(Posted February 23, 2017) If vegan products share equipment with non vegan items, those products are STILL vegan even when the label states: “This product may contain trace amounts of dairy, etc.”
I refer to this as the ‘the-veggie-burger-on-the-meat-grill scenario’. Unless the restaurant is meat-free, veggie burgers will most likely have meat juice on them, even if they claim it’s being cooked on a separate grill. As a vegan, this is disgusting but NOT a violation of our beliefs because veganism is the moral obligation to refuse to exploit other animals, not a consumer purity test. Buying a vegan burger cooked on a meat-grill, or buying a bag of cashews that shared equipment with non vegan candy bars, cause no suffering.
BTW, the real problem with dining out is that restaurant kitchens are filthy whether it’s a fast-food joint or some high-end snooty establishment because humans are a filthy species. So meat juice is the LAST thing I am worried about when eating out! Employees sneezing and coughing on my food, or touching my food after they went to the restroom without washing properly, dropping my meal on the floor, or intentionally spitting and putting boogers on my sandwich is of way more concern to me than which grill was used!
For the vegans who are about to scream about eating at non vegan establishments and buying products from non vegan companies - which is something I approve of - as long the product is vegan at the point of purchase, it really doesn't matter which company you buy it from because consistency is pretty tough to achieve nowadays.
In other words, if you refuse to buy SILK soy milk because Dean Foods owns it, or Pringles because the parent company (P&G) tests on animals, or have stopped buying Lush cosmetics because the company is only 80% vegan (even though they are moving in the right direction), unless you’re living completely off-the-grid, it is pointless to pick and choose where to purchase vegan items. Think about this deeply before going ballistic because the vegans who condemn other vegans for buying SILK, Pringles and Lush, shop at non vegan groceries and eat at non vegan ethnic restaurants (Indian, Ethiopian, etc.) 99% of the time.
Since McDonald's, Burger King, and other animal exploiters perpetually advertise items of cruelty, why would it be okay for vegans who aren’t buying SILK, Pringles and Lush to read publications, listen to the radio, watch TV, see a movie and attend concerts or other events at stadiums (think about product placement ads for movies, and the ads IN stadiums)?
99% of vegans also drive cars. When filling up the tank, exactly which gas station doesn’t sell meat, dairy and eggs? How about paying taxes to a government that proudly supports animal-slavery, animal-murder and endless wars around the globe? And living in a non vegan city and communicating with non vegan people?
I hope you see the problem with taking the anti SILK, anti Pringles, anti Lush stance because all one can do is buy something vegan at the point of purchase regardless of who’s selling it or who owns it.
But, FTR, if you want to avoid certain products, I couldn’t care less. Honestly, do whatever makes you feel better. However, unless you are living COMPLETELY off-the-grid, don't hassle others who choose to buy vegan items from non vegan companies/places.
The BUYING FROM NON VEGAN COMPANIES video will answer any other concerns you might have.