A hit and a miss: Guardian article on quinoa and veganism by Joanna Blythman

A recent article pointing to the problem of increasing demand for quinoa worldwide is having in Peru and Bolivia is full of holes.

The first is that vegans alone (a tiny consumer minority) are driving quinoa consumption.  Perhaps it is being driven by vegetarians or health-conscious meat eaters.  Where is the proof that vegans are to blame?

Second, the article alleges that a vegan 'lobby' (a hilarious choice of words, especially if you compare it to animal agriculture - check out http://www.countinganimals.com/meat-industry-advertising/ for a U.S. comparison in advertising dollars.

Third, and this point has been made already, that most soya goes to feed animals, not vegetarians and vegans.  The percentage is about 97% worth, I believe.

Finally, I think Ms. Blythman makes an incorrect assumption that all vegans really care about humans and social justice.  I think it's true for the most part - and definitely true for this reader.  But why does she not hold non-vegans to the same standard?

Overall, I found this article to be interesting in its approach, but to give it the headline it received and to single out vegans and vegetarians amounts to nothing more a cheap shot which doesn't begin to address the real problem:  climate change.

Link:  http://m.guardiannews.com/commentisfree/2013/jan/16/vegans-stomach-unpalatable-truth-quinoa