LETTER: Reader 'disappointed' by depiction of veganism

BurlingtonToday received a letter about a column which was critical of vegan diets.

I am one of your original supporters and am extremely disappointed about an article you posted in today's segment.

It is disheartening to see you post a very biased and one-sided article re: veganism. Please do more research on such topics as nutrition and the impact of meat eating not only on the human body but on the environment as a whole. Factory farms are one of the leading causes of our climate change crisis and those factory farmed animals eat the grains that could help end poverty in the world. 

Not only did your article tout that vegan diets lack certain nutrients (which meat diets do as well, especially as Canadians) but the embedded link also suggested eating dairy and eggs. The torture and abuse of dairy female cows, their babies and abuse of chickens (for which we have a multitude of choices now including soy, almond, oat, to name a few of the dairy alternatives in the world today) is being supported by your article and I am sickened to think that I have supported your news to this point.

It is the embedded dissonance that the vegan lifestyle tries to highlight and challenge. There is no medical reason for humans to eat meat or to support the vile conditions of factory farmed animals. All one needs to do is google elite vegan athletes, vegan physicians, vegan professionals, to see that this lifestyle exists and is viable as a way to actually add years to your life (following a vegan diet prolongs one’s life by 7 years—as opposed to a meat eater). Diseases like diabetes, heart disease, heart attacks, to name but a few, can be lessened by following a vegan diet. I am happy to send you the research to support all of my claims, if you would like to see this research.

I understand that like the tobacco industry, dairy and meat industries hold a position of power and money in our society. It is only through education and myth busting that one day we can shift the global way of thinking towards plant based nutrition.

Shame on you for producing more fodder for this myth that humans must eat meat. 

Monica Hinton, DSocSci, RCSW 
Burlington