4 ms·
The Euphemism Treadmill dictates that "vegan" is now "plant-based diet." Among those that herbivores would like to convert, "vegan" is saddled with negative pe
by function_seven 7y ago
The Euphemism Treadmill dictates that "vegan" is now "plant-based diet."
Among those that herbivores would like to convert, "vegan" is saddled with negative perceptions.
- xvx 7y agoStrangely enough, plant-based doesn't necessarily mean vegan. Some 'plant-based' diets include eggs and dairy at times. I've yet to find a plant-based food item that wasn't vegan though, so perhaps the diet aspect needs further refining.
- vzidex 7y agoThis makes sense to me, doesn't "based" or "base" mean that the food is _mostly_ made from plants. As someone who's trying to follow a vegan diet I am very happy about "plant-based" food generally being vegan though!
- blendergeek 7y agoThere is actually a difference between 'vegan' and 'plant-based diet'. A car can be 'vegan'. A car is not part of a 'plant-based' diet.
- function_seven 7y agoUnderstood, but that difference doesn't apply when we're talking about food specifically. I'm saying that the "vegan" label is marketing liability if you're trying to sell to the general public (and not just to the existing vegan community). If we're talking about shoes, or cars, then the euphemism will be something like "cruelty-free". No car company is going to associate their cloth interiors with veganism. Well, maybe Subaru would :)
- paulcole 7y agoDon't forget about the subset of vegans who avoid palm oil/almonds and other particularly environmentally taxing plant-based products.
- nicky0 7y agoThat's why the common parlance is 'plant-based upholstery' for these situations.