Cruelty Free 100

Without fail, people go out of their way to point out that agricultural workers are exploited and “no vegan is cruelty free”. This is a weird point to make in an attempt to shame vegans and shows how big the lack of knowledge the masses have when it comes to food production and the definition of veganism.

First and foremost: vegans aren’t the only people who eat vegetables and fruit...They don’t even consume the majority of these foods. IN FACT, most major foods (corn, grain & soy) are produced for LIVESTOCK. 36% of all the corn, 70% of grain & 75% of soy are fed to cows, pigs & chickens. If you think 36% of corn isn’t that much just know another 40% is used for ethanol.

It’s impossible to avoid ALL cruelty in capitalism. Veganism is about REDUCING HARM. In a system when money is the driving force, the major participants are incentivized to cut corners. With costs rising, businesses have to make cuts somewhere & worker’s pay is where they start. Migrant workers are forced to work in harsh conditions for little pay because of this. This is the same reason major corporations outsource their labor to other countries. Most people highlight vegetable/fruit workers but ignore slaughterhouse workers because they don’t actually care about them, they’re just trying to poke holes in another lifestyle.

For people who actually care in real life, there are a few ways to help reduce harm for these workers. First is to support your local farmers. 80% of the corn produced in the US is owned by 4 corporations. Local farming isn’t available to everyone but if you can support a farm in your area that you know isn’t exploiting, this will help to not contribute to these companies. Next you can support groups like Farm Worker Justice that help to provide PPE and healthcare for migrant workers. Lastly and the coolest way is to grow your own food. Creating your own at your house or participating in community gardens helps remove yourself from the system somewhat. It’s also just a bonus to be self sufficient.

Being vegan isn’t a moral high ground. People who aren’t might assume vegans feel that way about themselves but that’s a personal problem. Taking pride in reducing harm isn’t a character flaw. Vegans understand more than most people all the issues capitalism brings about so they’re not foreign to what workers go through. Reducing as much harm as possible is always the goal.