Sir, – If more people are to become vegans they will need a better case to be made than that made by Roger Yates (Opinion, August 2nd).
There are arguments to be made for a vegan diet. These include health, the sustainability of life and the environment on the planet and the exploitation of animals.
While complaining about Irish attitudes to the issue as being “childish”, Mr Yates himself reduced the discussion to a sneer about Irish people “washing down the rashers sausages and eggs with calf food” and putting “baby food in coffee”.
Discussion on such a fundamental issue as a wholesale change of diet by millions and the reorganisation of a worldwide agricultural industry should be approached in a more mature manner than that adopted by Mr Yates. In addition, the eating habits of Irish people or indeed the livelihoods of those involved in its most important natural resource based industry should not be trivialised. – Yours, etc,