Vegan no more

[Tulip]

Originally Posted by Rhianne

I wouldn't want to guess at percentages but by far the majority of cheese sold in the UK is, nowadays, of the 'veggie' type.

I'm assuming folk know the difference.

To make cheese milk must be separated into curds and whey. Traditionally this has been done using rennet obtained from the stomach of a calf which is still being fed by its mother - a process which of course requires chopping the baby cow up into bits.

In veggie cheeses (and generally kosher/halal ones too) a substitute to rennet is used, usually fungi based.

Have a look on the ingredients next time you buy cheese, there's a good chance you are already eating a 'veggie' type at least some of the time without realising it.

I've always assumed a (ovo-lacto) vegetarian can eat cheese. I guess not! So, if rennet is used in the process of making the cheese, it should be listed in the ingredients?

[Rhianne]

After a quick 'Google' - it seems that around 90% of US made cheeses are 'veggie' types.

[DanaC]

Rennet is a fascinating substance. It revolts me utterly, so I always check for it and avoid buying cheeses that use it.

It's one of those substances that shows the deep ingenuity of the human race; whilst at the same time ups the moral ante on animal consumption. It's the idea of it that I can't get past. First we take milk that's meant for the calf, then we the calf's stomache to partially 'digest' the milk. Bluergh. But brilliant.

[footfootfoot]

That revulsion is a result of imagining yourself as something other than animal. Our "civilizing" has created this fiction where we are not dependent on extinguishing life in order to live. Sure we're not hunkered down on our haunches ripping flesh with our teeth, but knives, forks, and saying grace are really just window dressing for what is at its heart a pretty gruesome business.

Pass the salt, please.

[Gravdigr]

I'm not that evolved. Must. Have. Beef. or Pork. or Chicken. or Venison. or Elk. or Bison. or Fish. or Caribou. or Rabbit. or Squirrel.

Has anyone ever eaten horse meat? How was it?

[casimendocina]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

Has anyone ever eaten horse meat? How was it?

When hungry, raw horse meat dipped in soy sauce is the best thing ever.

[richlevy]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

Has anyone ever eaten horse meat?

Does a pig with a sore throat count?

[DanaC]

Stringy.

[footfootfoot]

I searched in vain for a pun, Dana.

[Aliantha]

Originally Posted by Gravdigr

Has anyone ever eaten horse meat? How was it?

Originally Posted by DanaC

Stringy.

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

I searched in vain for a pun, Dana.

Here's one.

'Maybe they should have taken the bridle off before they butchered it.'

[monster]

How about

that was a spelling mistake, they were supposed to serve chevaux not cheveux

[Gravdigr]

[Washington Hogwallop] I slaughtered this horse last Tuesday. I think it's startin' to turn. [/Washington Hogwallop]

[footfootfoot]

Thanks youse guys. I feel better now.

[casimendocina]

Originally Posted by footfootfoot

Thanks youse guys. I feel better now.

Was that ewes guys?

[Juniper]

I've given this some thought. What I finally came up with was that: 1.) there is no possible way to live without hurting other animal species. and 2.) every living thing has to die eventually anyhow, so it might as well nourish another.

Silly though it sounds, my main impetus for avoiding vegetarianism/veganism comes from Steve Irwin. In an interview once he pointed out that although proponents of vegetarianism will say you use up more resources with meat animals than crops, many more species can live in the same space with the meat animals than the homogeneous area used for one crop. And then I read somewhere that millions of small animals are killed during the harvesting of crops -- mice, squirrels, voles, etc., anything that happens to be in the way, so how can you claim a mass-harvested vegetable crop to be more humane than, say, a professionally slaughtered cow?

So I'll enjoy my steak, thank you! I still would prefer to get my meat from local farms where they're grass-fed and treated well, vs. factory farms, but that's something I'm working on. Time and expense are factors.

Up till this fall though we did raise our own egg-laying chickens. But alas they have stopped laying; too old I guess. We're down to two out of an original six and may or may not repopulate the hen house; haven't decided yet! I can't stand a regular grocery-store white egg now, though!