Oh look, what a surprise, yet anther article about how veganism kills babies (English article here).

A couple in a Amiens, France, is facing charges of neglect after their exclusively-breastfed, 11-month-old daughter, Louise, died of pneumonia and vitamin deficiency. Distrustful of Western medicine, the parents treated a 2007 case of bronchitis with cabbage poultices and camphor, and bathed their daughter with dirt. Both parents are facing up to 30 years in prison.

While the French article makes a point of saying that we shouldn’t confuse a “respectable lifestyle choice and human drama,” the English articles I have come across on the internet often do not make the same distinction. In fact, some of the articles even neglect to mention the bronchitis/pneumonia, which is recognised as playing a part in the death. Comments on these articles include such gems as “Poor kid… vegans are idiots to begin with,” and “Those idiots, here is a clue, mothers milk is an animal product. Cows are mammal’s so are humans. I feel so sorry for children of morons.”

Is anyone really surprised by this anymore? In T.O.F.U.’s last issue, our focus was on vegan parenting. Both Kelly Twomey and I spoke on the additional scrutiny vegan parents face, and stories like this just contribute to that hysteria. Among other issues that some news sources don’t mention is the fact that the child had an older sister – who is still alive and well – and that the family lived in a “run down” home. Ignoring economic context, the baby’s long battle with illness, and the parents’ reluctance to seek medical care frames veganism as the main element of Louise’s death… But this just isn’t the case (or at least, it’s not the whole case). The sensationalist headlines and blatantly anti-vegan spin represent a dishonest, incredibly biased form of journalism that I am, frankly, sick and tired of seeing. For those of use who are vegan parents raising healthy, happy children, this kind of coverage is a reminder that we will always have to defend ourselves and our children from a sea of status quo.

Not every media outlet is so blatantly biased, however. At the very least, this article from UPI makes a point of mentioning not only the bronchitis/pneumonia, but also the fact that the parents did manage to raise a 13 year old without any vitamin deficiencies. Why it is so difficult for most other media outlets to handle this story with an ounce of even-handedness, I don’t know. When Fox News is reporting with more journalistic integrity than you, you know you’ve got some issues to work out.

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In one word, why are you vegan?
Laziness. I’m almost not even joking. Every time I see a holiday cooking guide with food safety tips on how to prepare and cook a dead animal without poisoning your entire family I get dizzy. How many different cutting boards do non-vegans need?

How long have you been vegan?
15 years? Can that be right? Man, in another 12 months my veganism is going to start asking to borrow the car.

Who would win in a fight: Quinoa or Cous Cous?
Quinoa is the undisputed champion, at least in our house, where it tag teams with amaranth. Cous cous is just spaghetti cut up really small. I can cut my own food to whatever size I want, thank you very much, but that doesn’t have anything to do with the fight. Quinoa seems like it has more stuff in it, so some of that’s gotta be weaponizable. Yes, I went there: weaponized quinoa.

Would you prefer to lead a revolution or to live quietly in the woods?
I’d love to live quietly in the woods. Except for all the blackflies. I’d lead a small revolution to convince the blackflies to move to some other location.

If there is a revolution, will it be televised or a Facebook event?
Oh please let it be on Facebook so I’ll have no knowledge of it, and TV can be saved for meaningful things like shows about teen moms.

Favourite vegan thing in your town:
My son. What, you think he isn’t going to Google me when he gets older? Hi Dax, finish the dishes already, will you?