I’ve been a Vegan for 20 years and was a Vegetarian before that. I’ve attempted to tell people about some of the facts in your excellent post for ages and haven’t gotten very far, to be honest. Lifelong brainwashing means many people seem unable to make any decisions against the norm. I didn’t like cows milk when I was very young and haven’t drunk it for literally years and years and I’m still here. I was always being chastised as a kid for not drinking milk. However, being from a long line of self made stubborn people I persisted in refusing to drink it and I was obviously an awful child as I refused to eat cheese as well, and I’m still here!!!!!
Your persistence is inspiring! It’s incredible how deeply ingrained the dairy myth is, and yet here you are—healthy, thriving, and proving them all wrong. The pressure to conform starts young, especially when industries have spent generations convincing people that cow’s milk is essential. But you listened to your instincts, stood your ground, and didn’t let the brainwashing take hold. That takes strength.
It’s frustrating when people refuse to hear the truth, but every seed you plant matters. Lifelong conditioning isn’t undone overnight, but the more we speak up, the more cracks start to form in the facade. Keep sharing your story—your resilience is proof that we don’t need animal exploitation to survive. 💚
My grandparents had a dairy farm in Wellington, CO in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. I remember hearing the mother cows bellowing for their babies but had no idea what was really going on at 10 years of age. My grandmother and my mother both suffered broken hips and vertebrae from osteoporosis even after drinking all the milk they wanted. So yes, what we are reading is correct. They were all brutalized by the cruel treatment of their livestock and my grandfather even used to chase grandmother around the farm beating her with a broom. No one ever stood up for her. Shame, shame, oh but they were good fundamentalist Christians who were better than the rest of us. Had to vent, sorry.
That’s a heartbreaking story, and you have every right to vent. The cruelty on those farms didn’t just affect the animals—it was part of a larger system of violence that extended to the people, too. The cycle of harm, whether toward animals or humans, often goes unquestioned, especially in rigid, fundamentalist environments where suffering is excused under the guise of "tradition" or "God's will."
It’s frustrating when the same people who claim moral superiority are the ones perpetuating the most harm. And the irony of osteoporosis in lifelong milk drinkers just underscores how deeply flawed the dairy industry's propaganda is. They sell suffering in a bottle, both to the cows and the people who consume their stolen milk.
I'm sorry you had to witness all of that as a child, especially without fully understanding what was happening. It’s infuriating to look back and realize the truth, but at least now you see it for what it was. And you’ve chosen a different path—one of compassion, truth, and standing up for those who can’t defend themselves. That’s worth something. 💚
A truly brilliant treatment of the disturbing topic of the mendacious dairy industry. Kudos for providing helpful information about the nutritious dairy product alternatives available.
There is nothing ecologically or socially responsible about the mentioned 'vegan cheeses' and until a vegan cheese without coconut (or palm oil) and with more than 1% protein is developed, tofu will have to do. If the world increases the consumption of coconut-based products then it will be just as destructive as palm oil for tropical forests, native plants, fungi and animal and indigenous people. It is good that many manufacturers of soy milk are stating on their product that it is "Made with European soybeans" but it is disappointing that none of them use fully recycleable packaging because only the paper component od a Tetra-Pak ('carton') is recycled whereas a mixture of aluminium and plastic is sent to landfill and there are very few factories in the world that can separate the aluminium from the plastic. I order soymilk from an artisanal manufacturer that uses soybeans that were grown in Croatia and packs it in a returnable glass bottle. I am disappointed that many vegans wish to silence debate about these issues.
You raise important concerns about sustainability, and they deserve discussion—not dismissal. Veganism is about reducing harm, but that includes considering the environmental and social impact of plant-based alternatives.
1️⃣ Coconut & Palm Oil – You’re right that coconut farming has ethical and ecological concerns, particularly in tropical regions where deforestation and labor exploitation occur. That’s why many vegans opt for nut-based, oat-based, or legume-based cheeses instead. Supporting sustainable sources matters.
2️⃣ Soy Sourcing – European-grown soy is a great step forward, as most deforestation-linked soy goes to animal feed, not human consumption. More companies should prioritize transparent, ethical sourcing.
3️⃣ Packaging Waste – Tetra-Pak has its downsides, and returnable glass bottles are a fantastic solution. It would be great if more companies moved toward zero-waste packaging to align with vegan ethics fully.
4️⃣ Debate & Accountability – Many vegans do discuss these issues, but mainstream discourse often ignores them in favor of defending animal exploitation. That said, silencing concerns about sustainability isn’t the answer—holding all industries accountable is.
Your approach—seeking better solutions rather than rejecting veganism outright—is what actually moves the movement forward. 🌱💚
I’ve been a Vegan for 20 years and was a Vegetarian before that. I’ve attempted to tell people about some of the facts in your excellent post for ages and haven’t gotten very far, to be honest. Lifelong brainwashing means many people seem unable to make any decisions against the norm. I didn’t like cows milk when I was very young and haven’t drunk it for literally years and years and I’m still here. I was always being chastised as a kid for not drinking milk. However, being from a long line of self made stubborn people I persisted in refusing to drink it and I was obviously an awful child as I refused to eat cheese as well, and I’m still here!!!!!
Your persistence is inspiring! It’s incredible how deeply ingrained the dairy myth is, and yet here you are—healthy, thriving, and proving them all wrong. The pressure to conform starts young, especially when industries have spent generations convincing people that cow’s milk is essential. But you listened to your instincts, stood your ground, and didn’t let the brainwashing take hold. That takes strength.
It’s frustrating when people refuse to hear the truth, but every seed you plant matters. Lifelong conditioning isn’t undone overnight, but the more we speak up, the more cracks start to form in the facade. Keep sharing your story—your resilience is proof that we don’t need animal exploitation to survive. 💚
My grandparents had a dairy farm in Wellington, CO in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. I remember hearing the mother cows bellowing for their babies but had no idea what was really going on at 10 years of age. My grandmother and my mother both suffered broken hips and vertebrae from osteoporosis even after drinking all the milk they wanted. So yes, what we are reading is correct. They were all brutalized by the cruel treatment of their livestock and my grandfather even used to chase grandmother around the farm beating her with a broom. No one ever stood up for her. Shame, shame, oh but they were good fundamentalist Christians who were better than the rest of us. Had to vent, sorry.
That’s a heartbreaking story, and you have every right to vent. The cruelty on those farms didn’t just affect the animals—it was part of a larger system of violence that extended to the people, too. The cycle of harm, whether toward animals or humans, often goes unquestioned, especially in rigid, fundamentalist environments where suffering is excused under the guise of "tradition" or "God's will."
It’s frustrating when the same people who claim moral superiority are the ones perpetuating the most harm. And the irony of osteoporosis in lifelong milk drinkers just underscores how deeply flawed the dairy industry's propaganda is. They sell suffering in a bottle, both to the cows and the people who consume their stolen milk.
I'm sorry you had to witness all of that as a child, especially without fully understanding what was happening. It’s infuriating to look back and realize the truth, but at least now you see it for what it was. And you’ve chosen a different path—one of compassion, truth, and standing up for those who can’t defend themselves. That’s worth something. 💚
A truly brilliant treatment of the disturbing topic of the mendacious dairy industry. Kudos for providing helpful information about the nutritious dairy product alternatives available.
Thank you!
There is nothing ecologically or socially responsible about the mentioned 'vegan cheeses' and until a vegan cheese without coconut (or palm oil) and with more than 1% protein is developed, tofu will have to do. If the world increases the consumption of coconut-based products then it will be just as destructive as palm oil for tropical forests, native plants, fungi and animal and indigenous people. It is good that many manufacturers of soy milk are stating on their product that it is "Made with European soybeans" but it is disappointing that none of them use fully recycleable packaging because only the paper component od a Tetra-Pak ('carton') is recycled whereas a mixture of aluminium and plastic is sent to landfill and there are very few factories in the world that can separate the aluminium from the plastic. I order soymilk from an artisanal manufacturer that uses soybeans that were grown in Croatia and packs it in a returnable glass bottle. I am disappointed that many vegans wish to silence debate about these issues.
You raise important concerns about sustainability, and they deserve discussion—not dismissal. Veganism is about reducing harm, but that includes considering the environmental and social impact of plant-based alternatives.
1️⃣ Coconut & Palm Oil – You’re right that coconut farming has ethical and ecological concerns, particularly in tropical regions where deforestation and labor exploitation occur. That’s why many vegans opt for nut-based, oat-based, or legume-based cheeses instead. Supporting sustainable sources matters.
2️⃣ Soy Sourcing – European-grown soy is a great step forward, as most deforestation-linked soy goes to animal feed, not human consumption. More companies should prioritize transparent, ethical sourcing.
3️⃣ Packaging Waste – Tetra-Pak has its downsides, and returnable glass bottles are a fantastic solution. It would be great if more companies moved toward zero-waste packaging to align with vegan ethics fully.
4️⃣ Debate & Accountability – Many vegans do discuss these issues, but mainstream discourse often ignores them in favor of defending animal exploitation. That said, silencing concerns about sustainability isn’t the answer—holding all industries accountable is.
Your approach—seeking better solutions rather than rejecting veganism outright—is what actually moves the movement forward. 🌱💚