, which are resorbed by their muscles and organs.

All the collected stress hormones and the medicine, which was given to the animals during their lifetime, affects the human body negatively when eating meat or animal byproducts. Moreover according to the latest information of doctors and medical organizations, another important aspect is that a high dose of animal fat and protein causes diseases of civilization like type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high cholesterol. Accordingly it is a fact that limiting meat intake could result in minimizing the development of degenerative diseases.

More and more people recognize that the quality of the end-products out of mass stocks is lower and techniques to kill animals are barbaric. The first aspect to point out contra veganism is that it is difficult to organize the daily shopping of the vegan and organic food and prepare it fresh. Most of the bigger food stores still do not keep enough vegan products in their assortment of goods. Therefore the vegan customer is in an unfavorable position to be fed with all the versatile nourishment.

It is a logistical masterstroke shopping through all different natural food stores until a wide variety of goods is collected. Furthermore, Omnivores argue that it is complicated to accommodate vegans with enough protein. Animal protein is an organic compound formed from amino acids. The protein is essential for the structure and the existence of the organism. The body needs it for growth and for metabolic processes. Another fact is that milk is a rich cocktail of

nutrients such as vitamins, calcium, protein, folic acid and magnesium, iodine and zinc - all vital nutrients that the body needs.

To get all these out of vegan food you have to be carefully attended on what you eat. All in all, the arguments I have presented seem to reveal the positive side of Veganism by emphasizing the points of the topic: healthy vegan diet on one side, and the value of animal’s lives and responsibility for animals on the other side paired with the disadvantage of making sure you get a rounded diet. Considering the advantages and the disadvantages, we may arrive at the conclusion that being a Vegan is in a way more complicated but more amicable than being an Omnivore.

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MIT Technology Review

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How I learned to stop worrying and love fake meat

Let’s stop inventing reasons to reject cultured meat and other protein alternatives that could dramatically cut climate emissions.

• James Temple archive page

Fixing our collective meat problem is one of the trickiest challenges in addressing climate change—and for some baffling reason, the world seems intent on making the task even harder.

The latest example occurred last week, when Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed a law banning the production, sale, and transportation of cultured meat across the Sunshine State. 

“Florida is fighting back against the global elite’s plan to force the world to eat meat grown in a petri dish or bugs to achieve their authoritarian goals,” DeSantis seethed in a statement.

Alternative meat and animal products—be they lab-grown or plant-based—offer a far more sustainable path to mass-producing protein than raising animals for milk or slaughter. Yet again and again, politicians, dietitians, and even the press continue to devise ways to portray these products as controversial, suspect, or substandard. No matter how good they taste or how much they might reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, there’s always some new obstacle standing in the way—in this case, Governor DeSantis, wearing a not-at-all-uncomfortable smile.  

The new law clearly has nothing to do with the creeping threat of authoritarianism (though for more on that, do check out his administration’s crusade to ban books about gay penguins). First and foremost it is an act of political pandering, a way to coddle Florida’s sizable cattle industry, which he goes on to mention in the statement.

Cultured meat is seen as a threat to the livestock industry because animals are only minimally involved in its production. Companies grow cells originally extracted from animals in a nutrient broth and then form them into nuggets, patties or fillets. The US Department of Agriculture has already given its blessing to two companies , Upside Foods and Good Meat, to begin selling cultured chicken products to consumers. Israel recently became the first nation to sign off on a beef version.

It’s still hard to say if cultured meat will get good enough and cheap enough anytime soon to meaningfully reduce our dependence on cattle, chicken, pigs, sheep, goats, and other animals for our protein and our dining pleasure. And it’s sure to take years before we can produce it in ways that generate significantly lower emissions than standard livestock practices today.

But there are high hopes it could become a cleaner and less cruel way of producing meat, since it wouldn’t require all the land, food, and energy needed to raise, feed, slaughter, and process animals today. One study found that cultured meat could reduce emissions per kilogram of meat 92% by 2030, even if cattle farming also achieves substantial improvements.

Those sorts of gains are essential if we hope to ease the rising dangers of climate change, because meat, dairy, and cheese production are huge contributors to greenhouse-gas emissions.

DeSantis and politicians in other states that may follow suit, including Alabama and Tennessee, are raising the specter of mandated bug-eating and global-elite string-pulling to turn cultured meat into a cultural issue, and kill the industry in its infancy. 

But, again, it’s always something. I’ve heard a host of other arguments across the political spectrum directed against various alternative protein products, which also include plant-based burgers, cheeses, and milks, or even cricket-derived powders and meal bars . Apparently these meat and dairy alternatives shouldn’t be highly processed, mass-produced, or genetically engineered, nor should they ever be as unhealthy as their animal-based counterparts. 

In effect, we are setting up tests that almost no products can pass, when really all we should ask of alternative proteins is that they be safe, taste good, and cut climate pollution.

The meat of the matter

Here’s the problem. 

Livestock production generates more than 7 billion tons of carbon dioxide, making up 14.5% of the world’s overall climate emissions, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Beef, milk, and cheese production are, by far, the biggest problems, representing some 65% of the sector’s emissions. We burn down carbon-dense forests to provide cows with lots of grazing land; then they return the favor by burping up staggering amounts of methane, one of the most powerful greenhouse gases. Florida’s cattle population alone, for example, could generate about 180 million pounds of methane every year, as calculated from standard per-animal emissions . 

In an earlier paper , the World Resources Institute noted that in the average US diet, beef contributed 3% of the calories but almost half the climate pollution from food production. (If you want to take a single action that could meaningfully ease your climate footprint, read that sentence again.)

The added challenge is that the world’s population is both growing and becoming richer, which means more people can afford more meat. 

There are ways to address some of the emissions from livestock production without cultured meat or plant-based burgers, including developing supplements that reduce methane burps and encouraging consumers to simply reduce meat consumption. Even just switching from beef to chicken can make a huge difference .

Let’s clear up one matter, though. I can’t imagine a politician in my lifetime, in the US or most of the world, proposing a ban on meat and expecting to survive the next election. So no, dear reader. No one’s coming for your rib eye. If there’s any attack on personal freedoms and economic liberty here, DeSantis is the one waging it by not allowing Floridians to choose for themselves what they want to eat.

But there is a real problem in need of solving. And the grand hope of companies like Beyond Meat, Upside Foods, Miyoko’s Creamery, and dozens of others is that we can develop meat, milk, and cheese alternatives that are akin to EVs: that is to say, products that are good enough to solve the problem without demanding any sacrifice from consumers or requiring government mandates. (Though subsidies always help.)

The good news is the world is making some real progress in developing substitutes that increasingly taste like, look like, and have (with apologies for the snooty term) the “mouthfeel” of the traditional versions, whether they’ve been developed from animal cells or plants. If they catch on and scale up, it could make a real dent in emissions—with the bonus of reducing animal suffering, environmental damage, and the spillover of animal disease into the human population.

The bad news is we can’t seem to take the wins when we get them. 

The blue cheese blues

For lunch last Friday, I swung by the Butcher’s Son Vegan Delicatessen & Bakery in Berkeley, California, and ordered a vegan Buffalo chicken sandwich with a blue cheese on the side that was developed by Climax Foods , also based in Berkeley.

Late last month, it emerged that the product had, improbably, clinched the cheese category in the blind taste tests of the prestigious Good Food awards, as the Washington Post revealed .

Let’s pause here to note that this is a stunning victory for vegan cheeses, a clear sign that we can use plants to produce top-notch artisanal products, indistinguishable even to the refined palates of expert gourmands. If a product is every bit as tasty and satisfying as the original but can be produced without milking methane-burping animals, that’s a big climate win.

But sadly, that’s not where the story ended.

After word leaked out that the blue cheese was a finalist, if not the winner, the Good Food Foundation seems to have added a rule that didn’t exist when the competition began but which disqualified Climax Blue , the Post reported.

I have no special insights into what unfolded behind the scenes. But it reads at least a little as if the competition concocted an excuse to dethrone a vegan cheese that had bested its animal counterparts and left traditionalists aghast. 

That victory might have done wonders to help promote acceptance of the Climax product, if not the wider category. But now the story is the controversy. And that’s a shame. Because the cheese is actually pretty good. 

I’m no professional foodie, but I do have a lifetime of expertise born of stubbornly refusing to eat any salad dressing other than blue cheese. In my own taste test, I can report it looked and tasted like mild blue cheese, which is all it needs to do.

A beef about burgers

Banning a product or changing a cheese contest’s rules after determining the winner are both bad enough. But the reaction to alternative proteins that has left me most befuddled is the media narrative that formed around the latest generation of plant-based burgers soon after they started getting popular a few years ago. Story after story would note, in the tone of a bold truth-teller revealing something new each time: Did you know these newfangled plant-based burgers aren’t actually all that much healthier than the meat variety? 

To which I would scream at my monitor: THAT WAS NEVER THE POINT!

The world has long been perfectly capable of producing plant-based burgers that are better for you, but the problem is that they tend to taste like plants. The actual innovation with the more recent options like Beyond Burger or Impossible Burger is that they look and taste like the real thing but can be produced with a dramatically smaller climate footprint .

That’s a big enough win in itself. 

If I were a health reporter, maybe I’d focus on these issues too. And if health is your personal priority, you should shop for a different plant-based patty (or I might recommend a nice salad, preferably with blue cheese dressing).

But speaking as a climate reporter, expecting a product to ease global warming, taste like a juicy burger, and also be low in salt, fat, and calories is absurd. You may as well ask a startup to conduct sorcery.

More important, making a plant-based burger healthier for us may also come at the cost of having it taste like a burger. Which would make it that much harder to win over consumers beyond the niche of vegetarians and thus have any meaningful impact on emissions. WHICH IS THE POINT!

It’s incredibly difficult to convince consumers to switch brands and change behaviors, even for a product as basic as toothpaste or toilet paper. Food is trickier still, because it’s deeply entwined with local culture, family traditions, festivals and celebrations. Whether we find a novel food product to be yummy or yucky is subjective and highly subject to suggestion. 

And so I’m ending with a plea. Let’s grant ourselves the best shot possible at solving one of the hardest, most urgent problems before us. Treat bans and political posturing with the ridicule they deserve. Reject the argument that any single product must, or can, solve all the problems related to food, health, and the environment.

Climate change and energy

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