How can someone who eats road kill call themselves a vegetarian? See the article on Jamie Oliver's new show.

Question

This gentleman who should generally be applauded for foraging for food looses my respect totally for claiming that because he didn't see or hear the road kill being killed and it wasn't killed on his behalf, he's still a vegetarian. Surely people eating badger meat balls should be totally separated from those comitted to preserving the rights of all animal life, including wildlife.

Just so everyone knows this show hasn't even aired yet. I am concerned about the article on Yahoo news which describes it - not any article in the Times, you think I'd read that Tory drivel? The reason I'm bothered whether someone calls themselves a vegetarian is that it blurs people's perceptions of vegetarianism. If people think vegetarians go around picking dead animals off the road and eating them, it defeats the object of having the word. I'm a vegan, so can seperate myself totally from all animal products, but vegetarians get their label banded about like it's some sort of fashion accessory.

Answer 1

This is obviously someone who doesn't know know what 'vegetarian' really means . He probably meant to say 'I still eat a mainly vegetable diet but am actually an omnivore'.
Most omnivorous chefs like Jamie probably would never dream of eating a vegetarian diet.
He has steered school canteens in the UK in a healthier direction but sadly we lack brilliant Vegetarian/ Vegan Chefs on television in Britain.

I think Wendy Turner - Webster and Morgan Spurlock's fiancee, Alex. need to do a Vegan cookery show together!!!!!! They could call it 'Two slim ladies!!!!' I'd watch it, buy the books, the t-shirts etc!!!!!

Answer 2

I am not a vegetarian, but was recently introduced to a raw vegan. I found it interesting and thought it may be a great way to become "healthy". (But difficult)

Anyway...

According to this quote, it seems to me that I am a vegetarian, because I don't see or hear my meat being killed... and on a technicality, the meat has not been killed on my behalf but more for the restaurant or supermarket. By the time I get there and purchase the meat, it might as well be roadkill, ( it doesn't even look like it comes from an animal, right?).

I think this man would be more appropriately labelled as an "Animal Activist". *If I even have that correct* Since he does not believe in killing animals for the meat, but will eat the meat if it has been killed by a car...

"If you haven’t seen or heard it being killed, and it’s not been killed on your behalf, then it’s OK. A lot of the meat that people buy from supermarkets doesn’t even look like it comes from an animal.”

Answer 3

Someone told me that Hindus believe since they cause no harm to the animal, they can eat products like eggs and dairy, and are still vegetarians. Maybe that's the underlying philosophy -- or justification -- of this person on Jamie Oliver's show.

However, in addition to depriving scavenging wildlife of their sustenence, he isn't a vegetarian by anyone's standards. Vegetarians don't eat meat, whether their choice is for ethic, religious or health reasons.

And I am worn out by the fish eaters and poultry eaters that label themselves "vegetarian." My office manager, who is from a Middle East country, calls her daughter-in-law a vegetarian because she only eats fish. Someone else claims her son is vegetarian because he won't eat red meat, but put pork, fowl or fish in front of him and he scarfs it. I think anyone answering this knows what I'm talking about, one or two animal omissions isn't being a true vegetarian.

The guy from James Oliver could use that same justification in the meat department of a grocery store -- didn't see it happen, wasn't custom killed for me, so I'm vegetarian. Grr.

Answer 4

I think this goes two ways, the guy may be mislabeling himself, however in a sense, it is good that he is not letting this death go to waste. The Native Americans were great land preservationists and when they ate meat, they used all parts of the animal which did all things good.
Unfortunately labels put people in these predicaments. It lends an argument for people to debate over and it categorizes people into cliques. I think everybody loses the importance of a situation through labels because of fear for whatever reasons.
Try to find a positive reasoning for it. At least he is conscience about his diet, unlike people that do eat meat freely not realizing that road kill is being force fed to the cows they eat making them carnivores and being treated inhumanely all the while! At least he is on the road to discovery unlike many people that choose willingly to ignore all implications their diet has on others whether it be the environment or the animals themselves.

Answer 5

He clearly shouldn't be called a vegetarian, because he DOES eat meat. However, as someone who is veggie myself for moral reasons, I appreciate his efforts. I'd much rather someone do that than buy factory farmed meat. I do really wish he wouldn't call himself veggie, but at the same point I'm happy about anything that encourages people to think about the ethical implications of eating animals.

Answer 6

I think he has perverted the whole meaning of the word "vegetarian". It is a form of rationalization that makes no sense. Just because and animal met a non-slaughterhouse death by accident does not turn it into a vegetable by any means.

The lengths some people will go to in order to justify an erroneous position is remarkable, to say the least.

Answer 7

Well, when I got to that line where he states he's a vegetarian, I wondered myself! Anyway, the government goes into great lengths to ensure that the meat we buy in the shop is not diseased, even with all this effort, we still manage to buy diseased meats from shops. So just imagine, what sort of risks this guy puts himself through when he eats these diseased, petrol-oil stained dead animals....

Answer 8

As a veggie I have to give the guy credit for not being part of the meat trade but Vegetarian? no way!!!!!!!!! No wonder the general population gets confused as to what being vegetarian actually means. If Mr tesco sells steak can I eat it & be veggie since I didn't see or hear the beef cattle being killed & it wasnt killed on my behalf? DOH!!!!! Frigging stoopid!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 9

It's like all those people who claim to be vegetarian because they "only eat fish". It doesn't matter how or why the animal died, an animal is an animal and if someone eats it they're not vegetarian. Isn't it funny how some people change the rules to suit themselves?

Answer 10

well, quite simply he cannot call himself a veggie.

He is deluded.

A veggie does not eat any meat, fish or poultry.

There is no mention of the way ther animal died in the definition.

He's just another one of those wannabees...

Its funny how so many people want to join us.

Who ever said Jamie Oliver's programs were an authority on anything.