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Blogs > rm_debluvz2fck > Another Whisper In The Dark

On “Accidentally Vegan Foods” (or Reprehensible)  

rm_debluvz2fck 55F
232 posts
1/28/2015 9:31 pm
On “Accidentally Vegan Foods” (or Reprehensible)

I perused the list as a label conscious vegan of relative short standing. I avoid products with ingredients I cannot identify if they do not specify that they are vegan. This made the link to PETA's list, Accidentally Vegan Foods, of interest to me. Confirming suspicions and adding some depth to my dietary options was the idea.

There were a number of categories. Breakfast, Beverages, Snacks, Condiments. I was a little surprised to see Heinz Ketchup on the list but Hunts Ketchup absent. The ingredients on the Hunts label seemed to suggest it was vegan friendly (with a little extra research, another vegan consumer advocate had contacted Hunts to receive word that no animal-derived products are used in its production). Relief, as it would have been disappointing to find that my favorite ketchup was off of the list. Though this did instill some suspicion regarding why particular items found their way onto the list where others did not.

Not going further into the suspicions that were aroused with the one item that immediately came to mind, I did scroll down to the bottom of the list. There I found the wonderful PETA caveat.

The caveat:

*Items listed may contain trace amounts of animal-derived ingredients. While PETA supports a strict adherence to veganism, we put the task of vigorously reducing animal suffering ahead of personal purity. Boycotting products that are 99.9 percent vegan sends the message to manufacturers that there is no market for this food, which ends up hurting more animals. For a more detailed explanation of PETA’s position, please click here.

Now, where PETA's stance would not have disturbed me when I was a vegetarian and had not fully committed to the lifestyle choice (unlike sex, gender, and sexual orientation, I believe that being a vegan is a choice), it annoys me that the organization chose to proclaim the items as vegan rather than vegetarian where they aren't.

Now, I don't fault companies for wishing to make a profit. I accept that this is a part of the social contract. I simply expect an organization that purports to support the vegan lifestyle not to patently tell me that trace elements of something I find morally reprehensible are acceptable by their standards. Sell that to the vegetarians who don't mind the particular traces, and let even those vegetarians know what elements of animal torture are acceptable under PETA's guidelines.

I was a member of PETA. I appreciated the guidance I found through the organization in making the final commitment to living my life as a vegan. Now I question it as a source. I consider it to offer a purposefully perverted and profit-driven<b> philosophy.

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