Vegan Gray Areas
"First, live a compassionate life. Then you will know."
-Buddha
The world isn’t black and white, and that doesn’t change with veganism. There are certain things that simply can’t be confined in the vegan box, but that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t try to understand these more ambiguous areas of animal exploitation and how we should approach them. (For simplicity's sake, I will be focusing only on nonhuman animal use, not on other environmental or humanitarian issues, such as buying plastic or fast fashion.)
*Please note that this is by no means an all-inclusive list, as many gray areas are fringe issues within animal rights.
Faux Gray Areas
There are certain areas of animal rights that face contention in the vegan community. However, the following list of animals and products are areas I don't consider to be up for discussion. When it comes to these, what some people fail to realize is that veganism isn't about doing as little as possible to not harm animals; it's about doing as much as possible. And if there's even a remote chance that these products cause suffering or require the exploitation and/or subjugation of the animals from which they come, then we have a responsibility to not consume them and encourage others to do the same.
Insects. What are insects if not animals? Plants, fungi, bacteria? No, insects, arachnids, and other bug-like creatures are just other types of animals. Because of this, we know they have a nervous system and are capable of feeling pain and other sensations. Therefore, products like honey, beeswax, carmine, and silk fall directly outside of even the most basic definition of veganism. They never are and never will be vegan-friendly, and any "vegan" that claims otherwise is terribly misinformed.
Bivalves & sea creatures. There is some debate over the sentience of oysters, clams, mussels, and other aquatic creatures that appear very different from our perception of how animals should look. However, when it comes to veganism, as I stated above, it's best to exercise caution. Because these creatures are considered animals, I don't eat them, even if I'm not certain of the extent of their sentience. The same goes for buying pearls, as the industry intentionally places sand inside the oysters, which irritates the creatures until an ulcer, the pearl, is formed. The farmers then crack them open to extract the pearl; though some oysters survive to repeat the cycle, many die from the stress of the process. (If you ask me, that pretty much answers the sentience question.)
"Backyard" eggs. The principle behind veganism is for humans to cease viewing animals as things from which we can gain something. Where the chickens live, whether it be in a pasture or cage, has no determination on whether it's ethical to take their eggs. Therefore, to keep chickens -- even rescued chickens -- and use their eggs goes against the core values of veganism. That being said, because the modern farmed chicken exists only through abominable genetic engineering, their frail bodies are designed to lay over 200 eggs per year. The stress of forming and excreting an egg nearly every day destroys their bodies, leaching calcium from their bones until they can barely stand. By leaving the eggs for chickens, they can eat them and regain some of that lost calcium and other nutrients.
Gelatin. It's interesting to me that gelatin is considered vegetarian -- or maybe the more accurate way to say it is that most vegetarians don't know or care about it -- despite the fact that it is made of various animal body parts. However, strange animal products like gelatin, isinglass, or collagen are never vegan, even though they may be in products like alcohol or makeup where there are no ingredients listed.
Feeding dogs an animal-based diet. There is much evidence supporting the theory that dogs can be healthy on a plant-based diet. As omnivores, dogs require certain nutrients that they can get from either plants or animals, so we, as their caretakers, have an obligation to feed them the products that cause the least amount of suffering. Though there are plant-based cat foods and some vegan veterinarians approve of a plant-based diet for cats, there is more generally leniency with cats because of the whole "obligate carnivore" thing.
Genuine Gray Areas
Having a pool. Pools are basically a death sentence for any poor little creature that happens to come across them. Many small critters -- bunnies, frogs, bugs, baby animals -- drown in pools. Additionally, the amount of chemicals required for pool upkeep is startling, almost certainly at the cost of extensive animal testing.
Going to the dentist/doctor. The idea for this post came as I was flossing with my vegan floss one evening. (Riveting, I know.) It made me think about how as a kid my dentist would tell me every year how I needed to floss more, and I would agree, try to floss, and then get sick of it and stop. But nearly all floss is beeswax-coated, and something as simple as a dentist flossing their clients' teeth requires significant suffering (for both the bees and the children who hate flossing). Then, we have the nonvegan toothpastes and cleaning solutions, disposable spit cups and latex gloves and tongue depressors, office aquariums, leather furniture in the waiting room, and all sorts of other problematic things. And going to the doctor isn't any better. But, of course, though we can skip our annual dental cleanings and physicals, sometimes there are situations where we absolutely must see a doctor.
Medication. Sometimes I get headaches, and if I don't take some ibuprofen, they can get so bad that it feels like a jackhammer is being driven into my skull. Even though it may not be saving my life, I'm not going to stop taking over-the-counter pain relief medications because they aid in reducing my own suffering. Additionally, similar to going to the doctor, medications are sometimes necessary, even life-saving. Though the amount of animal testing in this industry is appalling, and some medications include animal ingredients like gelatin, there isn't a particularly good alternative unless we're willing to suffer or die for our values.
Secondhand animal products. Personally, I choose not to wear secondhand wool, fur, leather, down, and silk because I would be preoccupied thinking about how much pain the animals were in just to make this insignificant product. Also, I worry about perpetuating the fashionability of animal-derived clothes, and I don't even like to wear faux animal products. (I have a winter coat with faux fur trim that I wear with an anti-fur pin to make myself feel better.) However, some vegans do feel comfortable with wearing these products to give them a second life so they don't waste away in a landfill, and there aren't any direct ethical issues with doing so. Additionally, it's also acceptable for vegans to continue wearing animal-based clothes they acquired before transitioning because it can be incredibly wasteful and expensive to get rid of them and replace them with vegan-friendly alternatives.
Palm oil. Palm oil is very much like dairy: it's in everything. And it only became such a huge issue in the past few years as the public has become more aware of the issues surrounding its production. Though there can be no doubt that the decimation of native animal populations is horrific, my perspective on palm oil has shifted since listening to this Our Hen House episode. Because it isn't palm oil that's the problem; it's monoculture production. Natural environments are diverse with flora and fauna, but the lack of diversity in current agricultural practices decimates natural ecosystems. Clearing vast areas of land for farming of any kind is destroying the entire world, and it's not just orangutans that are the victims. Though palm oil is one of the more popular products to protest nowadays, there are many other foods with serious ethical and environmental issues. Take the ever-popular coconut oil: There are some coconut producers that use monkey labor -- yes, actual monkeys -- to pick the coconuts off trees. (Seriously, you can't make this stuff up.) The good news about palm oil is that it can be farmed both sustainably and ethically, and producers that do so gladly proclaim it on their labels.
Donating organs. I had never even thought of this as an area of concern until listening to That Vegan Couple's podcast (episode 97). They came to the conclusion that donating organs didn't align with their vegan values because the organs would most likely go to a nonvegan, saving their lives and ultimately ending the lives of all the animals they'd continue exploiting. However, I'd have to disagree. To me, veganism is about protecting all lives, even humans, and it's not my choice to take the life of another individual. If I have the ability to save someone's life, then I feel an obligation to do so. I don't like this idea of "sacrificing" one life to save many because I can't make a sacrifice for anyone else; I have no right to take the life of anyone and call it a sacrifice because I'm not the one losing anything. So, if my organs go to a nonvegan, I can't force them to change their ways, and even though it pains me to know that, I just can't bring myself to rationalize not doing it. This is just one of those no-win scenarios.
Paying taxes. There's a common phrase attributed to Benjamin Franklin that there are only two things certain in life: death and taxes. Unfortunately, taxes are the price we pay to live (which doesn't really seem right), and there's no (ethical) way to get around that. And billions of taxpayer dollars every year go into supporting practices and businesses that most consumers, vegans especially, would rather not support. The animal agriculture industry -- including plant-based agriculture, like soy and corn, that are used for feeding animals -- receives billions in government subsidies, giving them a break on the enormous cost of continuously raising and killing animals. Even though I will never again buy an animal product, I'm still paying for them to be produced every single year. I'm not sure what happened to politicians being public servants, what happened to the government working for the people's interests, but the government is fully owned by big business now. This is why it's so important for individual consumers to fight back by not supporting these businesses. Once they get the message that we don't support them, they will change, and then politicians will change with them.
Investments. There are very few vegan businesses out there for investment opportunities, so finding ways to ethically invest can be tricky. And many vegans also have issues concerning our capitalist society and investing in multibillion-dollar corporations that are largely responsible for destroying animals, human health, and the planet. However, there are special interest investment groups, like Beyond Investing and their Vegan ETF (VEGN), whose focus is on aiding ethical consumers in investing in companies that take a stance for human rights, animal rights, and the planet.
Bone char. Bone char is a pretty self-explanatory term: charred animal bones. But it's purpose is not. Bone char is often used in the processing of sugar to give it the desirable white color (though I'd argue that a more natural look is more desirable nowadays). Though there are plenty of sugars that are vegan-certified, it can be trickier when sugars are added into a product, as sugar is found in most processed foods. (Thank you again, government, for subsidizing something so unhealthy.) However, because the sugar itself is technically vegan, and it is only the method of processing it where things get a little gray, I don't think this should be an area of much concern for the average vegan.
Artificial colors. Some artificial colors may not contain carmine or other animal-derived ingredients, but they are often created with dangerous products, such as coal-tar or petroleum that no human should ever ingest. Additionally, these colors are tested on animals to ensure their safety for human consumption. However, many processed foods nowadays include artificial colors, and it can be difficult to find inexpensive products artificial color-free. Of course, following a whole foods, plant-based diet would eliminate the accidental consumption of these products, but artificial colors are generally a low priority for the less-healthy vegan. Similar to bone char, this is the kind of thing that is just a product of the way we live, and methods used to create color additives will evolve as animals are phased out of use. (Or we will simply cease adding unnecessary pigmentation to products.)
Eating at nonvegan restaurants. Choosing where you go out to eat is completely up to you. Some vegans feel fine eating at nonvegan restaurants and even having animal-based foods served at their table, but some vegans don't. While there are pros and cons to supporting solely vegan establishments (which is already a gray area because I've been to a few "vegan" restaurants that served honey), this is totally up to each vegan's personal preference.
Companion animals. Strictly speaking, having a companion animal isn't vegan. It is only because "pets" are a common commodity in most homes that we have an oversaturation of dogs and cats in shelters that are unable to find homes. And the most compassionate, vegan thing we can do for them is rescue and protect them. But once we do this, we also have to take care of them, which releases myriad gray areas: feeding omnivorous animals a plant-based diet; using topical and oral medications to kill ticks, fleas, and other bugs; medications containing animal ingredients and/or tested on animals; the "pet-owner" relationship and speciesism; having carnivorous animals; and the excessive consumerism of companion animal products, to name a few. As always, how each vegan deals with this will be different, and there isn't always a vegan-friendly option.
Taxidermy. Like many people, taxidermy has always disturbed me. In a way, it's amazing to see animals up close, particularly large predators, but it's also upsetting to think about how much more magnificent the creatures would have been when alive...and wonder how they died. There's always a lifelessness, a coldness and emptiness, in taxidermied animals, like there's something not quite right about them. However, as long as the animals weren't killed intentionally to be stuffed, then it technically corresponds with the definition of veganism. But then we get into a tricky area of respecting the dead because we would never stuff and display a human corpse. What happens to the soul or spirit of an animal -- if you believe in that -- whose body is being used as a wall ornament? In my mind, it is more in alignment with veganism to dispose of the dead in a more humane way and remember them through pictures or artwork instead.
be conscious, be kind, be vegan
Related posts you may enjoy:
"The Five Factors of Veganism"
"Are Vegans Brainwashing Themselves?"