Being vegan isn’t just about what’s on my plate. For me, it’s about broader compassion and consistency. It’s about trying to make the world a little less cruel for everyone who lives in it. That’s not an easy task, and it’s something I get wrong from time to time.
But it’s also something I keep trying to do.
Read more below.
When I learned about Redefine Meat’s public support for the Israeli military, I wanted to make a personal choice. This isn’t about a difference of opinion or a grey area in global politics. This is about a company that chose to donate its products directly to the IDF during one of the most devastating humanitarian crises in history. That’s not neutrality. That’s taking a side.
The more I read, the worse it felt. The company has received funding from the Israeli government, and in my opinion its public actions have aligned with a narrative that paints Israel as progressive and compassionate while Palestinians continue to suffer under bombardment, occupation, displacement, and genocide. Some people call this veganwashing, the use of a cruelty-free image to distract from cruelty elsewhere. And honestly, that label feels fitting.
Boycotts are complicated. I know that. We live in a globalised world where our purchases are tied up in so many systems that it can feel impossible to make every choice perfectly ethical. But we all draw our own lines. For me, this one is clear. I can’t hand over my money to a company that actively supports military action. I can’t celebrate a product made in the name of compassion for animals while ignoring the suffering of human beings.
Choosing not to buy Redefine Meat isn’t about purity or moral superiority. It’s about alignment. If my veganism means anything, it has to mean compassion that stretches beyond species, borders, and politics. It has to mean looking at the world and asking how I can make choices that feel humane. For animals, for people, and for the planet.
There are so many incredible vegan companies doing good work without this sort of compromise. That’s where my money will go. Because the more we expand our compassion, the more powerful it becomes.
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