Avocados no longer vegan? We’re shook

(image: iStock)

BBC’s comedy show, QI, posted a video last week asking the question: “which of these can you eat if you are strictly vegan?” displaying an image of a kiwi, some almonds, avocado, butternut and melon.

The reason for these ingredients being non-vegan? It comes down to the exploitation of bees through migratory beekeeping, says News Hub. Bees are transported via tractors from farm to farm and then forced to pollinate the fruit’s flowers and trees, facing injury and a decreased lifespan during transportation.

According to Scientific American, 31 billion honey bees can pollinate over 810 000 acres (327795 hectares) of trees and flowers which results in over 700 billion almonds. This process goes against veganism, but will it limit a vegan’s diet?

The Vegan Society’s spokesperson, Dominkia Piasecka, has released a statement:

“We are aware that many forms of farming involve indirect harm to animals but it is unfortunately not possible or practicable to avoid the destruction of other animals in most farming at this time. However, we do not consider that just because it is not possible to avoid one hundred per cent of the cruelty, suffering and exploitation to animals that we should not bother at all.”

With this news, many vegans are left reconsidering their food choices. Ingredients central to a vegan diet like avocado, almonds and citrus fruit are impossible to farm without bees. So the question remains… is it possible to live without them if you’re vegan? 

Do you follow a plant-based diet? What do you think about this news? 

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