To the Editor:
I am writing in response to a recent column (“Horowitz ’16: The FAQs of veganism,” Oct. 7). While I commend AEPi for going vegan on moral grounds, I find blanket statements about veganism being healthier than omnivorism troublesome. Horowitz writes, “Plant based sources of protein and calcium are just as effective (as animal sources), if not more so.” However, there is one glaring deficiency in non-animal foodstuffs: a lack of vitamin B12. This vitamin is essential for proper biological function in humans, and it is almost exclusively found in animal-based food. Without fortification or multivitamins, it is exceedingly difficult to be vegan and get all of the nutrients one needs. Arguments about the historical necessity of omnivorism in humans aside, veganism should not be treated as a panacea, but as an alternative with its own benefits and drawbacks. To all current and potential vegans: Please make sure you are well-informed.
Andrea Fleckenstein ’19
