Vegan parents arrested

fergus51 · Apr 30, 2002

Freaks!!!! My GOD!!!

Q. · Apr 30, 2002

Good lord!

All I know about a vegan is a strict type of vegetarian; meaning NOTHING from animal sources and NO animal byproducts - so I guess by definition, human breast milk would be considered an "animal" byproduct as we are mammals. :rolleyes:

Sorry, but vegetarianism is NOT RIGHT for a developing child.

They didn't mention if they at least fed the child vitamin supplements. Probably not, as calcium, etc are all from animals.

All I can say is, in reference to my OTHER posts, natural selection...........

dianacs · Apr 30, 2002

Actually, one can get calcium and all other vitamins/minerals (including B12) from non-animal sources. I am a vegan myself. I haven't read the article yet but the parents must have been doing something extreme because veganism itself isn't a crime, nor is it harmful. There are lots of vegan families in which adults and children alike thrive. Assuming they aren't sitting around eating potato chips and drinking soda all day, which is technically vegan but totally unhealthy.

dianacs · Apr 30, 2002

Okay, I just read the article and I think it's unfair to imply that veganism in and of itself was harming the child. Rather, it was the parents' sick and twisted interpretation of the concept that caused harm. Didn't it mention cod liver oil? Last I heard that came from a living creature, so I guess that family isn't vegan.

shay · Apr 30, 2002

Originally posted by dianacs
Actually, one can get calcium and all other vitamins/minerals (including B12) from non-animal sources. I am a vegan myself. I haven't read the article yet but the parents must have been doing something extreme because veganism itself isn't a crime, nor is it harmful. There are lots of vegan families in which adults and children alike thrive. Assuming they aren't sitting around eating potato chips and drinking soda all day, which is technically vegan but totally unhealthy.

All well and good, but I still want to know why the kid couldn't have BREAST MILK? Honest to God...that's all I want to know....is it what Susy said that it's considered an animal by product??

RN-PA, RN · Apr 30, 2002

This is a sad story! The main thing about vegans, I think, is that they eat NO products from animals-- Won't eat eggs, milk, or anything that might have an animal product in it. I think it's a diet heavy in grain, legume, soy, seeds, nuts, fruits and vegetables. You have to carefully combine foods to get the complete amino acid for protein. I'm not sure how you could have this diet for a baby's first few months and I don't understand why they'd be against nursing unless the Mother couldn't for some reason.

I did a quick Google Search and came up with this site for more info:

http://www.newveg.av.org/intro.htm

I know a woman who got paranoid about doctors and actually lost weight during her pregnancy, and got involved with some "nutritionist" due to what I think she thought were food allergies. During the baby's first few months, the baby looked underweight and had an orange cast to her skin. I saw the Mom feeding her carrot juice and I remarked that too much Vitamin A can be toxic. The Mom got defensive and mumbled something about food allergies, and I could tell she saw me as a buttinsky. The child seems fine now, still small and underweight for her age, and I wonder if she's had or will have developmental or intellectual problems...:stone

shay · Apr 30, 2002

Originally posted by dianacs
Didn't it mention cod liver oil? Last I heard that came from a living creature, so I guess that family isn't vegan.

Yep, sure did...you're right. Okay, now what about the breast milk thing? :) Just picking your brains since you're a vegan.

Hooligan · Apr 30, 2002

Haven't you heard though...Cod is an ugly animal...they don't count!!

dianacs · Apr 30, 2002

Well, breast milk is for human babies, cow's milk is for calves...it's my informal observation that most, if not all, vegans, are very pro-BF. I have never heard of any vegan who would consider breast milk to be an animal product in the same sense that cow's milk would be.

Q. · Apr 30, 2002

Perhaps STUPID vegans would consider it an animal byproduct - we ARE mammals ya know.

whipping girl in 07, RN · Apr 30, 2002

And what about SOY formula? Sounds like these people have something missing between their ears!

I was sick when I heard about this.