Martha Stewart, Honey and the Great Vegan Debate

By Michael dEstries, ecorazzi

According to Vegansaurus, during Martha Stewart’s taping of her veganpalooza special, the 69-year-host caused some in the audience to gasp a bit when she added honey to a recipe she was preparing.

“The honey connection is not obvious to everyone so I think she JUST DIDN’T KNOW,” wrote Megan Rascal. “SO this should be viewed as an opportunity to EDUCATE, not an opportunity to attack her.”

I’ve heard that honey is something of debatable foodstuff among vegans, though just going by the standard definition of “consume no animal products” seems to make it a clear-cut no-no for the lifestyle. Upon further digging, however, and some polling of my vegan friends, it appears that consumption of honey, while hush/hush, does happen in the vegan community. In fact, there are some that believe it’s not as big a deal as others would make it out to be.

Full disclosure: I’m not a vegan – just a vegetarian working his way up to it – but I do own two hives. I love my bees, pamper them, use no insecticides or other chemicals, and always leave them much more honey than they need. I know this isn’t the case with some commercial beekeepers, but for me, I consider being a part of their world a privilege. My hives are also free to come and go as they please – so if they ever swarm in search of greener pastures, so be it.

There’s some interesting debate out there over whether honey should be excluded from the “thou shalt not consume” list. Over on CompasionateSpirit.com, Keith Akers wrote an article in 2006 arguing in favor of relaxed sentiments towards those vegans that consume honey. On Vegan.org, the general rule of thumb is to always err on the side of not including honey, though they admit that some vegans do not consider insects as “conscious of pain”. I don’t buy that last part – but to each their own.

So I’m curious – where do you stand on honey? You don’t have to be vegan to answer obviously – and please be respectful of other people’s opinions. I know this can be a heated subject, but let’s try and bee a little sweet, ok? (Bee puns never get old. Never.)

Read more: Conscious Consumer, Diet & Nutrition, Food, Health, Nature, Vegan, bees, honey

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Dale O.

11:03PM PDT on May 4, 2012

Interesting to say the least, but I love honey and will always eat it. Maple syrup comes from a living tree but I guess some people will be against harvesting syrup from a tree as well.

Amazing to see how people insult each other so much over these topics, sometimes cult like attitudes of "you are not a true...unless you do such and such or you are simply a vegetarian!" Shocking to be deemed a mere vegetarian! Amateur!

Well, until Mother Nature changes her tune and tells our bodies that we can all survive on a diet of inorganic entities - we all feed on death/ or using honey or whatever from other organic beings on the planet. Until we all are able to consume rock and mineral pate and survive by not relying on plants, meat, fish, seeds, nuts and other organics everyone follow the path closest to your heart and stop trying to change everyone else.

Til then I will put my rolled cinnamon bark in my green tea with a touch of honey and lemon and eat my quinoa along with a touch of organic chicken...and whole wheat crackers.

send a green star

KS G.

4:10AM PST on Jan 25, 2012

Thanks for the article.

Danuta W.

12:45AM PST on Jan 24, 2012

Great article!

roseann s.

6:45PM PST on Jan 23, 2012

ty for this valuable info.

Rosie L.

11:24AM PST on Jan 23, 2012

interesting thanks

Sonja T.

6:58AM PST on Jan 23, 2012

BEING VEGAN MEANS NO ANIMAL PRODUCTS WHAT SO EVER. EATING, WEARING AND ALSO NO PRODUCTS THAT HAVE BEEN TESTED ON A ANIMAL.

colleen p.

6:23AM PST on Jan 23, 2012

http://images.travelpod.com/users/jaguaru/1.1199491140.blue-agave-fieldx-troubles.jpg much better. an agave farm

6:14AM PST on Jan 23, 2012

Jacinda B. I think some go beyond anal. I swear some here, or else where won't even buy cottonell toilet paper because a real dog is used for the ads. or go see a movie with an animal character that is

1) a villan
2) played by real animals
3) both

Sue M.

5:39PM PST on Jan 22, 2012

thanks

Lia R.

2:22PM PST on Dec 23, 2011

Honey harvesting is different than say, cows who are artficially induced to produce more milk that they are naturally able to and was intended for their calves. Thats why its called harvesting, its like fruit that is ready to be picked, as long as they are not being abused or forced to produce.