I've called around to several vegetarian stores here in San Francisco for the past two Thanksgiving looking for vegetarian marshmallows and haven't found them yet (they all pulled the "vegetarian" products from their shelves after these test findings revealed animal product). I remember being a bit shocked when I first started getting interested in educating myself about vegetarianism to discover that I'd been served gelatin and rennet--two of the nastiest (and in rennet's case, cruel, animal products--at Adventist potlucks and cafeterias my whole life. My loyalty to Trader Joe's was boosted to a "fanatic" level when they started labeling their dairy products with the type of rennet used, animal, vegetable, or microbial.

For me, the hypocrisy (or really, ignorance) I found with all of the gelatin and rennet-laden products in what was advertised as vegetarian settings, confirmed my suspicions of the dangers of being vegetarian because of a holiness or purity code, rather than from an educated position that recognizes the complexities involved in such choices (another reason why I loved Barbara Kingsolver’s Animal, Vegetable, Miracle that was reviewed here last week—she problematizes the issue while providing a great deal of education).

When those who wish to become strict vegetarians begin wearing non-leather shoes, they will be less hypocritical. Where do they think leather comes from? Not to mention leather coats, jackets and belts? But, perhaps they drink only soy milk and soy yogurt. Even eggbeaters is made from egg products. When we are able to grow and eat only our own produced food entirely, that will be the day! Know any vegetarians who completely follow that!

Not to mention all the artificial additives in nearly everything we eat.

Do we strain the gnats and swallow a camel?

Elaine

A funny story out of my distant past. I was walking on the sidewall just outside of the LLU library when I was accosted by a middle age woman who asked me where were the experiencmenting going on animals. I asked: "Why she needed to know". She said, "I have read that these animals are tortured and for only trivial reasons." I looked down and she was wearing leather shoes. I asked her if she knew how her shoes were made. She said no. I said, why don't you check out the slaughter houses first and then tour our hospital, and finally our animal laboratories. I think it will give you a better perspective of the use of animals in medical research. I added, if you are concerned about animal care, I suggest you buy only clothes may of synthetic materials.

P.S. There is a local sandwich shop that advertizes CBS sandwiches: "Full of Baloney." The bottom line is why give politicos a soap box if you want to separate church and state. They are just full of baloney. Tom