Guest guest Posted May 6, 2001 Report Share Posted May 6, 2001 >>> Srikanth K wrote > Actually, from what I've read, I think Bliss is correct - there does > seem to be a pretty solid case against McD's. > > According to an article in the Nando Times - > > << McDonald's announced in 1990 that its restaurants would no longer > use beef fat in making french fries and that only pure vegetable oil > would be used. >> > > Also, a statement from McD's in response to the lawsuit said the fries > have " a miniscule trace of beef flavoring, not tallow. " Does this > remind anyone of the statements that Clinton made during the Lewinsky > scandal? Hrm. See, my reading of that is that the fries have, the oil has not. You can cook fish in vegetable oil too - that doesn't make it vegetarian. The oil the chips are cooked in is vegetarian - from the point of view of non-vegies who may have mild health concerns, that's a win (and that's the market they're no doubt aiming at). The chips themselves are not vegetarian. I'm fairly certain there's any number of other products like this, that cook in canola oil but contain " natural flavours " that include things like chicken or beef. What I can't understand is why vegetarians/people with any ethical concerns would be eating at McD's in the first place. KevinL -- Internet techie Obsidian Consulting Group Specialising in proxy servers and traffic measuring/billing. http://www.obsidian.com.au/ darius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 8, 2001 Report Share Posted May 8, 2001 > What I can't understand is why vegetarians/people with any ethical concerns > would be eating at McD's in the first place. > > KevinL All of us here have different beliefs, and different ways of implementing our similar beliefs. I don't think that you are doing this, but I get tired of veg*ans chewing out veg*ans that eat at places that serve meat products. Obviously, it is preferable to not eat at a place that supports meat consumption, and perhaps McDonalds is the worst of these places, but not everyone lives somewhere where they can go to specifically veg*an restaurants. I live in a small town in Mid Missouri, and if I limited the places I ate to only those that didn't serve meat, I'd be staying home a whole lot. As a person with an active social life, who spends a lot of time out with friends, this really isn't an option. As far as promoting my vegan ideals, I definately think that going out with my friends and showing them that I can find things to eat (even if it is only fries) almost anywhere shows them that being a vegan isn't as much of an inconvenience as they may have previously thought. Who would be tempted to try a vegan or vegetarian lifestyle if their friends that had chosen those lifestyles weren't even able to eat out with their friends? I for one would chose to go out and the world and show people that I am living a vegan life and doing just fine rather than stay at home or move to some vegan commune or something. It makes a difference. I had a friend, James, who had been considering going vegetarian quietly for some years, but was a picky eater, and didn't think that he would be able to do it. After seeing me swith over to a vegetarian diet, and stick with it (I also was a very picky eater), he decided to give it a try, and now we are both vegan. I have also, just by being a veg*an, persuaded 3 or 4 other people to try it out, even if they didn't ultimately stick with it. Finally, I would also like to point out that most health food stores, and even Wild Oats, which most vegans hold on high as a second heaven, sell meat. I'm not comparing them to McDonald's, by any means, but I am trying to say that it is a very fine line between what seems to be acceptable, and what doesn't. Quite frankly, we have to accept that, for now at least, this is not our world, and that it is almost impossible to avoid every establishment that promotes a lifestyle contrary to our own. EndRant JustBeane Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted May 9, 2001 Report Share Posted May 9, 2001 >>> " Robbie Beane " wrote > > What I can't understand is why vegetarians/people with any ethical > concerns > > would be eating at McD's in the first place. > > > > KevinL > > All of us here have different beliefs, and different ways of implementing > our similar beliefs. I don't think that you are doing this, but I get tired > of veg*ans chewing out veg*ans that eat at places that serve meat products. fully agreed, and you're right, I wasn't trying to do that. I agree with you wholeheartedly. My concern stems from two things: 1) McD's is directly responsible for a lot of things that people not eating meat are trying to avoid. As such, they come in pretty close to the bottom of _my_ list of places to eat, and I tend to be surprised when people who otherwise support animal rights or environmental issues support them in any way. I have friends that are committed meat-eaters that refuse to eat at McD's - so I guess my view is somewhat slanted :| 2) Around here at least, pretty much all chips are pre-cooked in tallow. If they're not, they're cooked in animal-based oils on site, or they're flavoured with something that has animal-derived ingredients (or flavoured with something and the people serving have no idea what it is). I don't eat chips out any more - simple solution. I was surprised to hear that people thought McD's, of all places, would have animal-friendly chips when pretty much no-one else does. Again, maybe your local environment is better, and it's just a wierd view from here. Finally, I look at what McD's has said, taken literally, and they told the truth - they no longer cook their chips in animal fats. The fact that their chips have animal flavourings is a separate issue in their mind - very separate in fact, because they will have made the oils change for health conscious fast food eaters , but the flavouring thing is a flavour issue, not a health issue. They never said their chips were vegetarian, basically. As sad as that is, I suspect it'll stand up in court. Maybe I'll be proven wrong *shrug* But one thing being vegan has taught me is that companies will phrase things to their benefit where possible - if they don't say something's vegetarian, but they make a bunch of related claims, check rather than assuming is the safest option. KevinL -- Internet techie Obsidian Consulting Group Specialising in proxy servers and traffic measuring/billing. http://www.obsidian.com.au/ darius Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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