argument top image

What are the pros and cons of vegetarianism?
Back to question

Vegetarianism hurts and damages regional diets

Many of the foods that are popular among vegetarians are exotic and imported, leaving the people that the food is indigenous to without the staples that they need.
< (3 of 3)

The Argument

Popular foods such as the avocado and quinoa can only be grown in certain parts of the world. However, their immense demand has pushed prices up so high that locals who have relied on these foods as their staple for years are now unable to afford them. In places that export avocados like Mexico, a kilogram of avocados costs the equivalent of the daily minimum wage.[1] Meanwhile, in places like the Andes where quinoa is grown and exported, the grain has become too expensive for local people to buy, but the grain has been a staple fo the region's diet for years. Vegetarianism has caused people to put certain foods on a pedestal—among them the avocado and quinoa—causing harm to the very people who grow these foods and have always relied on these foods, but are no longer able to obtain them.

Counter arguments

It is unfair to place the blame on vegans for food scarcity caused by influencers, since food trends apply to all sorts of people, not only people who dont eat meat. It also misses the point that most vegans primerally change their diet so that they are not complicit in animal suffering. It is simple enough to do this without resorting to exotic foods. Many dishes, like curries, pasta, pies and much more, can be made with any plant based food easily and there is the ultimate vegan food, the potato. Not all vegans are aspiring to be middle class, potato waffles are VEGAN.

Premises

[P1] Popularity of vegetarianism and of certain foods causes easy access to those foods to be taken away from the people who need it most.

Rejecting the premises

References

  1. https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/veganism-environment-veganuary-friendly-food-diet-damage-hodmedods-protein-crops-jack-monroe-a8177541.html
This page was last edited on Wednesday, 28 Oct 2020 at 16:12 UTC

Explore related arguments