VeganVanguard.com - Vegan Frequent Questions and Comments _____________________________________

Frequently Asked Questions From Vegans

Below are some frequently asked question from vegans. This is my humble attempt to answer such inquiries. Also, if you have a question not listed here send it to me. Not only will I try to the best of my ability to answer it, but your question with its response may get listed here. Questions are numbered for direction purposes only (example: See also 21). There is no sequence in which they must be read.

: 1. What do I do if when ordering something from a restaurant, my selection comes with some variety of animal products on it?; 2. Is it hypocritical to be a vegan and eat some animal product when it is accidentally included on my meals when I eat out?

1. What do I do if when ordering something from a restaurant, my selection comes with some variety of animal products on it?

The answer depends on why you’re a vegan and any objections you hold beyond that. If you order a veggie burger (no cheese or dressing) and it arrives at your table containing ranch dressing, for instance, you may or may not choose to eat it based on your individual ideology.

If ethics is your primary focus then I believe a person could choose to eat the sandwich because the damage (suffering and loss of life) has been done (through no fault of your own). Returning a meal because it contains ranch dressing does not alleviate any suffering. The ranch dressing they used will be replaced by a new bottle. However, the other side of the coin is equally applicable. Because the product has been used and the damage done, the meal could also be returned (with implicit instructions as to its preparation). I believe neither situation compromises the ideological position derived from the ethical platform.

Environmental concerns fall along the lines expressed above except when it comes to returning the food. For instance if you return your veggie burger for a new ranch free version, then the materials (plants, nutrients, petroleum, energy, etc.) generated from its production have been wasted. Furthermore, ordering a new sandwich means your ecological footprint has doubled on this occasion. Simply, the replacement sandwich took the same amount of resources to produce as the one rejected. Therefore I believe a strict environmentalist may be inclined to accept the sandwich over rejecting it.

From a health perspective the decision is ultimately decided by what the consumer is willing to ingest. A dietary purist may well decide that such impurities are detrimental to the overall well-being of their person and accordingly request a new sandwich. However, one could easily decide the obverse, that the few impurities contained in the animal products may not warrant returning the food.

There is another consideration to briefly mention. After being a vegan for awhile you start to view food differently. What was once thought as eating life (meat) is now, more properly, viewed as eating death. Accordingly, there are some animal products when accidentally included on food that some vegans, through repulsion, cannot bring themselves eat. If you find yourself in this situation do not hesitate to return the food for what you originally ordered.

I would like to highlight one last note before leaving this scenario. I ordered breadsticks from an establishment and received cheese topped breadsticks instead. When I called to report this, they were very apologetic and sent out a replacement as soon as it was prepared. However, when the food reached my house it was again wrong and contained cheese. Needless to say I didn’t chance it a third time. If you do return your food learn from my mistake and be very specific in your request the second time around. It wouldn’t hurt to have the person taking your request to repeat the order so as to assure its correctness.

2. Is it hypocritical to be a vegan and eat some animal product when it is accidentally included on my meals when I eat out?

I don’t believe it to be so. The key is accidentally. If a restaurant serves cheese on your sandwich when you specifically requested it be excluded then you are not at fault. Furthermore, no action on your part can return the cheese to its unused status. You could choose to return the food also. What is important is that you not actively partake in the exploitation of animals. Those who say it is hypocritical possess a misunderstanding of what issues spirit ethical veganism. (See also 1).

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Posted/Updated: 7/27/03