Is 'plant based' overused? Mis-used?

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

I got a package of cookies. The labeling says 'plant based'.


Aren't most baked good plant based?

Flour, sugar, vegetable oils, cocoa, mint, vanilla, etc.?

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I got a package of cookies. The labeling says 'plant based'.


Aren't most baked good plant based?

Flour, sugar, vegetable oils, cocoa, mint, vanilla, etc.?

 

[biostud]

At work we have a vegetarian sign next to a fruit bowl.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

Maybe you could argue about butter since it comes from cows.

But what do cows eat?

And eggs.

But what do chickens eat?


.

 

[lxskllr]

A couple weeks ago I bought a frozen Greek casserole that said "vegetarian" on the box. I didn't pay close attention, but the top of it was heavy with egg. Though that isn't my favorite, it was fine, but I thought it was a little strange to call it "vegetarian". I get that eggs are typically included in vegetarian, but I don't know that I'd put that word on the box with such heavy use. Once you get past incidental use, I'd stop listing it as vegetarian.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

I got a package of cookies. The labeling says 'plant based'.


Aren't most baked good plant based?

Flour, sugar, vegetable oils, cocoa, mint, vanilla, etc.?

No. A large number of baked goods have eggs and butter which, unless my public school education failed me, aren't made from plants.

 

[Brainonska511]

No. A large number of baked goods have eggs and butter which, unless my public school education failed me, aren't made from plants.

Lol, I was about to say that butter and eggs are indeed not plant-based.

As for the variety of cookies: I think it's fantastic. We live in such prosperous times that we can have an abundance of choice in the grocery store for every palate and eating preference. If you don't want it, don't buy it.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

No. A large number of baked goods have eggs and butter which, unless my public school education failed me, aren't made from plants.

Depends on how far back you go though, given that both of the critters eat plants.

 

[dullard]

If "plant based" triggers you, wait until you hear of the marketing term "organic". Other than water and a few items here and there that are used in small quantities in any particular dish (salts, some bases like food-grade sodium hydroxide, or some acids like phosphoric acid, etc.) everything we eat is organic. They come from living things and have carbon + hydrogen.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

If "plant based" triggers you, wait until you hear of the marketing term "organic". Other than a few items here and there that are used in small quantities in any particular dish (salts, some bases like food-grade sodium hydroxide, etc.) everything we eat is organic. They come from living things and have carbon + hydrogen.

Yup, I like to tell people I prefer inorganic and see where they go with that.

 

[dullard]

Yup, I like to tell people I prefer inorganic and see where they go with that.

Rocks are so tasty though! And of course silicon.


What also triggers me is the fake marketing word invented in the 1960s: "lite" making you think of the actual word "light".

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

Depends on how far back you go though, given that both of the critters eat plants.

Never thought of it like that. I'll try that with my vegan neighbors.

 

[IBMJunkman]

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

No. A large number of baked goods have eggs and butter which, unless my public school education failed me, aren't made from plants.

I covered that above.

 

[Mr.IncrediblyBored]

I covered that above.

Then why ask the dumb question?

 

[igor_kavinski]

I recently tried a vegan pizza. The "cheese" on it was made from tapioca starch which was surprising coz although it didn't quite taste like cheese (not enough sodium?), it "felt" like cheese to my fingers and my taste buds (stretchy and somewhat gooey). Overall, it wasn't bad at all.

 

[nakedfrog]

I recently tried a vegan pizza. The "cheese" on it was made from tapioca starch which was surprising coz although it didn't quite taste like cheese (not enough sodium?), it "felt" like cheese to my fingers and my taste buds (stretchy and somewhat gooey). Overall, it wasn't bad at all.

I was talking to a vegan friend some time ago and commented how I'd never tried vegan cheese, his reaction was "don't".

 

[WelshBloke]

I recently tried a vegan pizza. The "cheese" on it was made from tapioca starch which was surprising coz although it didn't quite taste like cheese (not enough sodium?), it "felt" like cheese to my fingers and my taste buds (stretchy and somewhat gooey). Overall, it wasn't bad at all.

The only vegan cheese I've found ok was a blue 'cheese' that was made from coconut oil. It tasted really good tbh but didn't melt that well and cost a fortune!

 

[WelshBloke]

If "plant based" triggers you, wait until you hear of the marketing term "organic". Other than water and a few items here and there that are used in small quantities in any particular dish (salts, some bases like food-grade sodium hydroxide, or some acids like phosphoric acid, etc.) everything we eat is organic. They come from living things and have carbon + hydrogen.

I knew someone was going to bring that up but context matters!

Organic does mean something with regards to food production (as long as you live in a country with actual food standards that are written into law).

Organic food: labelling and advertising rules

Rules on certifying and labelling organic food, feed and seed.

www.gov.uk

 

[nakedfrog]

I knew someone was going to bring that up but context matters!

Organic does mean something with regards to food production (as long as you live in a country with actual food standards that are written into law).

Organic food: labelling and advertising rules

Rules on certifying and labelling organic food, feed and seed.

www.gov.uk

Listen, bub, we have the finest food standards lobbyists can buy, okay?

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

I recently tried a vegan pizza. The "cheese" on it was made from tapioca starch which was surprising coz although it didn't quite taste like cheese (not enough sodium?), it "felt" like cheese to my fingers and my taste buds (stretchy and somewhat gooey). Overall, it wasn't bad at all.

You can make very good vegan dishes. Vegan things designed to taste like non vegan things IMHO is lazy and misguided.

Lean into the strengths of the ingredient and manipulate the flavors with spices. We make a fantastic meatless loaf every holiday for our vegan family members.

 

[lxskllr]

You can make very good vegan dishes. Vegan things designed to taste like non vegan things IMHO is lazy and misguided.

Lean into the strengths of the ingredient and manipulate the flavors with spices. We make a fantastic meatless loaf every holiday for our vegan family members.

While I tend to agree, I like some of the fake meat products. I've been on a big fake chicken tender/patty/whatever kick. It gives me everything I want from chicken minus the chicken. Basically, I just want a meaty texture to put big glob of hot sauce on. For consuming, I like it no better or worse than real chicken, and I guess it's better than factory raised birds.

Menu A on work mornings is a fake sausage patty and two mystery meat extruded "links". I like it because it mixes up texture and flavor. 1v1, it's inferior to pork sausage, but I like the variety on one plate. I'd rather have the fake with the real than 100% real.

 

[dullard]

I knew someone was going to bring that up but context matters!

Organic does mean something with regards to food production (as long as you live in a country with actual food standards that are written into law).

Organic food: labelling and advertising rules

Rules on certifying and labelling organic food, feed and seed.

www.gov.uk

There certainly can be laws regarding "organic". But that doesn't make the marketing word itself less inaccurate.

The word my wife and I use for it is "snobby". As in, I'm going to go to the snobby food section to get some vegetables. Higher prices mean higher profits and the potential (in some cases) for higher quality. But that is about it. The rest of "organic" is just snobby "I can pay more than you" food.

 

[WelshBloke]

There certainly can be laws regarding "organic". But that doesn't make the marketing word itself less inaccurate.

I mean if the word is defined in law to mean something specific in this context then surely saying "But that doesn't make the marketing word itself less inaccurate" is itself inaccurate?

The word my wife and I use for it is "snobby". As in, I'm going to go to the snobby food section to get some vegetables. Higher prices mean higher profits and the potential (in some cases) for higher quality. But that is about it. The rest of "organic" is just snobby "I can pay more than you" food.

I mean you can buy it or not buy it as you like but the term "organic" means something specific when talking about food and the price is irrelevant to that.

 

[dullard]

I mean if the word is defined in law to mean something specific in this context then surely saying "But that doesn't make the marketing word itself less inaccurate" is itself inaccurate?

I mean you can buy it or not buy it as you like but the term "organic" means something specific when talking about food and the price is irrelevant to that.

You can define in law that a cow is a vegetable. Still doesn't make it correct to call a cow a vegetable.

Organic was an incorrect term. Plain and simple. Now it is enshrined (barely in the US at least) by some laws. But the term is still technically incorrect.