Issue date: 3/2/05 Section: Opinion

Professor Lindsay Allen from UC Davis was criticized by British news media, including the BBC and The Guardian, because of a statement that she made at a conference in Washington, D.C., last week.

"There's absolutely no question that it's unethical for parents to bring up their children as strict vegans," she said at the annual conference of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The statement was based on a study she conducted by feeding malnourished children in Africa two spoonfuls of meat each day. A second group of children was fed a non-animal based diet; these children were found to develop slower, both physically and mentally, than the children who were fed meat. The children were often shorter than the other children and had difficulty concentrating.

It must be remembered, however, that these children were starving prior to the study. Of course they developed quicker when they were fed a protein-based diet after having been malnourished.

Her statement begs the question: What human being, even those devilish vegans, would ask that a starving child not be fed meat if it were available to them?

Veganism is a lifestyle choice for people with the means and inclination to live it, not for starving children in Africa or their parents.

People who choose vegetarianism or veganism as part of their lifestyle pay a lot more attention to what they are putting into their mouths than most other Americans, so one would think that they would be more inclined to teach their children healthy habits.

This is not always true, said Stephanie Ewing, a registered dietitian at Sacramento State.

"I wouldn't go so far as to say veganism is unethical, but there is a fine line between people who choose veganism and actually know what they're doing and those who have no idea," Ewing said.

She also said that veganism can be healthy as long as parents are willing to take the time to learn what is necessary for their children to eat, and she recommends that anyone considering becoming vegetarian or vegan visit a dietitian or nutritionist to see what it would really entail.

The American Dietetic Association agrees. The most recent position paper at its Web site said, "It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that appropriately planned vegetarian diets are healthful, are nutritionally adequate and provide health benefits in the prevention and treatment of certain diseases... Appropriate planned vegan and lacto-ovo vegetarian diets satisfy the nutrient needs of infants, children and adolescents and promote normal growth."

Students considering becoming vegetarian or vegan should consult a nutritionist on campus (because it's free). Students also can go to the health center to be tested for vitamin and mineral deficiencies and visit Ewing to find out what vegetables or supplements would be necessary for their specific needs.

Students also may ask the dietitian other nutrition-related questions, like how to eat healthier.

Perhaps Professor Allen should be studying how ethical it is for advertisers to market unhealthy eating habits to the youth of America at the same time that they market an unhealthy body image.

With the rate of obesity in American children reaching an all-time high, it is time to teach children about portion control and the value of vegetables. Diseases which stem from poor eating habits and obesity, like diabetes and heart disease, are becoming increasingly abundant in America.

Being dishonest with people about what they are eating and not teaching them how to control their food intake seems much more unethical than growing up without fast food and candy.

Rebecca Adler can be reached at opinion@statehornet.com

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