Advocates for animal agriculture and for the meat, egg, and dairy industries are eager to disparage plant-based alternatives of all kinds. They do it by focusing on ingredient lists and the fact that these foods, particularly veggie meats, are “ultra-processed.”
We vegans should be careful that we don’t help them. Too often, people advocating for a plant-based diet support the idea that healthy eating relies on foods made with “clean” ingredients. I see it in the comments on social media when I post about the role of plant-based meats in vegan diets. I see it in the push for a vegan diet that incorporates only “whole foods” and that shuns anything made with oils or isolated proteins.
And I’ve even seen vegan food companies chime in to disparage their vegan competition. One example in my social media feeds comes from the Rebel Cheese company. They suggest that you should buy their products because other plant-based cheeses are “full of garbage.” I’ve tasted several types of Rebel Cheese – made famous through the company’s appearance on Shark Tank. Their products ... Read More >