how the war on 'fake meat' shaped veganuary 2025

[@cathy-f4h]

I'm glad you are covering this! It's always bothered me how people talk about processed vegan food as a bad thing. When those who shit on it regularly eat bacon, sausages, etc. Which are classed as class 2 carcinogens... not 1 single vegan burger or vegan meat alternative is a class 2 carcinogen. It's not even about the food. It is about the sentient beings who want to live but are killed for no defensible reason.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

i just don't understand how they've gotten so far with this 'vegan food is ultra processed food' argument

[@deklanhandlin8043]

I read the book back in 2023 and I agree with you. However, the author has done multiple interviews and if I remember correctly they said “if the ingredients list has something you wouldn’t find in a home kitchen it’s ultra processed”. This is probably what people are taking away from the book without having read it. Vegan food is inherently disadvantaged by this message especially since a lot of people don’t know the chemical name for B vitamins. So when plant milk is fortified with cobalamin, they don’t know realise that’s just B12. The general public doesn’t know how things are made so they read agar agar and don’t know that it’s a natural vegan gelatin made from red seaweed, they think chemical, even though the seaweed undergoes the same process as the production of gelatin. It’s the general public’s unfamiliarity that is causing the issue.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

so true! it's frustrating as well if they start taking away 'all the chemicals' which are actually keeping us healthy by fortifying our foods. .

[@rfldss89]

Cobalamin is especially frustrating because it's one of the main arguments used against a vegan/vegetarian diet by meat eaters who are a little more informed than most, but then when you actually dig into it just a little further you learn that even the cobalamin in meat does not come from the animal's own gut microbiome or doesn't naturally occur in their feed as it would normally, but is actually man-made - the same way as vegan cobalamin - and then added to fortified animal feed... Cows and other ruminants are the only farmed animals that rarely if ever require B12 supplements, but they also require vitamin A or vitamin E supplements if they're not pasture-fed.

[@yangtse55]

Have you encountered the CYANO !1!!11 shock horror nonsense ? Ever since that, I've been deliberately careless in avoiding apple pips as well as shovelling down the milled flaxseed as usual. :D I forecast that later on they will learn of the COBALT content and link it to dreadful mines in the Congo and by inference EVs and 15 minute cities ...

[@liamellwood1025]

Makes me think of Martin Freeman on the Dish podcast saying he want back to eating meat because he was concerned about eating ultra processed foods, yet in the next sentence he was salivating about how much he loves a pork pie. Make it make sense.

[@liamellwood1025]

Unrelated side note - Squeaky Bean is owned by the same company that own Walls. It doesn't change my opinion much but it's worth noting.

[@FreddieAl]

There is nothing processed in a good homemade pork pie, no artificial ingredients, colourings, or preservatives.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

do people even hear themselves 😭

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

@@liamellwood1025 good to know! i hadn't realised.

[@FreddieAl]

@@VeganBeautyGirl Tell me then, what is processed in a homemade pork pie?

[@seemaparkash9057]

As if most non vegans care about health. A guy who is obese was warning me about protein I need as a vegan.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

tale as old as time!

[@madeupname3008]

reminder that someone's appearence can't tell you about their health or diet

[@philhunt168]

It's absurd, according to the nova scale, if you make a vegetable soup, it's a 1, unprocessed. Add a stock cube it's a 4 and it's ultraprocessed. But a steak, pumped full of growth hormones and antibiotic residues is unprocessed? Whatever, I'm just going to keep on stuffing my face with beyond burgers and hope it sorts itself out. Thanks for another poignant video.

[@FreddieAl]

I don't know the dump where you live, but in the UK and EU, animal growth hormones are banned and animals that have required an antibiotic for sickness or injury are kept out of the food chain until clear.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

glad you've managed to use some common sense! honestly i think a lot of us know pretty naturally and instinctively what a healthy diet is. sure, it's not always easy to follow, but we know what is good.

[@lottie1144]

How do you think vegan “meat” is made? Why do vegans need meat? 😃

[@emmanarotzky6565]

That’s so weird. Cutting the vegetables is processing, and then boiling them is also processing. Soup is definitely processed

[@ChamberlainTommasou]

​@@lottie1144Why is it relevant how it's made? Isn't the important question whether it's healthy? Results show it is, compared to the animal based versions.

[@maryellenbunce7751]

I have never seen your channel before, this came up in my feed this morning. I have read that book. I am a vegan, whole food plant-based. I to get frustrated by the kick back towards vegans about the ultra-processed food when the average American is eating, 70 to 80% ultra-processed food, and they are not vegan themselves. That book definitely sheds light on how we got where we are at. and it’s not a bash on vegans. I had not heard any of the kick back towards that myself this January . But anyhow great bringing the topic to the table.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

honestly, there were so many parts of the book that could've been highlighted to make REAL change and instead... they just twisted the book to attack us?? and keep the status quo??

[@staaarshineee]

What has this got to do with America specifically?

[@professer00000]

I'd been trying to switch onto veganism from vegetarianism for several years, but it was only after reading this book in 2023 that I managed to do it. Lots of old comforts like milk chocolates and cheesy chips just became a lot less tasty and the switch became a whole lot easier. Even before that, it was fake meats that eased me into vegetarianism in the first place. A standalone video on the book (maybe including his promotional material in lectures, podcasts, etc.) would be super interesting.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

great ideas, thank you! tbh i really thought this video would just be a little rant that no one would care much about, rly happy to see it's resonated with so many! i guess we're all a bit miffed.

[@drironjunkie]

Great video, came up on my feed randomly and I recognised you from Nonnas and Sepp’s book launch so I watched. You literally said everything I’ve been thinking for the past year. Almost verbatim lol. Looking forward to your dissection of the book. People always bring it up to me especially in my line of work and I often just say, yes the central message is good but it’s been weaponised by the anti-vegan movement to further justify eating animals and their secretions when that wasn’t the point of the book. Not all processed foods are equal but people love a simple message, read the headlines and try to use anything to justify their own biases and actions. Keep up the good work 👍🏽

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

omg, what a party that was! thank you for the comment and glad you enjoyed the video. i've got a podcast that i'm looking to bring back for a season 2 soon and def would love to get you on at some point if you'd be interested?

[@kokou6259]

couldn't agree more! I've found recently that Tesco especially has made loads of their own-brand vegan stuff veggies with no actual source of protein, which was apparently in response to a survey they did in which customers said they'd prefer vegetable-based vegan alternatives rather than fake meats, but this was mostly meat-eaters not understanding what that actually meant or that fake-meats are generally not unhealthy at all. I feel like Aldi has done quite a good job tho, they've added some ice creams, pizzas, and some more snacky stuff. Although it's not necessarily healthy food, it's a nice little treat.

[@emmanarotzky6565]

I think it depends on the product. For instance I like field roast sausages because they’re soft, but I’d rather have a vegetable patty than a beyond burger at a restaurant. Sometimes “fake meats” are rubbery and annoying but vegetable based things are almost always soft.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

it's so annoying, bc really our diet is full of veg 😂 like if i'm after fake meat i want the protein and i want the familiarity. not just more veg! i've got that covered!

[@Elspm]

The book pushed me to go closer to vegan, not further away (making hard and fast rules causes me to fail at food change). Ever since hearing about how much soy is fed to animals I have felt better choosing soy products made for humans, as I am confident me eating them is not the problem. It's been much easier for me to refuse animal products where I don't have good knowledge of their origin, which means I pick vegan most times. I consider this book a diet centred critique on the capitalist system, and exploitation of animals is central to that. I'd generally rather buy outwith that system, so usually not fake meat either, but it's not always possible. If I'm at a service station, give me the fake meat burger please. I'm at a burger king, I'm not here to eschew UPF. Also, I'm sorry, mainstream falafels are so disappointing. They're constantly sold as healthy, as opposed to what they should be: fried street food. People are baking them, they end up all dry, it's very sad.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

really appreciate this comment! this is the impact i EXPECTED the book to have. i loved the critique on capitalism and really wish that was the main takeaway that we'd see headlines about. idk how they (the media) managed to take a book that was pretty pro-vegan and turned it into anti-vegan propaganda. & completely agree re falafel - deep fried or go home!

[@TimothyTook42]

absolutely agree with all points, but when making falafels at home I do bake them (only because I am scared of hot oil), and have found that if you add grated courgette (or zucchini, whatever you want to call it) to the mix, it stops them from being sad and dry!

[@vendetta.02]

Ultraprocessed =/= Unhealthy, theres many healthy processed foods, vegan meat is healthy straight up, not even just in moderation, the fearmongering is based on ignorance.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

yes! i think as part of a balanced diet they're perfectly fine. it's good to eat variety but that's about all food, not 'vegan meat'.

[@vendetta.02]

@@VeganBeautyGirl Yeah i agree, obviously eating *only* vegan meat would be unhealthy, but it would be unhealthy because its unbalanced, not because of anything intrinsic about vegan meat, just that you would need to add more to your diet than *just* vegan meat as a source of protein vegan meat is really good, its very healthy and high in protein, no carcinogens like in animal meat and cruelty free, its healthy on a regular basis when combined in a balanced diet with other foods

[@lottie1144]

@@vendetta.02 Most Vegan meat isn’t healthy “straight up.”

[@GarudaLegends]

​@@lottie1144 non of the vegan fake meat is healthy. It is all unhealthy rubbish.

[@peter_kropotkin_]

At least Aldi loose sweet potatoes have not been subjected to shrinkflation. In fact quite the opposite ,they seem to be getting bigger for the same price . YAY!

[@Pyrion93]

I'd love a video deep diving on that book! You really highlighted something I've noticed a lot in this video, they are replacing fake meat with cauliflower or cabbage. Like where is the protein & carbs please? About a year ago a new restaurant opened in my office building and they had a veggie option on the menu which was Sweet potatio fries, pickled fennel and carrot mash. I asked them if there was any protein in the dish and they said "no sorry". They were charging about 13 pounds for that (170 SEK). Insane! I turned to my coworkers and said I'm eating elsewhere but you can eat here if you want to. Had I been there with my friends they would've lost the entire group of customers tho, not just me. 13 quids for 3 cheap side dishes on a plate!

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

it's just silly! even back in the old days of veganism we'd get at least a carb! pasta, potato, rice ... come on!

[@seemaparkash9057]

Yeh I cut back on them. I needed them in the beginning because I missed meat so much. But now I have gotten used to vegetables and tofu and find ways to enjoy eating it without the fake meat.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

v true! what are you go to week night dinners? i'm always looking for more tofu x veg inspo!

[@morgan-ql2dh]

i am SO glad you made a video on this because i thought i was going crazy 😭 the one i really liked last year was taco bell did a fake meat burrito and oh my god they did it SO well. i really resonate with the idea of having 2 options, my mum went vegetarian 30 years ago because she just hated meat but i stopped eating meat 10 years ago and id appreciate fake meat just so it feels just that bit closer of a match 💔💔

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

i’m with you-sometimes you just want that familiarity or something that feels close to what you’re used to, and fake meat fills that gap perfectly. fingers crossed more brands catch on and start offering both again! 💔

[@davidthescottishvegan]

Another awesome video Nicole and yes ultra processed foods isn't a justification for not being vegan because there's more animal based foods that are ultra processed than vegan ones. If you ever eat anything from fast food chains, ready made meals from the supermarket regardless whether it is vegan or not it's ultra processed. Most of my non vegan friends when I have seen them drinking tea & coffee they are usually eating store bought biscuits,cakes, sausage rolls with it which are all ultra processed foods. Non vegans are hypocritics for using the ultra processed food argument just after eating a bacon sandwich (the bread is ultra processed and so is the bacon). Thanks 👍 for a reasonable discussion of ultra processed foods. Love 🥰 the video and love 💓 Nicole.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

this has been driving me mad for like a year now. you've hit the nail on the head, people will use this as an excuse to quit veganism but not bread?

[@monicachadwick7983]

I’ve been a vegetarian since sixth grade and everyone, including family was “so worried” for my health but when I ate meat during my pregnancies I felt the worst. When o stopped having kids and went back to being vegetarian and now I’m closer to vegan I feel so much better and healthier. Especially with tofu I can make it any way I want. I don’t like meat, the taste or the smell or the texture but I appreciate having a bacon and chicken nugget sub that I can make when I don’t have time to make myself a full meal. I eat more vegetables and proteins, compared to so many to my family members who are not eating the way they should to stay healthy. I got my husband to switch to vegan mayo and he loves it even though he is a meat eater and my kids don’t care about the difference. I think the benefits are great, but I do wish there wasn’t as much sodium in the substitutes

[@emmanarotzky6565]

Who told you that you had to eat meat for pregnancy? I’m pregnant now and I definitely haven’t eaten any meat. Not entirely vegan because I’ve had a few random vegetarian things that other people have brought to parties, meetings, etc. (like non-vegan cookies or cakes) but definitely no meat.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

it's funny how when we switch to a diet that typically has us eating more veg and home cooked meals, people start worrying for our health??

[@elizabethsmith4507]

Please do the video highlighting the parts of the book, I would love that!

[@beckydavage6287]

I absolutely love this video, it's spot on, you say exactly what we are all thinking. It's great how much homework you do. I wouldn't normally comment on a video but the work you do is great and you always stick with your morals! Nothing drives me crazier than when i see a vegan dish which is vegetable based, like a cauliflower curry, the same price as the meat alternative.

[@atrixa1991]

I've been underwhelmed by this year's releases. On UPFs, often the less processed vegan option is low protein (give me a tofu bake, Greggs!) so I opt for the high protein UPFs. I approach these things with balance where I can. If my plate is filled with wholefoods and there is one UPF element in the form of a high protein meat replacer, I really don't care.

[@sarahw6487]

Can we also talk about why places like greggs for example remove previous options to release or re release items. Why couldn't they do the vegetable bake AND the vegan steak bake, surely catering to both would be more profitable and cover all bases, used Greggs as an example but everywhere does it, like we want options not just an option please

[@Fudgeey]

I would LOVE if some brand released fried tofu patties. Like it should be a no brainer, fried tofu sticks and fried tofu patties should be everywhere and very cheap.

[@beekind3459]

I received this book for Christmas and have just finished it. I really can't see it as an anti-vegan read. I didn't get that from it at all. For me it's about being aware of ingredients and labels across the board. Let's face it, some meat eaters (in my experience and not all of them!) are rather keen to slam vegans about anything so will use anything as a weapon. Loving your stuff. X

[@louise2209]

Not a vegan, just interested in a more in depth variety of food and moving away from the ultra processed. I often visit sites with vegan recipes for inspiration, so for cooking purposes I steer away from fake meat products, however they have helped me prepare meals for my pescatarian child so we can all enjoy similar meals together once in a while. I’m not amongst the vegan bashing, I find it more said that society can’t support alternative diets (you just have to look at restaurant menus! One time they only supply fake meats, making it difficult for vegan/vegetarians who hate meat taste/texture. Then they avoid fake meats alienating those that enjoy them and want to stick to their diets. Although I didn’t join veganuary, I did try to avoid meat for two weeks and had some vegan days as a challenge last year. Keep supporting each other with recipes and advice.

[@kellypartridge9445]

Loved this video so relatable. I have that book which I picked up last year in a second hand shop, must read it to help me explain better to meat eaters that ultra processed isn’t just aimed at us!! Totally agree too re restaurants offering veggies @ the price of faux meats - I really hate that & think it’s unacceptable 🙄 Would love to see a video more on this!

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

really recommend reading it! the more people that read it the better, bc the media really is painting it to be something completely different to what was written.

[@Theblindveganlady]

I’ve also read this book and totally agree with you, people have completely blown it out of proportion and used it to discredit vegans, it’s absolutely awful and really really annoying. I think people just use any tiny little crumbs they can to discredit veganism and unfortunately in this case They’ve managed to really make an impact by spreading incorrect information about this book. Xx

[@michellewards2302]

Imagine if this book had bacon on the cover - that would be a more honest representation of the findings about the dangers of UPFs and would have actually been helpful to the veggie cause. Instead it has been used to demonise our food and has given people another way to bash us (as if wholemeal bread could ever be the reason people are unhealthy!). Thanks for this video as this book has made me mad for a long time!

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

i think they wanted bread on the cover to be pretty inoffensive! / appeal to the biggest audience. whereas bacon on the cover would've put people off thinking it was 'just another vegan book villainising bacon'. i think people are acting as though it was quorn on the cover 😭

[@ronaldwong6092]

Are you saying processed meat like bacon is carcinogenic if it contains sodium nitrate or a just cut 1” New York Steak that has not been seared ?. Does everyone made of meat have cancer ?.

[@JonathanMallett]

I recommend people read the Lancet study which contributed to the whole UPF vegan food being bad and all the BS that's come with it. Only 0.5% of the foods analyzed were meat alternatives (vegan meats) and most of the plant-based foods they looked at were packaged breads, pastries, buns, cakes and cookies. A cake isn't healthy, I know that. It's not meant to be 😆.

[@jgreen9361]

One particular narrative of disinformation is worth noting, so that everyone can see it for what it is. You see it from Jordan Peterson, in the Lancet study that you cited, the “what I have learnt” guy on KZbin and frequently in trolling comments below KZbin videos. It is the deliberate attempt to fix in people’s minds that the SAD diet pyramid and the recommended healthy diet pyramid are the same. Why is this relevant to vegans? Because, once that confusion is established in ignorant peoples minds, it leads to the assumption that a none meat diet is a junk food diet. The source of this disinformation campaign idea is the American meat industry.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

thats so ridiculous

[@JonathanMallett]

@VeganBeautyGirl agreed, and sadly, not surprising.

[@adereynolds]

It's so predictable but still frustrating and tedious. Besides all meat replacements being different, there's just no real interest in health from these articles and people banging on about it. I've heard people recently say they quit being veggie as meat is healthier and now they just eat five guys. Great health benefits. There's never any analysis of non vegan stuff. Or any thought of what vegans actually eat. Whether I use meat substitutes or not, its usually cooked with loads of veg. I mean the vast majority of food everyone eats is vegan anyway. But context is always removed and it's made out we just eat beyond burgers. Laughable anyone believes it really.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

predictable, frustrating and tedious are the EXACT words for this situation.

[@seemaparkash9057]

They just hate anyone who is different and their conscience is probably tugging athem subconsciously.

[@Kevinmc-j7l]

You can get Greggs vegan steak bakes in Iceland supermarket in the UK.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

yes! would love them in stores though. i love a greggs to warm me up on a cold day, or fill me up when i'm rushing about. not so much out of the oven at home.

[@jinxterx]

@7:33 yeah but you can throw Better Nature Organic Tempeh (from Tesco) in a sandwich if you slice it first :P

[@axolotlismybeautystandard]

I recently read this book and using it as an argument against veganism is crazy to me. I well remember the fragment in which the author mentioned the use of grain for the production of animal feed (probably 80% of the crop is used for animal feed, 75% of the soy grown is used for feed) - how can this be an argument against veganism... Although, as a person who doesn't eat meat, I can't stand "veggie meats", they always make my stomach hurt. I definitely prefer normal options, not innovative ones. Especially trying traditional meatless dishes from different cuisines. Although it is impossible to disagree with the fact that the prices of vegan dishes in restaurants are a scam - especially since they are often higher than in the case of meat options. And how come a piece of cauliflower costs as much as a beef entrecote?

[@jimmysgameclips]

8:43 YES. When can we actually save money for costing less... I think I've had this happen once or twice with veganism in 10 years

[@NathanBlackberry]

Everyone should be vegan 🙏💚

[@lottie1144]

@@NathanBlackberry Not everyone can properly digest fruits, veg, wheat ect. My husband is one of those people.

[@NathanBlackberry]

@lottie1144 maybe you want to see a doctor about that? She should find plant-based foods that he can eat😊 I'm sure he can eat beans 😊 and maybe he can digest all those maybe he should try again 🙏💚🌱🫘🍇🍌🥔 Vegan for the victims 🥺🙏💚🫂🐷🐔🐮

[@lottie1144]

@ You people just want to lecture others. My husband has a team of specialists and has to have intravenous medication.

[@romanw6636]

Saying that vegans enjoy different foods doesn't mean very much if you immediately go on to say that foods you happen to dislike (e.g. Gregg's veggie curry) should not be sold. Why do you feel that only you should be allowed to have food you like?

[@SamyagAjivaAjiva]

To win this “war”, we must emphasize and take the direction of persuasion or gentle modeling. There’s some strong associations between impotence, volatility and politics with vegans and non-vegans. I think if people are more vocal about themselves and demonstrate that vegans come in all shapes and forms, that’s a strong start that should lead to change over time.

[@lottie1144]

Eat how you like and don’t force it on others. More vegans go back to eating meat than not. Be careful what you wish for.

[@SamyagAjivaAjiva]

@@lottie1144 nothing that's priority is on profit, instantaneity or consumption can be sustained forever. Your brief, decadent moment of satiety (if you can call it that), is a reduced abstraction that comes at the cost of the environment and welfare of animals,. Ignorance is bliss... until you wonder why the world is in such a disarray -- methane, high costs, hormones and a systematic state of suffering. All living creatures want to be happy and free. Pigs have 99.99% genetic similarity to humans, cows exhibit personalities and develop bonds as well as enemies. Many of your meals on your plate have sentience that isn't unlike you. But continue to be complicit in this chain until we reach our end in this economy. Nothing exists in a vacuum -- something cannot come from nothing and there are many factors that are necessary that border on pathology.

[@SamyagAjivaAjiva]

@@lottie1144 I don't this trajectory is sustainable for long. Decadence comes from instantaneity, consumption and especially profit. All living things wish to be free and happy. Pigs share many genetic similarities to us, cows develop bonds and enemies and chickens are more intelligent than you think. We have systemized suffering for the sake of a fleeting meal that was once living and has been reduced to an abstraction. But its your prerogative until the economy suffers, and methane weakens the ozone. By reason of your comment, you are already guarded by a shift in society that does not jibe with your viewpoint. I know conversation is yours to interpret as imposition; but that's just you.

[@lottie1144]

@ I used to be vegan. I do not need your lecture.

[@SamyagAjivaAjiva]

​@@lottie1144 and you're stricken by someone who can and has; successfully and mindfully, adhered to this dietary protocol... hence why you're on this channel going out of your way to attempt an abysmally refute the stance I'm taking. at least you have the option to eat / not eat a meal... but now, just imagine for YOUR sake, you are affording yourself, not only the luxury but also the suffering of an animal. I reiterate: ignorance is bliss, isn't it?

[@barrydevonshire9749]

I still prefer the old fashioned bean burgers as a long term vegetarian then vegan

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

i like both! which ones are your favourite?

[@barrydevonshire9749]

@VeganBeautyGirl my favourite mock meat is still the Linda macartney vegan burger., but by preferences the spicy bean burger. You forget the taste of animal flesh an discover so many nice new tastes

[@Elspm]

I didn't know the Linda McCartney spicy bean burgers were still about, I remember mum buying them when we were little but I don't remember where from. Which part of the supermarket should I be looking in?

[@barrydevonshire9749]

@Elspm tescos do LM sweet potato and bean spicy burger or Asda own make spicy bean burger. That is good. LM was the only source of non meat burgers when i was younger. Some vegan some vegetarian

[@ChamberlainTommasou]

Me too Barry. But here's the thing, and this is the impossible paradox we're faced with. Not only do most v's prefer the products which more closely mimic anml. products, but non-v's also say they would only go v if they had products which tasted/had an experience exactly the same as what they're used to. But then when they get those products, they complain about the fact it's processed (ignoring the fact what they're eating from anmls is already processed usually, & also ignoring any nuance about actual health outcomes of these v products or nutritional quality/composition regardless of processing). But in order to make those products they say they want, they have to be processed by definition since they are human-made/created foods, not whole foods. So either they complain about it not tasting the same as what they want, and then we make the food more like that but then it's more processed, or they complain that it's too processed, and then we make it less processed as it used to be, but then once again they complain it doesn't mimic the anml products closely enough. It just goes back and forth with one complaint or the other. They don't know what they want. You can't have it both ways. So frustrating. I think it's necessary for ppl to understand that processed does not inherently or automatically make something unhealthy; wholemeal & wholegrain breads are some examples of healthy processed foods. & these v products are found to be healthier than what they're designed to replace, quite healthy overall, & an example of foods that don't fit the same trends of other processed foods, which are usually only unhealthy if they have high salt, sugar or certain oil content.

[@AceOfSevens]

I think a lot of this is question being about what ultra processed means. In original use, it meant things high in refined sugar, oil & salt. Vegan meats don't necessarily fit into this, even if they aren't recognizable as plants.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

completely agree. conveniently there is no single definition of ultra-processed foods. funny that.

[@brokenrecord3095]

I haven't eaten real meat in decades. I haven't eaten fake meat in decades minus a week or so either. In my experience, fake meat had none of the pleasure of real meat and none of the joys of a proper vegetarian meal, its like seeing a reproduction of a painting in the newspaper.

[@emmanarotzky6565]

Huh, to me (some) fake meat solves all the problems of real meat. You can get fake meats that function just like real meat in recipes but without the gross chewy textures or gristle/fat. Some brands are worse than others (the more “realistic” they try to be the grosser they are) but most of the time it just feels safer than eating real meat because you know there shouldn’t be any disgusting surprises.

[@thecardboardsword]

sounds like you haven't eaten any meat substitutes in 10 years... which is exactly what you have done

[@brokenrecord3095]

@@thecardboardsword You are correct. I'm sure the field of fake meatology has made vast strides in the intervening years, but I have zero interest in tasting their products. Are they more meatlike? In that case I'm with the fellow above, who finds that the more realistically meatlike the fake meat is, the more distasteful it is. After decades of vegetarianism, I find meat in general quite unappealing. Why would I want to eat something that more accurately represents an unappetizing target? Are the latest fake meats something that isn't meatlike at all but are good in their own right? In that case they're not really fake meats, are they? If you enjoy these products, by all means continue to do so. What you enjoy is no business of mine. But I think I'll steer clear of the lot, thank you. At the end of the day, fake meats ARE industrially produced, heavily processed gawd-knows-what that typically come at a higher price point than, say, chick peas. And while I'm sure that eating the occasional fake sausage isn't going to kill me, I have far more faith in the restorative powers of the simple lentil.

[@conversationswithcharis]

It’s just an excuse to vegan bash, the meat and dairy industries won’t go down without a fight! Sausages - ultra processed. Burgers - ultra processed. Meat pies - ultra processed. Ready Meals - ultra processed. McDonald’s, KFC, Pizza Hut, Burger King’ - ultra processed. But you know this already 😉

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

it really is!! they love to paint us as protein-deficient, surviving on ultra-processed food, and only managing it because we’ve got trust funds to support this lifestyle. meanwhile, protein deficiency is actually linked to under-eating and poverty-not veganism. it's modern, western, capitalist diets (meat or no meat!) that are full on processed foods, and studies have even shown that vegan diets are often cheaper! pffft.

[@Lauralouiseyoga]

Ahh thank you for addressing this!!

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

it's been bothering me for SO LONG.

[@seemaparkash9057]

Tofu is healthy though. And it isn't like all of us are gonna eat this stuff all the time it is just an occasional treat.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

yes definitely! i wouldn't consider tofu, tempeh or seitan a 'fake meat'.

[@sonofliberty1]

I agree with most of what you said other than that I think the Greggs vegan steak bake was rubbish and the veg curry bake is great. But, ideally, they'd sell both.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

i like the beans and 'cheese' one the best! tbf i wish they came out with something new and had more year round options in general :(

[@Lfcklopp]

Thankyou for the tips as always ❤

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

happy to help!

[@jenniferfoggs]

Wow I just started listening to this audiobook last week!

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

how are you finding it???

[@MadamoftheCatHouse]

Vegans bash meat eaters all the time. So stop complaining that meat eaters are bashing YOU!

[@emmanarotzky6565]

Vegans bash meat eaters for paying others to torture and kill animals. What is there for meat eaters to bash vegans for?

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

i hear you, but there’s a big difference between vegans raising fact-based concerns about the planet, animals, and health versus the kind of bashing we get. we’re out here trying to push for positive change, while stories like the ones i’m talking about in this video are often deliberately misleading to protect the interests of big businesses and the unsustainable meat industry.

[@thecardboardsword]

yeah, no

[@MadamoftheCatHouse]

@ I don't think so.

[@francy2610]

Very interesting video! Thank you ❤

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

glad you enjoyed it! been meaning to make something about this book for a while now!

[@therethere7543]

Anyone who has actually read the book would understand that it’s not anti-vegan.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

unfortunately not nearly as many people have read the book as have heard the news stories bartering us 😭😭

[@kerryfirehorse]

Thanks for your wonderful videos that cover important issues spoken out of your own experience as a long term vegan. I watch them all. I’m also not keen on all the veggie replacements. I cook butternut, sweet potato & cauliflower at home. When I’m grabbing something from Greggs or wherever, I want that junk mock meat treat that I don’t make at home. I think it’s also got a lot to do with restaurants cutting costs. They’ve realised the massive profit margins from filling a pasty with peas, carrots and potatoes over a mock meat in gravy. There are also a fair few people who’ve been vegan for 5 mins and probably won’t be in 3 years time who are constantly whinging and criticising any social media food share that isn’t whole food. I mean, come on, lighten up. A little bit of what you fancy does you good.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

i think you’re spot on about cost-cutting-it’s frustrating that some places are leaning into cheaper veggie fillers instead of giving us the full-on comfort food we’re craving. i'm def likely to walk out if i feel like they're charging me £10+ for a dish that cost them barely anything to make.

[@scarlettyoungyt]

vegan meat is just as processed as real meat so i will never understand this hatred 😭. i am happy though that they are switching out gluten protein for pea protein or other (i am gf lol), however the prices are obviously much higher which is frustrating so i tend to stay clear of them anyway haha.

[@GarudaLegends]

Meat is not processed. Lol. The fake meat is super unhealthy while real meat is healthy.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

this is one of the reasons we need variety in the vegan space, not just everyone following these trends! we need the gluten free and the soy free vegans to be able to live well too!

[@cat-zp1rg]

I work woth this man who vant shut uis mouth about how impossible meat is ultraproccessed and full of esTRoGeN yet he eats keto and the only thing ive ever seen him consume is coke zero 🙄 i tried to explain to him that faux meats may be highlh processed but so is most food thats eaten in developed nations and most vegans dont eat exclusively faux meat like this isn't a difficult concept

[@Elspm]

Coming for impossible meat while drinking coke zero is utter bullshit.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

omg yes! i used to have a colleague who'd eat mcdonalds and kfc multiple times a week and drink coke like water ... and would have the nerve to come for my diet???

[@MadamoftheCatHouse]

You are whinging in this video so stop complaining about meat eaters whinging.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

looking through the comments, you'll find a lot of people found it interesting and cathartic. what part of the thumbnail or title made you think it was something you'd enjoy watching? i'd feel awful if you'd felt misled in what you chose to watch and consume.

[@AvcHac52]

Always whole foods , beans, veggies, grains , not fake cheese or meats

[@dianafalletta2635]

Ok 👍 being vegan is not plant based. I’m a busy cook are you actually thinking I’m cooking all perfect stop you people

[@Bas-TB]

I am an omnivore and try to view the less healthy stuff as a treat or as a flavoring agent. I like pringles, but I almost always would prefer other treats. I tried a fair bit of the specifically vege/vegan foods, but found few that are treat-worthy flavor-price-health perspective and find myself craving other things. And in a dish I again from a flavor-price-heath perspective I normally wouldn’t choose the meat replacements. So some of the comments from Pringle and meat eaters is still valid, as they are making conscious choices with their food. And something isn’t healthy or even necessary less unhealthy JUST because it is vegan/vegetarian. Just like something being ultra processed can still make it the healthier choice.

[@Meathead-10810]

I found out that all plants are very unhealthy so I eat 95% fresh meat. I have not had bacon this year yet and am thinking maybe I will try to only have it once a month at the most due to it being processed :) I think fake meat is probably the most ultra processed and probably also ultra unhealthy.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

the idea that “all plants are unhealthy” isn’t supported by science at all. plants are packed with essential nutrients-fiber, vitamins, minerals, antioxidants-that are critical for long-term health. in fact, they’re some of the most nutrient-dense foods out there, and you simply can’t get everything you need from meat alone. as for fake meats, while they’re processed, they’re usually lower in saturated fat and cholesterol than traditional meat, especially bacon, which the world health organization has classified as a group 1 carcinogen. fake meats aren’t meant to replace whole foods-they’re more of a treat or transition food-and they’re still often a better choice for health, the planet, and animal welfare than their meat counterparts.

[@Meathead-10810]

Also, just about zero fiber is digestible by the human digestion system, how can plants be healthy to eat?

[@liamellwood1025]

They may not be digestible by us, but they are used by the microbiome of your intestines and both types, soluble and insoluble, are important for healthy and regular BMs.

[@Meathead-10810]

@@liamellwood1025 Yes, our large intestine tries to process them but can't and you end up with SIBO, large amounts of gas and constipation.

[@emmad6978]

@@Meathead-10810lack of fibre will result in constipation!

[@JessieBanana]

A vegan diet isn’t for me, but this is ridiculous. I will never understand the plethora of people drinking alcohol, eating the occasional sweet treat, and then dissecting every single other processed food. Encourage healthy diets, whatever they are and just mind your business.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

thank you!

[@GarudaLegends]

The thinks is vegan fake meat is unhealthy, while real meat is healthy. The is the soul issue.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

not true. i cover this in the video.

[@denizkenger52]

Aflatoxins = carcinogenic too. Acrylamide = carcinogenic Both found in plant foods.

[@adereynolds]

Plant foods covers all fruit, vegetables, grains, nuts, herbs, spices and a hell of a lot of other stuff. Without specifics and analysing meat and dairy, it's futile.

[@denizkenger52]

@@adereynolds Aflatoxins can be commonly found in these: groundnuts, tree nuts, maize, rice, figs and other dried foods, spices, crude vegetable oils and cocoa beans, peanuts, corn, pistachios, wheat, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. Acrylamide: potato products, grain products, or coffee. Naturally formed when starchy high carb foods are cooked with low moisture at temperatures of 120 degrees celcius and above.

[@denizkenger52]

@@adereynolds Any aflatoxin in meat would come from animals that ate contaminated feed or from contamination during the processing of the meat (adding contaminated spices for example) or mycotoxin-producing moulds present on the surface of dry-cured meat products. Getting high quality animals raised on high quality land with non contaminated feed is encouraged. Other than that, There are mainly six different types of aflatoxins-Aflatoxins-B1(AFB1), Aflatoxins-B2(AFB2), Aflatoxin G1(AFG1), Aflatoxins G2 (AFG2), Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1), and Aflatoxin M2 (AFM2) (Quadri et al. 2012). Out of these B1, B2, G1, G2 are found in food crops or their products, while M1 (Metabolite of B1) and M2 are found in the animals’ by-products such as dairy products. Aflatoxin B1 and B2 are produced by A. flavus, while Aflatoxin G1 and G2 are synthesized by A. parasiticus and largely contaminate a wide range of food commodities including cereals (maize, sorghum, pearl millet, rice, and wheat), oilseeds (peanut, soybean, sunflower, and cotton), spices (chilies, black pepper, turmeric, coriander, and ginger), nuts (almond, Brazil nut, pistachio, walnut, and coconut), yam and various milk products (Rajarajan et al. 2013). Also, stating these to be futile makes calling animal products carcinogenic futile as well since she didn’t state which animal products specifically were carcinogenic. Even saying meat isn’t enough. So that makes her point about meat being carcinogenic futile as well.

[@denizkenger52]

@@adereynolds it’s not futile but I just sent two responses going into detail which get blocked by her channel. Also, it’s no more futile than her saying meat is carcinogenic without being specific about it either.

[@whiterose599]

But somehow vegetable consumption is correlated with better health outcomes. I'd imagine eating all those plant carcinogens would make vegetable eaters more prone to cancer.

[@Paul-gp6ol]

Quorn I mean yawn! 😂

[@sippinlean277]

Please turn to Jesus he loves you so much and wants a relationship with you ❤❤

[@Starchaser63]

Hallelujah

[@miracoli16]

​@@Starchaser63 😂🤣

[@emilylockwood4302]

What does this have to do with the video ??? Surely “Jesus” would want you to look after the animals he put on the earth and not torture and murder millions of them ?? 😊

[@miaowmail]

She’s too busy hating Jews for that

[@genericusername5909]

The waahr. Jesus this is annoying. Just make vegan real food instead of pretending to be a victim

[@FreddieAl]

I didn't realise before, but you're a full-blown whinger.

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

you too freddie x

[@TheRealJemmaLouise]

I think she speaks common sense.

[@FreddieAl]

@TheRealJemmaLouise Thanks for your opinion

[@seemaparkash9057]

lmfao and you aren't?

[@comico-revolucionario]

Since I was a children I rejected meat .... they forced when I was eating it

[@maisiebadham2773]

I loveee squeaky bean just wish it was more affordable 🥲. I’m also gutted greggs don’t offer oat milk anymore. Was my go too cheap morning latte 🥹

[@VeganBeautyGirl]

SAME. omg. they're barely ever on offer too!

[@drironjunkie]

Great video, came up on my feed randomly and I recognised you from Nonnas and Sepp’s book launch so I watched. You literally said everything I’ve been thinking for the past year. Almost verbatim lol. Looking forward to your dissection of the book. People always bring it up to me especially in my line of work and I often just say, yes the central message is good but it’s been weaponised by the anti-vegan movement to further justify eating animals and their secretions when that wasn’t the point of the book. Not all processed foods are equal but people love a simple message, read the headlines and try to use anything to justify their own biases and actions. Keep up the good work 👍🏽