On ‘Plant-Based’
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On ‘Plant-Based’
1–10 of 210 posts
Re: On ‘Plant-Based’
#2‘Plant based’ initially meant vegan, but vegan is a dirty word for some people, likely because a lot of the early vegan meat alternatives were ghastly. As a vegan, I see a lot of labels boasting ‘plant-based’ but no mention of it being vegan or not, often not even on their website. That alone means I will not purchase. It’s either not vegan OR they’re scared to put that 5 letter word on their product.
Market it as plant-based all you want but mention if it’s vegan or not somewhere, even on your website.
Re: On ‘Plant-Based’
#3‘Plant based’ initially meant vegan, but vegan is a dirty word for some people, likely because a lot of the early vegan meat alternatives were ghastly. As a vegan, I see a lot of labels boasting ‘plant-based’ but no mention of it being vegan or not, often not even on their website. That alone means I will not purchase. It’s either not vegan OR they’re scared to put that 5 letter word on their product. Market it as pl…
I personally like the “plant based” term, because for me “vegan” was always defined as a negative (vegans dont eat this and dont eat that), whereas plant-based just means what it says.
In my experience in shops in the UK at least, there will always be a little “vegan” logo stuck on the packet as well
Re: On ‘Plant-Based’
#4‘Plant based’ initially meant vegan, but vegan is a dirty word for some people, likely because a lot of the early vegan meat alternatives were ghastly. As a vegan, I see a lot of labels boasting ‘plant-based’ but no mention of it being vegan or not, often not even on their website. That alone means I will not purchase. It’s either not vegan OR they’re scared to put that 5 letter word on their product. Market it as pl…
> but vegan is a dirty word for some people, likely because a lot of the early vegan meat alternatives were ghastly
Probably more to do with stereotypes of vegans themselves - ie. condescending, arrogant, self-righteous hippies.
As a non-vegan, I think a lot of vegan food is actually really good. But as a rule of thumb I avoid vegan dishes that use substitutes for traditionally non-vegan dishes.
Re: On ‘Plant-Based’
#5‘Plant based’ initially meant vegan, but vegan is a dirty word for some people, likely because a lot of the early vegan meat alternatives were ghastly. As a vegan, I see a lot of labels boasting ‘plant-based’ but no mention of it being vegan or not, often not even on their website. That alone means I will not purchase. It’s either not vegan OR they’re scared to put that 5 letter word on their product. Market it as pl…
I personally like the “plant based” term, because for me “vegan” was always defined as a negative (vegans dont eat this and dont eat that), whereas plant-based just means what it says. In my experience in shops in the UK at least, there will always be a little “vegan” logo stuck on the packet as well
This strikes me as the start of a euphemism treadmill, given that the etymology of "vegan" is no more negative than "plant based".
Re: On ‘Plant-Based’
#6I've tended to see the term "plant-based" as synonymous with "vegan and/or vegetarian", used when there's variability or uncertainty about which of those more specific terms would apply. "Meatless" would also suffice but I think "plant-based" is used to emphasize what is present rather than absent.
But I think the essay is right the term has become vaguer than that even, and my own understanding of it doesn't quite make sense.
Re: On ‘Plant-Based’
#7Earlier quoted context omitted.
I personally like the “plant based” term, because for me “vegan” was always defined as a negative (vegans dont eat this and dont eat that), whereas plant-based just means what it says. In my experience in shops in the UK at least, there will always be a little “vegan” logo stuck on the packet as well
This strikes me as the start of a euphemism treadmill, given that the etymology of "vegan" is no more negative than "plant based".
Over time, the flavors we associate with words usually comes from the contexts in which they are used, which can easily overpower their origins.
Re: On ‘Plant-Based’
#8I think "plant-based" is a better term than "vegan". "Vegan" describes a person or food. "Plant-based" can only describe the food—you wouldn't say "Bob is plant-based", you'd say "Bob eats plant-based food."
If you order "vegan buffalo wings" you're attaching yourself to the vegan subculture and the baggage that comes along with that. Ordering "plant-based buffalo wings" just means you're ordering cauliflower.
Re: On ‘Plant-Based’
#9For people who want to reduce meat consumption for environmentalist reasons, being strictly vegan would sometimes do more harm than good (e.g. almond "milk" involves more CO2 emissions than milk). So the concept of a meal that doesn't include large amounts of meat, without necessarily being vegan, is a valuable one.
Re: On ‘Plant-Based’
#10I think "plant-based" is a better term than "vegan". "Vegan" describes a person or food. "Plant-based" can only describe the food—you wouldn't say "Bob is plant-based", you'd say "Bob eats plant-based food." If you order "vegan buffalo wings" you're attaching yourself to the vegan subculture and the baggage that comes along with that. Ordering "plant-based buffalo wings" just means you're ordering cauliflower.
But why doesn't the menu say "cauliflower wings" with some "V" icon or leaf icon next to it?
I will never understand why parts of the vegan movement need to disguise foods as something else. Vegetables are good!