Vegetarianism/Veganism

The term vegetarian was used in the United States by the 1830s, but it was popularized by Vegetarian Society of the United Kingdom at their first meeting in 1847 and by the American Vegetarian Society at its inaugural meeting in 1850. During the latter part of the nineteenth century, the Seventh-Day

Classic Valentine’s Day candy.
Adventist Church strongly encouraged its members to become vegetarians for health reasons. John Harvey Kellogg, a Seventh-Day Adventist, became director of the Battle Creek sanitarium in Michigan, and he promoted vegetarianism throughout his entire life. He invented cold cereal such as Kellogg’s Corn Flakes, as an alternative to the traditional breakfast of eggs and bacon. As part of his efforts to create an alternative to butter made from cow’s milk, he invented peanut butter, which became popular during the early twentieth century. Peanut butter has been an important ingredient in many confections.
Vegetarianism has been variously defined, but it is generally considered the practice of not eating meat, poultry, or fish. Ovo vegetarians also do not eat eggs and lacto vegetarians do not eat dairy products. The word vegan was coined by Donald Watson, the founder of the Vegan Society, in 1944. A vegan eats neither meat nor meat byproducts, eggs or dairy products.
Vegetarianism became particularly popular in the late twentieth century. In 1960, there were an estimated 2 million vegetarians in the United States; by 1990, there were more than 6 million. Part of this growth can be attributed to the organizing efforts of the North American Vegetarian Society, which was founded in 1974, and the publication of several vegetarian magazines, such as Vegetarian Times.
Vegetarians have opposed fast food sales of meat, fish, or poultry and products that have been made with nonvegetarian byproducts. Vegetarians have challenged fast food operations, such as the way large-scale suppliers raise and slaughter animals. They have also opposed certain food preparation practices, such as using animal products in making French fries. Vegetarians have influenced fast food chains. McDonald’s for instance, which once used animal byproducts in the oils used to cook French fries, has discontinued the practice. Some vegetarians have taken stronger action, as in 1999 when some vegetarians set fire to a McDonald’s in Antwerp, Belgium, in protest.
Many fast food chains now offer vegetarian meals, such as veggie burgers and salads. In addition, many vegetarian products are now sold in stores. For instance, in 1993 Max Shondor, a Florida-based natural food restaurateur, introduced soy-based Boca Burgers; he subsequently expanded his line to include other flavors, meatless breakfast patties, and nuggets. Similar products are now sold in some fast food chains.