Deep Down, You’re Vegan Too

By Annalea Pippus, Guest Contributor

Dozens of newspapers have picked up the story of the parents whose convictions for killing their six-week-old son were recently upheld. The parents fed the baby only soymilk and apple juice, and when he died, he was extremely underweight at just over four pounds. The parents also happened to be vegan.

The media is having a field day. Headlines blare, “Court upholds vegan parents’ conviction” and “Life in prison for vegan couple who gave their baby only soy milk” (I won’t provide links to avoid giving these articles the added viewership).

But imagine a slightly different set of facts: The parents fed the baby only cow’s milk and apple juice, and when he died, he was extremely underweight at just over four pounds. The parents also happened to not be vegans.

This hypothetical set of facts is entirely plausible. Babies need breastmilk or formula when they are too young to consume solid foods. In fact, the vast majority of new parents know that infants under six months old should not even be given beverages, aside from breastmilk and formula. Moreover, a four-pound baby would be visibly ill and in need of medical attention. If parents were to feed their infant cow’s milk and apple juice, and not take the infant for obviously necessary medical treatment, they, too, would be prosecuted for the negligent death of their baby.

I wonder: would the headlines proclaim, “Court upholds omnivore parents’ conviction” and “Life in prison for omnivore couple who gave their baby only cow’s milk”?

No way.

The media gives their readership what they want to read, and that typically means reinforcing their already-formed opinions and ganging up on outgroups. Non-vegans want to hear that veganism is unsafe and practiced by crazy people. It shields them from having to examine their own eating habits, about which I am certain most people feel conflict at some level.

The unfortunate baby died from irresponsible parenting. But that’s okay, media, you can blame veganism instead. We know you’re just being defensive because, deep down, you’re vegan too.

Photo: gato-gato-gato