Which is more important not to buy or eat animal products?

Question

Believe it or not this is a real issue. I've stood in line with professed vegetarians who were buying chicken to feed to their meat eating guests.

As a vegan I've often run across free or soon to be wasted animal products and had to made a moral decision about waste. I usually compromise on the honey and sometimes egg in bread products (I don't like the way eggs taste) but not on dairy products because it affects my health and certainly not on flesh.

To my understanding not supporting the industry is the most important and secondary health issues. I do not however understand veg*ns who buy and or prepare animal products for others. If it goes against ones morals it seems this should cross the line as well.

Answer 1

I would be willing to bet that most vegans are not serious enough about it to examine ALL the products they use/buy that contain animal products, such as shoes, purses, furniture, glues, and other household items as well as food.

Many vegans who also have pets are actually buying meat by-product pet food while abstaining from meat themselves.

The more you analyze it, the more inconsistencies and even hypocrisies are bound to emerge.

If it's about personal choice & personal health, ok, but I don't think vegans are a significant % of the population or even consumer group to be able to impact the way products are manufactured by buying or not buying certain products.

Answer 2

You can't really separate the two: If you're consuming a product, you're supporting the industry.  Unless of course you're freegan...

If a person wants to be freegan, more power to 'em.  

I don't purchase non-vegan goods, period.  If I have guests over, they'll be eating vegan food.

Unfortunately, putting a dinner guest's taste preferences above the rights of that animal NOT to be somebody's lunch is directly contributing to the problem of animal exploitation... which is really unfortunate, because your omnivorous guests really ought to experience the joy that is fried tofu and vegan cupcakes, and a hug from a turkey.

Answer 3

its only going against thier morals if they dont buy or cook or eat meat..there are plenty of vegetarians that buy meat for others...after all you say its polite to buy veggie things to cook for you in you came over...why not extend the politeness and buy them meat if they request it

after all how can you request veggie food..when you dont need it...you simply want it...and then say to meat eaters you wont give them meat? that puzzles me

a vegetarian who expects others to cater for them should be willing to cater for omnivores if they choose meat...after all you just choose to not eat meat

Answer 4

animals make products?

jk..

If you feel it is morally wrong, then you shouldn't have to support your meat eating friends. they should respect your wishes. I on the other hand love steak. more for me..thanks.

Answer 5

I am a vegan, my animals are not.  I do buy meat products for my animals to eat as they are carnivores and their bodies need to eat a carnivorous diet.

As for meat, I has a meat option at my wedding, however a guest who comes into my home can expect to eat all vegan fare.  

I make a killer butternut squash ravioli, I don't think my guests even notice they are not eating vegan.

I am vegan for religious reasons, although I do find industrialized farming practices an abomination I know I do contribute to them by feeding my animal meat products.  

Buying meat products is the issue, not using them.   A supplier doesn't really care if you use their product or not, as long as they have the money, as long as the product is sold they will continue to manufacture, and thus continue thee process.

Answer 6

If you avoid meat for health or religious reasons, it's more important to not eat it. However, if you avoid eating meat for moral reasons (cruelty to animals, etc.) than it's more important to not buy it. If you buy it, you are giving that company money, and giving it a reason to keep ordering more meat from slaughterhouses.

Boycotts work for a reason..just avoid buying meat and you won't have to eat it.

However if you have some leftover chicken that you could either eat or throw in the trash, eat it or give it to a friend. Throwing it away won't help any animals. What will help is not buying any more.

Answer 7

I would never buy animal products whether it be for food for someone else, clothes, bath/body products, etc.   Everyone I know understands that I do not contribute my dollars for the suffering of sentient beings, so they would never expect me to buy foods containing animal parts for them.  

Many vegetarians would and do buy chicken and other products for loved ones because they are more likely to be veggie for health rather than for animals.  They see it as more of a diet and not a lifestyle, therefore more inclined to not think about their ethics/morals deeply.  But for vegans, it is out of the question.  

In situations where there is extra food, I do not compromise on my beliefs, even if it goes to waste.  If I did eat products like that at a barbecue or picnic, I would feel like my beliefs were wavering and I wouldn't be consistent, even though I didn't pay for the food with animal products.

Answer 8

Totally! It's the industries that are murdering the animals in inhumane ways. It is the industries that are locking chickens in tiny cages forced to lay eggs. Local farms that let chickens enjoy life and lay eggs when they NEED to is fine. The animals aren't being tortured or anything. I don't think eating animals is wrong. But I think the way the industries kill the animals is wrong.

Answer 9

I never have and never would buy any animal products/by products to feed my guests, they eat vegan meals when they come to me, and have soya milk in their tea and coffee.

And I would never compromise on my vegan diet.

Unfortunately I have to support the industry to feed my cat, the compromise there is that he only has free range chicken food from a highly recommended ethical pet food company, I don't believe in feeding my cat a vegetarian/vegan diet.

My guests and myself can survive and live healthily on  vegan food! I can't and wont compromise when it comes to my cats health.

People can call me a hypocrite, but he was on deaths door when I rescued him!

Answer 10

Well, it is great that they respect their guests choices to eat meat. (Or wait...shouldn't the guests just not eat meat that night? That would be more respectful...)

Still I think they shouldn't support something their against...it seems to fail the purpose...

That's a good question!

Answer 11

I guess if you profess to be a vegetarian for health reasons, thenm it doesn't matter if you buy meat for others.  But if you are opposed to the use of animals as anything other than a pet, then of course don't buy the stuff.

I'm curious why you comromise on eggs.  I understand honey since it is a by-product and not an actual animal, but eggs are little chickens.  Isn't eating an egg in your bread the same as eating a drumstick?

(I'm a meat-eater, so don't think I'm trying to get mad at you.  Just curious as to why some vegetarians eat eggs.)

Answer 12

Right on, Love of Truth! I am so happy to hear about your cat's change in diet and improved health.

And yes, as you know, I am solidly against purchasing any flesh foods for anyone even guests -- and it doesn't matter whether it is at home or in restaurants. Whenever I have been faced with having to entertain omnivores I never purchase flesh foods for them anywhere. And similarly, I would not purchase cigarettes for anyone either.

For me it is an ethical issue. I am such a Kantian and hold with a-priori reasoning for ethical behavior. For me situation ethics simply  makes no sense. If the vegan vegetarian lifestyle is worthy of thought it is worthy of committed action. . Wishy washy behavior, supporting the factory farming industry in any way is simply wrong.  .

Answer 13

I guess it depends on why you are a vegetarian or vegan - if you're doing it solely for personal health reasons, buying it for someone else to eat isn't much of a moral dilemma.  Not all veggies do it for the same reasons.