Dear Kurma,
I have been a vegetarian for almost thirty years and although I cut out all meat (including seafood) from my diet, I continued to eat some dairy as long as it was vegetarian (no animal rennet).

But last week I was informed that all dairy is a by-product of animal blood and therefore contains animal blood cells. Being informed of this makes me sick to my stomach and I can no longer even look at dairy without feeling ill. I now feel very conflicted over the "dairy issue".

Do you feel that to be a true vegetarian, one should really be a vegan? Your thoughts on this would be of great help to me.
Carol Bozich, Claremont, Tasmania, Australia

Dear Carol,
The vegan/vegetarian issue is a big one. Certainly I agree with you on many things regarding vegetarian diet. I also have been a vegetarian for over 30 years. You may know that I am not a vegan, and therefore I do eat dairy products (without animal rennet).

As far as the ethics of dairy, my opinion is that it is a matter of personal choice. I do feel however that looking at the whole history and origins of vegetarian diet, the lacto vegetarian diet is the most sound, nutritionally and ethically. Vegans may not agree, and that is their choice of course.

I do not feel that I can be a better vegetarian by eschewing dairy products. The cow naturally gives more milk than the calf can, and should, drink so we can share in it. It is natures gift to man, and I strongly feel that humans are meant to accept the products of the cow - milk, butter, ghee, yogurt, cheese etc, and in return look after the cow as if she was our mother.

Of course the real world of dairy industry is not perfect by any means. Still there is a miracle in milk, and dairy, and I still strongly feel that humans can accept these foods, particularly from cows that are protected and loved.

You say that dairy is a by-product of animal’s blood. I think by-product is not the right word. Animals are not killed to obtain their dairy products. I think a better word is ‘transformation’. In one sense cows’ milk is really a transformation of her blood. In the same way human mothers suckle their young, and it is their blood that is in a sense turned into their breast milk also.

Just as we grew and were nourished by drinking our mother’s milk, if we respect the cow as our dear mother and use her gifts it is not such a bad thing.

These are my views. Thank you for allowing me to share them with you.

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