Considering the majority of industrially pollinated produce consists of a vegan diet, avoidance of animal products seems virtually impossible. The equivocation regarding honey in the vegan community should be reasonably accommodated since beekeeping appears less cruel than industrial pollination.
Of course, imprisoning queen bees within the hive, depositing prophylactic antibiotics in colonies, and infusing hives with smoke (to obviate bees from defending their honey inventory) seems harsh; but, a restrictive diet such as traditional vegans adhere to begins to appear absurd. Lo and behold, vegan approved sugar substitutes (such as Agave nectar and Xylitol) exist, thus obsolescing honey in a vegan diet. Besides, given that honey does not serve as a dietary supplement; vegans can easily avoid it relative to other forbidden animal derived products (including royal jelly, bee venom, bee pollen, and propolis).
According to Daniel Engber (author of “The Great Honey Debate”), vegans cease to be the healthiest subculture of our population; it is the flexitarians (vegetarians who eat meat with less than three meals a week) who triumph. Environmental evidence suggests that a plant-based diet supplemented by minor consumption of meat and dairy will augment land-use efficiency. Compliant with a poll released in July of 2008, 13% of U.S. adults abide by the flexitarian ethic as opposed to vegetarians (those who by no means consume animal flesh), who compose just 1%. Perhaps these acclaimed flexitarians influence a greater percentage of vegans than presumed, considering their dictum has been since modified.
However, resolute vegans snub this disparity, claiming that animal suffering should be “avoided at any cost” rather than “reasonably avoided.” With this incessant debate raging within the vegan community, the acceptability of an occasional spoonful of honey remains uncertain.
Although toleration of insectile carnage (relative to animal suffering) remains hypocritical, honeybees manufacture honey naturally (as opposed to cows and milk). Besides, consumption of animal products appears inevitable seeing as the excess sweat of exploited bees saturates plant surfaces. Should vegans allow a termite infestation as a stand for of animal liberty? No. What about the organic farmers who exterminate vermin (with natural chemicals) for agriculture?
Granted, a global lack of appreciation for insects continues to subsist; however, vegan advocates appear just as ignorant as their carnivorous rivals. Vegan hedges against animal cruelty seem vain. Complete evasion of animal products remains impossible. Since it contains no significant source of nutrients, honey consumption is not essential; but, do not elude it in a futile attempt to terminate animal cruelty.