cheryl
Administrator
Staff member
Wait…Is Honey Vegan? - Women's Health
Raise your hand if you've ever used honey instead of straight-up table sugar and given yourself a slow clap because of it. Yep, thought so.
The jury's out on whether honey is actually any better for you than refined sugars, but if you're vegan, you might want to steer clear of that innocent-looking plastic bear.
I know what you're thinking: seriously?! Let me break it down for you...
Wait, why wouldn't vegans eat honey?
Technically, The Vegan Society—which helped make the modern idea of veganism a thing in the 1940s—defines veganism as:
"a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."
So, yes, honey is derived from bees. And you could also make the argument that honey "exploits" bees—so it's off-limits for vegans, explains New York-based R.D. Jessica Cording.
Raise your hand if you've ever used honey instead of straight-up table sugar and given yourself a slow clap because of it. Yep, thought so.
The jury's out on whether honey is actually any better for you than refined sugars, but if you're vegan, you might want to steer clear of that innocent-looking plastic bear.
I know what you're thinking: seriously?! Let me break it down for you...
Wait, why wouldn't vegans eat honey?
Technically, The Vegan Society—which helped make the modern idea of veganism a thing in the 1940s—defines veganism as:
"a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."
So, yes, honey is derived from bees. And you could also make the argument that honey "exploits" bees—so it's off-limits for vegans, explains New York-based R.D. Jessica Cording.