Lea and Perrins unsuitable for Vegetarians!

[tech_guy]

It does my head in when people try to argue that fish is not meat. It's the flesh of a creature. It's dead and now you're eating it. It's meat. MEAT I tell you.

[rolfea]

I try very hard not to push my vegetarianism into people's faces - it is a personal choice and one about which I feel very strongly but try not to inconvenience others. It certainly used to be that veggies could be a bit 'holier than thou' and maybe that is why people were/are tempted to 'contaminate' their food, but in all seriousness, why is anyone so bothered by someone else's choice?

As for the argument that there is little point not eating meat when there is so much animal cruelty in the world - well, you could use that argument for everything - but you have to start somewhere

 

It goes the other way too.

 

Although I am not a vegetarian, I am a strong believer of animal welfare. Yes, I know that sounds wrong but it's killing animals for food, I feel this is natural therefore I don't find it to be in the wrong (this is my opinion, it's not nessesarily correct) however I do buy, what I call, happy meat from a local farmers market. This is because I know, for example, the pigs have had a happy life rolling round in mud, eating what they want and generally being a pig, not a caged animal.

 

Back to my point, however, my girlfriend is a vegetarian. I despise people who go "Urgh, what are you eating?" because she is eating Quorn instead of meat. I eat everything she eats when I'm with her, so I'm happy to have a veggie fry up instead of a traditional full english. And sometimes I actually prefer vegetarian food. Quorn Scotch Eggs are amazing, I prefer them to the meat ones.

 

I don't understand why people have to judge other peoples food if it's different.

[CESIL]

So how many of the people on here who are concerned with animal welfare are like my vegetarian sister-in-law?

 

She won't eat meat etc but keeps two cats that regularly bring dead animal into the house which she finds quite amusing.

 

On top of that she has multiple bird feeders and a frog pool to tempt the wildlife in in the first place...

 

And I am not convinced that her tame carnivore pets kill their prey in any sort of ethical or painless way...

 

Oh and to those who will now say that the cats are just behaving naturally does that mean I would be ok eating meat if I prowl around at night killing things myself?

(although the cats don't actually seem to eat the creatures they kill!)

[sparkeh]

So how many of the people on here who are concerned with animal welfare are like my vegetarian sister-in-law?

 

She won't eat meat etc but keeps two cats that regularly bring dead animal into the house which she finds quite amusing.

 

And I am not convinced that her tame carnivore pets kill their prey in any sort of ethical or painless way...

 

Oh and to those who will now say that the cats are just behaving naturally does that mean I would be ok eating meat if I prowl around at night killing things myself?

(although the cats don't actually seem to eat the creatures they kill!)

 

Ok that's just plain ridiculous.

As far as I know cats don't keep herds of mice in perpetual labour to keep them lactating then sell of the unwanted male offspring then herd them into lightless sheds and feed them minced up bits of other mice brains so they can have a cheap source of tender mouse meat.

 

No, they don't do that, they behave naturally. And you going out and hunting an animal for food is a lot more natural than the way your meat is currently obtained.

[aerospacemango]

Some very good points...well made...there, Cesil!

 

I am a meat-eater, and would not go veggie for the world.....I like most types of meat, and am not squeamish about how it is slaughtered.

 

I do think that there is a certain amount of "looking down the nose at" by vegetarians, as they seem to believe that meat-eaters do not care about animal welfare. This is obviously rubbish! I would rather pay more money for decently reared meat than £1.30 for a value chicken from Tesco. You pays your money, you takes your choice.

 

I have eaten vegetarian food (soya in a bolognese) and apart from the excess wind, found that it was very tasty. I certainly wouldn't decry anyone else for wanting to eat it instead of meat!

 

Finally, I also have cats at home, and one of them loves to bring presents in for us....but at least he has the decency to properly kill and then eat them!

 

Oh....and I also support Hunting!!!

 

(So, I shall get ready to dodge the flak!!!)

[featured_spectre]

Cesil, cats do eat the creatures they kill, if they are feral. If they are not, they bring them to their owners as "presents".

 

The one thing I have against certain vegetarians, is that they shove the whole "its not natural to eat meat and have milk etc" stuff down my throat, yet they are perfectly happy to have a leather sofa, or a crocodile skin handbag and a fur coat (not faux fur but real fur)...

 

My argument to them is fine they can be a vegetarian (by all means, let them be, no issues, as I eat more fruit and veg than meat myself, but I do eat meat nonetheless), but do not use the its not natural argument, as I can pull that one on people who use planes, who use boats, etc. Not to mention the natural order of things (Big Cats, Crocodiles etc) they do not kill in a way that doesnt hurt the "victim", we do it in the most pain free way to the animal as possible - although to be fair, some conditions that they are kept in is beyond humane, and thats a different argument.

 

Like some here, I use a butcher, where I know where the animal has come from, know it has had a good life (as before my daughter was born, I helped out on the farms in the summer holidays and such like to get extra money, and to get a good workout!) so it is win win for me. The animals are happy, healthy, local and killed humanely, I can not ask for anything more when I buy meat (I do not buy supermarket meat unless it is stuff for sandwiches EG sliced ham etc, but even then I try to make an informed choice).

 

*EDIT*

 

Like Aerospacemango I too support hunting, and do go hunting on occassion, but I want to make it known, that what I kill, I eat (everything, apart from the fur, stomach and intestines (and bladder), brain and eyes). I will always give a leg or shoulder joint to the person who's land I make the kill on as my way of saying thank you, and I always get the animal butchered and cleaned properly by the land owners abbatoire.

Edited October 14, 2010 by featured_spectre

[powdarrmonkey]

The one thing I have against certain vegetarians, is that they shove the whole "its not natural to eat meat and have milk etc" stuff down my throat, yet they are perfectly happy to have a leather sofa, or a crocodile skin handbag and a fur coat (not faux fur but real fur)...

 

That's an unfair and sweeping generalisation, and I'd appreciate it being retracted.

[localzuk]

That's an unfair and sweeping generalisation, and I'd appreciate it being retracted.

 

Agreed. It is patent nonsense IMO.

[featured_spectre]

If you read the statement, It said against "Certain Vegetarians" not all. I am happy to retract the statement, or put it in bold to make my point. I do not mean ALL vegetarians, as the ones I am on about are in the minority.

[EduTech]

I was only here yesterday as we look after there Network, Home - The Vegan Society speak to them they know what they are doing. (I'm not Veggie so can't help, but hey)

[Jon]

Why is Quorn made to look like Chicken, or Beef Mince, or Sausages? I am sure it could be made to look like a tree, or a carrot and taste just the same.

[localzuk]

Why is Quorn made to look like Chicken, or Beef Mince, or Sausages? I am sure it could be made to look like a tree, or a carrot and taste just the same.

 

Quorn is marketed as a health food, not a vegetarian food - so it is designed to look like meat to make people eating healthily feel like they aren't being odd compared to the 'norm'...

[Jon]

I don't really think there is anything unhealthy about eating meat is there? Lions and Tigers seem to keep quite fit on it.

[witch]

As I said,the problem I have is the way that animals are killed - I am of the opinion that there is NO humane slaughter- and if you have ever been in an abattoir I think you will agree.The animals smell the blood and they know what is going on- and they are terrified. I can't stomach that. There must be a better way.

I definitely approve of animals having a happy if short life but short of coming up behind them and shooting them I am not sure how to get around the awful way that they die

I also agree that Quorn Scotch Eggs are very nice!

 

The problem with meat is that if you eat too much (and most people do) you will be eating a huge amount of fat and calories. Lions and Tigers are designed differently - all cats need only meat to survive -I remember the vet telling me to make sure I didnt give the cat dog food as it was unsuitable for them

[Jon]

My father was a butcher, I was brought up living above the shop. I regually went on trips to the abattoir and local farms.

 

The garage at the back of the shop was always an interesting place to be on the christmas run-up...

 

I eat, and enjoy meat.

[localzuk]

I don't really think there is anything unhealthy about eating meat is there? Lions and Tigers seem to keep quite fit on it.

 

Erm... Yes, afraid there is. Too much red meat is one of the causes of bowel cancer, too much fat and cholesterol lead to heart disease. There are many others too.

[Jon]

Too much of anything is generally not a very good idea. A lack of vitamin B12 however will lead to anaemia.

[AyatollahPies]

Do any Edugeek veggies struggle with their urges when they smell Bacon? I'm told by a few veggies I know that the one thing they really miss is a Bacon Butty.

 

Nephilim, you used the word "certain" in your post, thus clearly not making a generalisation.

[witch]

Do any Edugeek veggies struggle with their urges when they smell Bacon? I'm told by a few veggies I know that the one thing they really miss is a Bacon Butty.

 

Nephilim, you used the word "certain" in your post, thus clearly not making a generalisation.

 

Actually, and stop giggling at the back, what I miss most is sausages. Preferably cold ones. Bacon doesnt really do it for me

[wizzard]

Ooops. Slip of the finger. Shoild have said was not is. As I say I'm an ex-veggie so out of touch with these things.

 

Ex-veggie? So what made you turn?

[localzuk]

Too much of anything is generally not a very good idea. A lack of vitamin B12 however will lead to anaemia.

 

B12 deficiency is very easy to fix, heart disease and cancer aren't.

[Jon]

B12 deficiency is very easy to fix, heart disease and cancer aren't.

 

If somebody needs to take vitamin supplements then it's quite clear to me that they are not eating a balance diet.

 

Human Beings are omnivores, we are designed to eat a balanced diet of meat and vegetables. Too much of one and not enough of the other and we need to take supplements to keep us healthy. Eat both and generally we will be fine.

[witch]

If somebody needs to take vitamin supplements then it's quite clear to me that they are not eating a balance diet.

 

Human Beings are omnivores, we are designed to eat a balanced diet of meat and vegetables. Too much of one and not enough of the other and we need to take supplements to keep us healthy. Eat both and generally we will be fine.

You can get enough B12 from a veggie diet but it is difficult and takes effort. A lot of people don't take that care, but then again many meat eaters dont eat much in the veg line and so miss out on vits like vitamin A

[Andrew_C]

Veggies can't use Worcestershire? Cracking; all the more for us! :-)

[teejay]

B12 deficiency is very easy to fix, heart disease and cancer aren't.

 

Neurodegenerative problems caused by a lack of B12 can't all be fixed though.