TW: Child abuse, child death.

I’m having so many conflicting emotions about this story. While these parents are unequivocally abusive, I’m also not a fan of using incarceration to punish child abuse. There are no winners here. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/vegan-couple-murder-baby-starve-ryan-patrick-oleary-sheila-florida-a9255046.html

And while it’s tempting to blame veganism as the culprit, I know that veganism didn’t starve those kids. Malnutrition caused by health quackery is the culprit, not vegan eating. Babies and kids have very specific dietary needs and these parents disregarded them.

The problem is that many vegans are just abusive, racist, and oppressive people—just as a lot of meat-eaters are. And there are plenty of fatphobic and orthorexic parents who eat nothing but beef or other meats, because they are fatphobic abusive quacks.

Whether you are an adult who is vegan, carnivorous, or prefers dietary balance, the fact is this: Human babies and pets cannot eat like human adults. Babies need fat for growing brains, and animals like dogs and cats are pure carnivores. They can’t be vegan or paleo like you.

STOP FORCING ADULT HUMAN DIETS ON BABIES, CHILDREN, AND PETS. Simple and easy. No special medical or dietary knowledge needed. You have the autonomy to make conscious choices about your diet. You kids and pets do not. Prioritize their health and safety, not your views.

I’m so goddamn tired of hearing about human kids and pets starving to death because of abusive parents/guardians. It doesn’t have to be this way. Examine your obsessive and damaging views about food and health and leave vulnerable beings alone.