Mark Bittman Finds Vegan Philosophy Unnecessary

By Published On: 14 May 2014Last Updated: 17 January 2017

Mark Bittman doesn't believe in veganism, so why does he get to capitalize on it?

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head in hands

Mark Bittman has a new cookbook out. You probably know his last tome, Vegan Before 6, and plenty of us had to point out that eating plants before six and being vegan were not the same thing.

He recently told Yahoo! Food:

“I’m not a vegan and I’m not a believer in veganism.” In fact, he finds the philosophy of eating both “less pleasurable” and “unnecessary.”

Well, as long as we all agree you aren’t vegan, Mark, maybe you can stop capitalizing on a philosophy you don’t believe in.

I know I’ve talked about defining veganism a lot around here, but it’s a topic that needs talking about. Let me be clear: I am certainly not suggesting that if you aren’t vegan, you can’t discuss it. That would be like when the anchor on FOX News told Reza Aslan he couldn’t write about Jesus because he was Muslim. It’s important that vegans and non-vegans discuss the philosophy of veganism. What I find disingenuous is the ever-increasing distillation of a philosophy and practice into a diet, a weight-loss gimmick, a trend, or a way to be more like Beyoncé or Jennifer Lopez.

I will confess (though it’s never been a secret), I made my way to ethical veganism by way of Skinny Bitch. Health reeled me in, profanity (the book’s) held my interest, but it became more than that and it did so quickly. What of those who come to veganism via VB6? What if they listen to the author telling them that veganism, in its truest form, is unnecessary? How does that help animals?

Perhaps it’s “less pleasurable” for me to tell you to stop cheering the non-victories, but think of the amount of pleasure the animals eaten at any time of day, after six or not, experience. It’s not much, if any. That’s what matters.

Photo credit: Jenny Kaczorowski via Flickr

3 Comments

  1. Sarb July 30, 2015 at 10:32 pm - Reply

    There are many religions, communities, ethnic groups, who
    lives for 1000s of years old and follow strict veg. diet and are living healthy
    life. So, the health issue is just an excuse.

    Veganism is not a so called religion and hence does not have
    a handbook like Bible or Quran to define it’s guidelines and/or objective. Veganism comes
    from human common senses. Veganism is not just compassion or diet or rejecting
    leather or fur.

    For few moments, forget veganism. In the current global situation
    of highly unbalanced “Consumer and Resource”, looking to the future, the
    only option you can do is “Consume for need, Not for greed”. Yes, you
    are right, do not drive your car unless needed, take a walk or put off the AC
    and light when leaving the room and save power. Imagine, you are stranded in a
    small island with limited resources. Initially we will survive with fruits.
    Then you will kill animals to survive. That’s natural. After few years, if you
    do not have anything left to eat and you have a pet and, you’ll kill your pet
    and eat, inorder to survive and that’s also natural. But the first day,
    overlooking all fruits and vegetables, if you look for food and consume to
    satisfy your taste buds instead of hunger, that’s unnatural. There are many
    tribes who live in mountains, above 16000 feet, where no vegetable grows. And
    to survive that temperature and maintain body heat, red meat is necessary for them. That too is
    natural. In nature, all dies brutally. Deers are eaten alive, Lions, at old age
    cannot hunt, become weak and lie nearly dead. Then the scavengers like eagles
    eat them alive. So, cruelty/brutality is not the point. The only point is
    necessity. When a lion hunts a deer, it’s not a luxury for him. It takes a
    great pain for him to hunt to arrange his daily food. But when we buy a turkey
    to have a great feast in the week-end that’s unnecessary luxury.

    Now, come back to veganism. It says the same thing;
    “Consume for need not for greed”. One need to understand that in the
    current world, we are “Slaves in the hand of Giant Multinationals”.
    We are just consumers and they control what we think, eat and/or live. There
    are multi-billion dollar industry and billion people’s daily earning are
    directly dependent on it. Now it’s a “System” and we are a part of
    this “System” and are so deeply rooted, physically and mentally that
    it’s not easy to come out of it. Veganism speaks against this “System”
    and urges to come out of this slavery system.

    Lastly, think twice, what you had done till date, what you
    can do till you alive? What is your lifetime’s contribution? Just, eat and
    survive ? After you, does it matter what
    car you had or how much you saved in bank? Even you grand-children will not
    remember any of you activity. Contribute something. That’s what Veganism(No
    matter by what term you call it) urges. It not only for animal right. It’s for
    all species to survive, It’s for human race to survive. As an individual,
    veganism is the option that one can do in his lifetime, for our world to
    survive and be a better place to live in.

  2. Levi Bailey May 14, 2014 at 5:06 pm - Reply

    Well, congrats on your restraint in this piece. After reading the linked Yahoo interview, I would say this guy is kind of a turd. This isn’t fashion or religion… we make decisions that are attempting to have very real impact on the lives of animals, this planet, and our own bodies. If we get “pissed” when someone twists the concept of the vegan philosophy to fit some cute recipe or appear in a Google search query to boost sales, one can hardly blame us. We’ve passed whistling through the graveyard…the only option we have left is action, and plenty of it. This guy just comes off as ignorant and self-contadictory. I’ll be avoiding his works.

    • Daria Zeoli May 15, 2014 at 5:10 am - Reply

      Thanks for your thoughts, Levi. Here’s to remembering to take action, whenever necessary.

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HELLO! I'm KD Angle-Traegner.

Writer, activist, and founder of Four Urban Paws Sanctuary. I’m on a mission to help people live a vegan life. Read more about KD…

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