Plausibly .. The stupidest question ever.. Eggs?

1546 Views 19 Replies 13 Participants Last post by skfamiliar, Feb 21, 2008

NeedinAssistanc

Discussion Starter · Feb 20, 2008

Help.

I am a new veggie with no one to look to.

I've come to realize how many products eggs are used in..

I would never each one of my mothers eggs.. So why would I eat a chickens..

Does eating eggs go against vegetarianism..?

It seems cruel to me.. But.. I really don't know..

Opinions please?

And thanks.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

NeedinAssistanc

Discussion Starter · #2 · Feb 20, 2008

Never mind.. According to *AHIMSA*

"Vegetarians may or may not eat or use other non-flesh animal products (dairy, eggs, honey, leather, silk, lanolin and so on)."

and I've found others to had said the same thing..

I suppose.. It's a personal choice? .. blahg.

gillibean

· #3 · Feb 20, 2008

That's exactly right, its a personal choice. Ahimsa is a great source of information. I'm vegetarian and am currently trying to phase out dairy/eggs. Vegans avoid all animal products including nonflesh items.

Welcome to vb by the way!!!

Tiara1018

· #4 · Feb 20, 2008

Hi There!

Yes, eating eggs, and drinking animal milks are vegetarian. Vegans consume/use no animal products whatsoever. By this, I mean that vegans do not eat eggs, drink milk, wear leather, buy products made with animal materials, eat honey ect.

I have been a vegetarian for a couple months now, and have eaten eggs about twice and had cheese on occasions. No cows milk....only soy and rice milks. However, I want to make that switch to vegan.

Back on the eggs topic...No, I would not eat my mothers eggs either! I'm not sure how informed you are about this topic, so I will give you some ackground info. Chickens eggs that you buy are not fertilized (meaning that they are not housed with a rooster, so that egg does not have a life inside). This seems okay superficially since a life is not being ended by eating the egg.... Yet to have alot of hens and no roosters the industry is killing the male birds. so, by eating eggs we are essentially perpetuating the killing of animals.

Of course what you choose to eat is a personal decision, and one which should be decided based on accurate information. I hope this post helped you. Have a great day!

See less See more

MeatlessWonder

· #5 · Feb 20, 2008

Hi, I don't believe eating eggs goes against the definition of a 'vegetarian.' The problem is, if you've gone vegie for cruelty reasons then it's probably best to avoid them as it could be argued that hens (battery) suffer more than any other animal on earth.

It's hard, and there's no need to be too strict on yourself (because then you won't stick it through!) Perhaps you could make concessions for minimal eggs already found in foods, but avoid eating them outright?

NeedinAssistanc

Discussion Starter · #6 · Feb 20, 2008

Thanks. All the information provided has helped..

For now. I think I will go with meatless wonder's advice..

Then.. after I've become comfortable with being a vegetarian ... I may switch to vegan..

I don't want to become over zealous and set myself up for failure. Thanks everyone!

See less See more

Earthly Delight

· #7 · Feb 20, 2008

If you personally feel "I would never eat the egg of another" then don't! The egg industry causes a lot of pain and suffering in the laying hens (their legs often become mutilated around the wires) and when they're breeding more laying hens they "throw away" any male chicks that hatch--literally, baskets full of male chicks smothering themselves before they get thrown into a compost type throw away...

All the vegan societies and google are your friend, look more into egg production, how to perhaps get free range eggs if you decide not to, but no--egg consumption does not go against vegetarianism, though if you didn't eat it (but did continue to consume dairy) you would label yourself "lacto vegetarian" versus "lacto-ovo vegetarian".

I know I'm making a very strong push right now for you to go egg-free, but its only because already seem to have the idea in you that you want to, and now you just need to know if you "should" so my answer is yes, for sure! However, if I misread, or for others reading this thread for their own info, if you aren't comfortable dropping eggs out of your diet, the fact you're dropped meat already is amazing and keep up the good work sort of thing! (Just sayin--again--its all about where you lie morally and how comfortable you are with your choices.)

See less See more

AutomaticMan

· #8 · Feb 20, 2008

Vegetarians eat eggs, but if you care about nonhuman animals, and believe exploiting them is wrong, then it's inconsistent to consume products of oppression whilst opposing cruelty.

You should read up about practices in egg production (and dairy, for that matter), battery farming is obviously cruel, but learn about the myth that is free range, and perhaps read a bit of AR philosophy and logic. Exploitation is exploitation, even if the animals get the 'privilege' of being granted access to walking around outside. That says nothing for their living conditions, it doesn't alter the fact they're being exploited for their menstrual cycles and, ultimately, they will be brutally murdered when they're no longer useful. Doesn't get much more oppressive than that.

melly89

· #9 · Feb 21, 2008

it can be very hard to decide these things... ive decided my main reason is eating meat is unsustainable.. so i wouldnt eat anything that had to be killed, so eggs are ok. however i know about all the other reasons and i would really like to not have eggs and milk but it is a bit difficult. and like many people have said, i dont want to cut it all out and then find i cant keep it up.

does anyone have any suggestions for slowly cutting out milk and eggs? i dont eat eggs all that often ( although i should for omega 3?? ) but i drink nearly a litre of milk a day...

vegchica13

· #10 · Feb 21, 2008

I don't know if I should start another thread for this....but what about eggs that you buy from the farmer's market? They are actually from a small town farmer. As of right now, that's the only egg that I eat and I am cutting back on dairy a lot.

AutomaticMan

· #11 · Feb 21, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegchica13

I don't know if I should start another thread for this....but what about eggs that you buy from the farmer's market? They are actually from a small town farmer. As of right now, that's the only egg that I eat and I am cutting back on dairy a lot.

Um.. they're still animal products. They're still supporting an exploitive and murderous trade. So, no, they're unethical still.

vegchica13

· #12 · Feb 21, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by AutomaticMan

Um.. they're still animal products. They're still supporting an exploitive and murderous trade. So, no, they're unethical still.

I understand that they are still animal products. But since I am not a vegan YET, would you agree that a small town farmer is much more humane than a factory farm or even a "free range" farm?

AutomaticMan

· #13 · Feb 21, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by vegchica13

I understand that they are still animal products. But since I am not a vegan YET, would you agree that a small town farmer is much more humane than a factory farm or even a "free range" farm?

Some people would. Personally, I don't want to get into that murky water, because I'm not at all phased by whether it's 'humane' or not, I'm concerned about exploitation.

gillibean

· #14 · Feb 21, 2008

Vegchica13, I would say thats a good interim step before committing to vegan all the way. When our farmers markets starts in a month or so, i'll be getting my eggs from there. Being vegan is too far of a stretch for me right but I would like to at least reduce the harm done in the meantime.

isowish

· #15 · Feb 21, 2008

to the OP: you can eat eggs and still be considered vegetarian (not vegan)

BUT ... you said yourself that you think they are cruel (as I do). If that is the case ... why eat them just because you 'can' and still keep the label?

See less See more

2

Animosity

· #16 · Feb 21, 2008

I don't trust small town farmers anymore than I trust big corperations. We have a "free range" famliy owned egg bussiness just a few miles away, You know what, They treat their chickens horribly. Yet, People still think it's "humane". Chickens don't want to be locked in a fenced, Overpopulated yard and have their eggs stolen, They don't want to be treated like machines. And I know for certein they don't want to be sent to slaughter when they get older. Plus, A lot of small town farmers keep roosters around the hens, That means the eggs could easily contain baby chicks. So, Since they have no need for the roosters being 'accidently' birthed, What do you think happens to them? I can tell you one thing, They don't live a happy life. Besides, It's not just about welfare, What about equality? Who are we to say we have the right to expolit them?

If you said eggs are cruel, If you said you couldn't see the purpose, Why eat them at all? You don't have to ease your way to veganism, You can do it right away and that doesn't mean you'll give in or give up.

See less See more

vigilant20

· #17 · Feb 21, 2008

Your chicken mind reading skills are amazing.

Maybe we could keep in mind that this is an intro to vegetarianism thread and the OP has already stated they are not ready for veganism yet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Animosity

I don't trust small town farmers anymore than I trust big corperations. We have a "free range" famliy owned egg bussiness just a few miles away, You know what, They treat their chickens horribly. Yet, People still think it's "humane". Chickens don't want to be locked in a fenced, Overpopulated yard and have their eggs stolen, They don't want to be treated like machines. And I know for certein they don't want to be sent to slaughter when they get older. Plus, A lot of small town farmers keep roosters around the hens, That means the eggs could easily contain baby chicks. So, Since they have no need for the roosters being 'accidently' birthed, What do you think happens to them? I can tell you one thing, They don't live a happy life. Besides, It's not just about welfare, What about equality? Who are we to say we have the right to expolit them?

If you said eggs are cruel, If you said you couldn't see the purpose, Why eat them at all? You don't have to ease your way to veganism, You can do it right away and that doesn't mean you'll give in or give up.

vegchica13

· #18 · Feb 21, 2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by AutomaticMan

Some people would. Personally, I don't want to get into that murky water, because I'm not at all phased by whether it's 'humane' or not, I'm concerned about exploitation.

I understand your viewpoint. I am trying to phase out dairy and eggs but I was just curious about what the conditions were like on small level farms. My problem is I live in Nebraska where it's hard enough to be vegetarian. We have one co-op health food store and no Whole Foods or anything like that. So even when I'm eating at home it's not always easy to make vegan foods. But I have been trying and gotten lots of great ideas so far from VB. I hope to be vegan someday and I'm definitely cutting back a lot right now. For me everything has come eventually anyway. I was a pescatarian for 2 years before I finally gave up fish. It will happen someday.

See less See more

FattyFFO

· #19 · Feb 21, 2008

Just do what feels right to you...some ppl just jump right into eating and using no animal products at all and some it takes time to get the hang of it...as long as your doing what you can, thats what matters...doing ANYTHING is better than NOT doing anything at all...

Hugs and Welcome

skfamiliar

· #20 · Feb 21, 2008

to be honest, i have no idea what conditions are like on small farms. since i've phased out eggs, my dad suggested we buy some eggs from the Mennonites, but really, unless i were to physically go to the farm myself and see how the chickens were treated, i'm not going to consume them.

as of now, i think i'd only consume eggs again if i raised them myself.

1 - 20 of 20 Posts

This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.