Accidently consumed whey protein - still a vegan?
I have been a vegan for a whole week now - I'm so proud of myself!
I have always wanted to be a vegan, but always got caught with animal products in my food, I live in a house of carnivores!
For a week now I have been able to maintain a healthy vegan diet and I don't miss going back!
This morning however I added some chocolate mix to my soy milk, foolishly forgetting to check the ingredients - I always check.
After drinking I remembered to check and there it is, the evil whey protein!
I feel like a failure, like my week doesn't matter anymore.
Does this mean I'll have to recognize myself as a vegan from this day on?
As soon as I consume a non vegan ingredient, those days before mean nothing.
I know this all may sound really stupid, I'm just feeling a bit discouraged and disappointed in myself.
Am I still a vegan?
you are still a vegan unless
1.) you intended to do it
2.) you intend to do it again
don't beat yourself up, it happens to everyone. now you'll never forget to read the ingredients :)
Accidents happen to all of us, and you just have to recognize it, and move on. Vegans can make mistakes after years and years. It's a learning process, so continue feeling great!
it's true! I just bought something with honey in it, and I've been vegan for 11 years. Everyone makes mistakes. Sometimes I forget stuff comes w/ cheese on it, because I'm used to having it w/o cheese. So, I'll have to order it a second time because I screwed up. Duh.
Take a deep breath. Relax. It's okay.
Think about why you're doing this. If it's for health reasons, trace amounts of whey protein aren't going to hurt you unless you have severe milk allergies. If it's concern for animal welfare, consider that whey is just a by-product of cheese production; no cow was ever mistreated solely for its whey, and if everyone in the world stopped eating it, the dairy industry would carry on pretty much the same except that whey would be turned into animal feed or fertilizer.
My advice would be to nourish yourself as well as you can, subject to what your conscience will allow, and not worry too much about labeling yourself as "vegan" or not.
But then I'm new here. :)
you are still a vegan unless
1.) you intended to do it
2.) you intend to do it again
don't beat yourself up, it happens to everyone. now you'll never forget to read the ingredients :)
Yeah that. Nuff said.
thanks for all your thoughts and support. i will continue my vegan path and feel great about it. NEVER forgetting to check the ingredients in all the products I consume.
I agree with everyone, we have all made mistakes. I loved quorn brand "chicken" breast when I first went vegan. I still didn't understand that it still may contain milk products.
I agree with everyone, we have all made mistakes. I loved quorn brand "chicken" breast when I first went vegan. I still didn't understand that it still may contain milk products.
...and egg products.
What's irritating is that a former vegan food can switch on you. I was eating Green's dark chocolate for a while, not knowing they added milk along the way. Still I when I found out I didn't consider myself less vegan, because I immediately quit buying and eating it.
What's irritating is that a former vegan food can switch on you. I was eating Green's dark chocolate for a while, not knowing they added milk along the way.
While it's true that companies sometimes change their recipes (e.g. the Morningstar crumbles), it is not the case with Green & Black's dark chocolate. They changed their labeling practice for the safety of allergy sufferers, because the chocolate is made on shared equipment and might be contaminated with traces of milk.
From Green & Black's FAQ:
The vegan statement has gone; has the product ever been suitable for vegans?
The ingredient list will show organic whole milk powder. Is this now an ingredient in Green & Black's dark chocolate?
Sorry for the threadjack. Good luck, Maia, and take it easy on yourself. Nobody's perfect!
What's irritating is that a former vegan food can switch on you. I was eating Green's dark chocolate for a while, not knowing they added milk along the way.
While it's true that companies sometimes change their recipes (e.g. the Morningstar crumbles), it is not the case with Green & Black's dark chocolate. They changed their labeling practice for the safety of allergy sufferers, because the chocolate is made on shared equipment and might be contaminated with traces of milk.
From Green & Black's FAQ:
The vegan statement has gone; has the product ever been suitable for vegans?
The ingredient list will show organic whole milk powder. Is this now an ingredient in Green & Black's dark chocolate?
Sorry for the threadjack. Good luck, Maia, and take it easy on yourself. Nobody's perfect!
Well that's just plain silly. Why include milk powder as an ingredient when it isn't. I'm perfectly fine with statements "used on equipment that...blah blah and may contain traces"....but I'm certainly not o.k. with milk as an ingredient.
meh...there are plenty of other all vegan dark chocolates out there to enjoy.
Thanks for the information.
Green and Black are owned by cadbury, crappy company. There maya gold chocolate was okay. But if they are just having dirty machinery.. why bother with them.
There are so many different dark chocolates and if you want organic or fair trade check organic and helath stores.
you are still a vegan unless
1.) you intended to do it
2.) you intend to do it again
don't beat yourself up, it happens to everyone. now you'll never forget to read the ingredients :)
Exactly this.