Why vegetarians don't eat bivalves

4435 Views 37 Replies 31 Participants Last post by Joan Kennedy, 2 mo ago

Amy SF

Discussion Starter · Oct 2, 2005

So I went to dinner with my family tonight at a Japanese restaurant, and my sister ordered the mussels appetizer. Ugh!

The smell really sickened me. Fortunately, my BIL was between us, so I didn't get quite the full nasal assault.

Anyway, I was wondering, aside from the icky smell, for the rest of you, what is the ethical objection to eating bivalves (scallops, clams, mussels, oysters)? I know they are animals, but is that what you tell people who ask if you eat them or why you don't, or is there another, more complex reason?

And when you do tell people the reasons, do they accept that, or do they contest what you say?

(So far nobody has asked me why I don't eat bivalves, so that's why I'm asking everybody else).

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Kiz

· #2 · Oct 2, 2005

They are animals. I don't eat animals, and that is what I would tell anyone who asks. No-one has ever contested this.

Elena99

· #3 · Oct 2, 2005

No one's really asked me before, but I would first say that I've never liked them (which is true). I can't stand the smell or the taste, I don't like sitting at a table where they're sitting there, stinking it up.

Ethically, you could get into the enviromental aspects of it. People have to get into the waters, harvest the creatures, disrupting the natural eco-system in the process.

Tesseract

· #4 · Oct 2, 2005

A major health-related issue is that bivalves are generally filter feeders, and they tend to accumulate large amounts of persistent organic pollutants, extremely harmful metals like mercury, and biological pathogens from heavily polluted waters. This is one reason why I don't think anyone should eat bivalves, no matter their morals.

ynaffit

· #5 · Oct 2, 2005

i've never eaten them and i don't know why i'd want to. if someone asked, i'd just say because they're animals, but i've never been asked.

i found a mussel once when i was little and i put it in a plastic tub for a while. it seemed to have died within the day (i guess they need water movement around them to get enough oxygen) and i felt really guilty about it, so of course i wouldn't feel ok about eating them either.

Nicky

· #6 · Oct 2, 2005

Bi-valves are molluacs (sp) which are seafood, so I don't eat them. I've been asked whether I eat seafood before, but not bi-valves in particular.

das_nut

· #7 · Oct 2, 2005

First of all, I just have to mention Elena99's avatar.

My wife doesn't remember the cartoon, but its on DVD now so she'll have an opportunity to see it.

I don't eat bivalves because they are technically an animal. They don't have much of a nervous system, and I'm willing to entertain the notion that bivalves may not even be aware of pain. But I'm not sure, and its easier to draw a line at "I don't eat all animals" rather than "I don't eat animals that people assume can't be aware of pain". Anyways, people can be wrong.

So my answer would be "I don't eat animals because animals tend to be able to suffer pain. Perhaps there are some simple animals that have primitive nervous systems that work on unfeeling reaction, but I'd rather not take the risk. Its easier for me to avoid eating all animals."

I hope that makes sense.

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Libellula

· #8 · Oct 2, 2005

i have never eaten bivalves.....

they're not kashrut

Elena99

· #9 · Oct 2, 2005

das_nut: Thanks. ^-^ I forgot all about Count Duckula until I saw a picture recently.

Libellula: What's kashrut?

Edit: Nevermind, it's another word for Kosher, right?

bluegrrrl79

· #10 · Oct 2, 2005

Cause I don't eat animals

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Christy

· #11 · Oct 2, 2005

^^Ditto. If they persist, I'll only say "Because I don't. That's all you need to know."

DeflatorMouse

· #12 · Oct 2, 2005

Great discussion. Even though it seems obvious to all of us here, I think most people think of animals as only mammals and furry critters. Hence the whole pesco-vegetarian, pollo-vegetarian subsets. Also, I think das_nut is onto something here:

Quote:

Originally Posted by das_nut

I don't eat bivalves because they are technically an animal. They don't have much of a nervous system, and I'm willing to entertain the notion that bivalves may not even be aware of pain. But I'm not sure, and its easier to draw a line at "I don't eat all animals" rather than "I don't eat animals that people assume can't be aware of pain". Anyways, people can be wrong.

So my answer would be "I don't eat animals because animals tend to be able to suffer pain. Perhaps there are some simple animals that have primitive nervous systems that work on unfeeling reaction, but I'd rather not take the risk. Its easier for me to avoid eating all animals."

The whole "does it feel?" debate is tricky and purely subjective, so it's best to avoid it at all costs! But here's another thought. What about the crossover species, between plant & animal? ...like plankton & certain jellyfish. Or for that matter, would you eat a venus flytrap or one of those sensitive ferns that curl up when you touch them?

For me it got so confusing, I decided to go fruitarian. Problem solved!

thebelovedtree

· #13 · Oct 2, 2005

I personally don't eat them because I believe that on some level they are suffering. Plus they're really unhealthy, and yucky, so I don't know why I would want to in the first place.

SeaSiren

· #14 · Oct 2, 2005

It contains cholestrol

rainbow_clouds

· #15 · Oct 2, 2005

The most convincing reasons are 1) health and 2) damage to eco-systems. However I have a fear of sea creatures that made me give them up in all forms about 15 years ago.

kirkjobsluder

· #16 · Oct 2, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by das_nut

So my answer would be "I don't eat animals because animals tend to be able to suffer pain. Perhaps there are some simple animals that have primitive nervous systems that work on unfeeling reaction, but I'd rather not take the risk. Its easier for me to avoid eating all animals."

I hope that makes sense.

Bingo.

Ramona

· #17 · Oct 2, 2005

I actually have been asked if I eat clams or mussels or shrimp for instance and I always say no, they are animals. But a lot of times people protest and say *they don't have nervous systems they can't feel* So i don't usually bother getting into an argument about it with them cause that will just be their argument.

anthony11

· #18 · Oct 2, 2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramona

I actually have been asked if I eat clams or mussels or shrimp for instance and I always say no, they are animals. But a lot of times people protest and say *they don't have nervous systems they can't feel* So i don't usually bother getting into an argument about it with them cause that will just be their argument.

Christopher Reeve didn't have much of a sensory nervous system left -- why didn't we make nuggets out of him

If one condones eating "primitive" animals with rationalizations like presumptions about a nervous system, where do you draw the line? Any such distinction ends up being completely arbitrary, which doesn't lend one much credibility.

Plus of course molluscs just taste nasty. Clams ==

I don't know how people can eat oysters, especially raw.

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Gnome Chomsky

· #19 · Oct 2, 2005

>>So my answer would be "I don't eat animals because animals tend to be able to suffer pain. Perhaps there are some simple animals that have primitive nervous systems that work on unfeeling reaction, but I'd rather not take the risk. Its easier for me to avoid eating all animals.">>

This is my rationale...and I WOULD eat jellyfish or sponges, just because i would think them unlikely to be aware (it's a moot point. I don't find 'em tasty), but all these decisions rely on a good bit of conjecture.

ebola

Gnome Chomsky

· #20 · Oct 2, 2005

>>If one condones eating "primitive" animals with rationalizations like presumptions about a nervous system, where do you draw the line? Any such distinction ends up being completely arbitrary, which doesn't lend one much credibility.>>

All distinctions are somewhat arbitrary, but none completely so. This is the line humans walk. Also, I mean, on ethical grounds, why is it that we choose to allow ourselves to eat plants, but not animals? Isn't it the presence or absence of a nervous system?

ebola

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