I just don't get it

[Spartacus]

I know it's so called veganuary at the moment but today I saw a product called "green cuisine chicken free dippers" that look and taste like chicken dippers

Why ?

If you want to eat a product that looks and tastes like chicken then chicken is the answer!

If you want to be vegan then surly the point is to eat things that aren't a "meat" substitute (in name, taste or appearance)

A vegan friend said its to convince meat eaters that they are eating a meaty product but is it right ?

Should new names be invented for vegan products so that it's clear what they are ?

Bacon could become vecon

Burgers could be vamburgers

Sausages could be sawdustes

It directly strikes me as weird that vegans want to call their products after the associated meaty name

What are others thoughts from both sides of the meat / free table ?

[keano77]

The term vegan butchers always makes me smile.

I wonder how healthy a vegan butcher?s dog looks?

[OutOfFocus]

I don't understand it but there must be a half way sensible reason. I have given up trying to understand everything.

[KidKruger]

Yeah Sparts, I've always had 'a problem' with veggies wanting meat-looking food (which by definition is going to be processed).

Not that I think they shouldn't, but why oh why ?

Perhaps it's the meat-eaters-turned-veggie crowd that need the comfort of meat-looking processed products.

Vegetables are a decent food, no need to cover it up, they're nowt to be ashamed of !!

Respect your vegetables, come out of the veggie closet and embrace the whole scene proudly !

Mrs Manjula can help.

https://www.manjulaskitchen.com

[TheCat]

I do have to agree with you Spartacus....

"If you want to be vegan then surly the point is"

Vegans can indeed by quite surly by nature.

[JohnL]

Maybe it's a transition process for former meat eaters or maybe vegans do like imitation meat (it's their choice) - I'm not one but I eat less meat these days .. but way too much potato.

[elloriac]

Some people like the taste of meat but don't want the cruelty associated with killing animals.

Some people like to eat food that's like what they were familiar with before they went vegetarian/vegan.

Some people want to eat less meat.

There's nothing about the word sausage or burger than indicates that it's come from an animal. It's basically a shape indicator.

Using words that people are familiar with gives them an idea of what it's like. Nobody is going to something called a veggie or vegan burger and be confused that it's not beef/chicken/whatever.

There are lots of vegetarians/vegans who don't eat these products. These products don't make up a large proportion of most vegetarians/vegans diets. In fact, a lot of these products are bought by people who are trying to reduce the amount of meat they are eating, or just fancy trying something different.

It's about choice, making things easy etc. Why should it bother you?

So many articles, you can see it's a very common question. These are just a few of the first that came up on google:

https://plantbasednews.org/opinion/vegans-hypocrites-realistic-fake-meat/

https://www.livekindly.co/what-point-vegan-fake-meat/

https://chooseveg.com/blog/why-do-vegans-eat-fake-meat/

https://www.her.ie/food/meat-substitutes-501566

\https://www.glueandglitter.com/why-do-vegans-eat-fake-meat/

[Spartacus]

Thanks elloriac

You gave a very balanced response, it's not a case of being bothered but more the confusion over why a group of people, who often quote the reason that they are vegan as against the use of animals for food, are marketed to by manufacturers using meaty terms or names

It just seems counter intuitive and the question is, to appeal to all vegans regardless of reason, should new food names be introduced ?

I agree with KK, a lot of these products are processed and that isn't good either.

I'm still interested in views from both sides

[KidKruger]

I went veggie for a few months in India - best food ever !

Every dish looked like it had vegetables in it.

I think it?s a Western thing wanting meat-looking products made of processed vegetables (and god knows what else), cos we?re so precious compared to people living a bit nearer the harsh end of life (and we can afford it).