How come vegans can't eat honey?

Question

Just curious

Answer 1

Is honey vegan? Again, it depends on one's definition of vegan. Insects are animals, and so insect products, such as honey and silk, are not traditionally considered vegan. Many vegans, however, are not opposed to using insect products, because they do not believe insects are conscious of pain. Moreover, even if insects were conscious of pain, it's not clear that the production of honey involves any more pain for insects than the production of most vegetables, since the harvesting and transportation of all vegetables involves many 'collateral' insect deaths.

The question remains a matter of scientific debate and personal choice. However, when cooking or labeling food for vegans —particularly vegans you don't know— it's best to be on the safe side and not include honey.

Answer 2

Vegans choose not to eat honey because it is made by bees in a joint effort .. some regurgitated you might say for bees to eat in the winter when there are few flowers and food is scarce .. It is their storage facility so to speak .... Many times bees are killed in the collection of honey defending the hive and large scale beekeepers use caustic chemicals to kill the bees .... In addition they will also kill any hives deemed to be aggressive .. As a Vegan , we would believe it wrong to kill an animal or hurt an animal especially to steal it's food .. I hope that explains it .. Now on a personal note, I never could fathom why someone would want to eat bee food ! something a bee basically had it's whole body,tongue,wings , in and then threw up .. lol..

Answer 3

Alot of these answers are scary: Veganism a religion?

The choice to be vegan is not simply a change in diet, but a way of life that avoids the exploitation of animals and an attempt to live life in a way that reduces the suffering of animals. This definition would therefore pertain to the exploitation of bees, who's lifestyle is manipulated by beekeepers.

Answer 4

Veganism isn't a religion...it is a dietary lifestyle. Vegans don't consume anything that is derived from an animal, and insects are considered part of the animal kingdom. So, no honey.

Answer 5

Just look at the original definiton of veganism:

Veganism is a way of living which excludes all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, the animal kingdom, and includes a reverence for life. It applies to the practice of living on the products of the plant kingdom to the exclusion of flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, HONEY, animal milk and its derivatives, and encourages the use of alternatives for all commodities derived wholly or in part from animals.


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Answer 6

honey comes from bees... bees are animals... vegans cant eat things that come from animals...duh.

Answer 7

Because they avoid all animal products and honey is an animal product.

Answer 8

Because it comes from bees (animals)

Answer 9

Its an animal bi-product. Vgans dont eat animal bi-products.

Answer 10

Because I'm deathly allergic to it and break out in hives if it's even near me. That's just my reason though. ;)

A little side note - if it weren't for beekeeping there would be no honeybees left in the US. A mite began infecting hives in 1987 and the only bees that haven't been killed by it are from beekeeper's hives which they spray with something that protects them from the mite. Make of it what you will.