Lacto-ovo vegetarian

[texmati]

Just more discussions on terms. I know, I know, labels don't really matter, but I'm interested if anyone knows the origin of this term.

(From what I understand) Neither eggs or dairy are meat, so why is there a special term for lacto-ovo vegetarians? Does anyone know?

[Sri Radha]

Originally Posted by texmati

Just more discussions on terms. I know, I know, labels don't really matter, but I'm interested if anyone knows the origin of this term.

(From what I understand) Neither eggs or dairy are meat, so why is there a special term for lacto-ovo vegetarians? Does anyone know?

It just describes what kind of vegetarian they are, meaning they eat eggs and dairy. Some vegetarians may just be lacto-veg or I guess more uncommonly ovo-veg.

[bandgeek]

It's just sometimes easier to be specific, especially in a group of vegetarians who may have different dietary restrictions. And actually, you can be diary free and egg free and still not vegan. So "vegetarian" doesn't always cover it. I wouldn't assume a vegetarian eats eggs or dairy. So as a vegetarian, it can help to tack on the prefix to clarify that you DO eat those things.

[tanyalynn]

My understanding is that historically, 100+ years ago, vegetarian meant one who only eats from the vegetable/plant kingdom--basically vegan. Over time, animal products that didn't involve killing the animal were added in, so this part I'm guessing at, but I'd think ovo-lacto-vegetarian came in at the point where someone wanted to describe themselves as eating eggs+dairy+all the vegetation foods, and then a slow shift occurred to the current usage of vegetarian. And at some point vegan came in to be a new word that was really denoting the original meaning.

[eepster]

Originally Posted by tanyalynn

My understanding is that historically, 100+ years ago, vegetarian meant one who only eats from the vegetable/plant kingdom--basically vegan.

From the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica:

Vegetarian, a comparatively modern word, which came into use about the year 1847, as applied to the use of foods from which fish flesh and fowl are excluded.

So, 100 years ago the definition was pretty much the same as it is to day, it did not mean vegan. Earlier veg*ns were referred to as "pythagoreans" since Pythagoras was a well know early vegetarian in the western world.

Generally people only bother saying "lacto-ovo vegetarian" when they are talking about very specific details of their diet (such as when requesting recipes on a general veg*n board.) There are many many variations on the veg*n diet.

There are lacto-ovo vegetarians who simple avoid eating animals that are killed. There are lacto vegetarians who consume dairy, but no eggs (for example followers of Hare Krishna follow this diet.) There are ovo vegetarians who consume eggs, but not milk. There are relaxed vegans who avoid dairy and eggs, but still eat honey etc. Then of course there are stricter vegans. People who belong to the Jains religion even avoid root vegetables b/c worm might get killed when they are harvested.

Even amongst LO vegetarians, there are degrees of strictness. Some wear leather others don't. Some are careful about gelatin and rennet others just ignore those. The same is true for each type of vegetarian. This doesn't even bring up pseudo-veg*ns such as pescatarians (fish eaters.)

The words etymology is from Latin. Lacto means milk. Lacto is also the root for words such as "lactose" (the sugar in milk) and "lactation consultant." Ovo means egg. It is the root for words such as "ovulation" and "oval."

[tanyalynn]

Originally Posted by eepster

From the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica:

So, 100 years ago the definition was pretty much the same as it is to day, it did not mean vegan. Earlier veg*ns were referred to as "pythagoreans" since Pythagoras was a well know early vegetarian in the western world.

Well then darn, where did I read that? Or was it only my fevered imagination? Huh. Now I know more.

[texmati]

Originally Posted by tanyalynn

Well then darn, where did I read that? Or was it only my fevered imagination? Huh. Now I know more.

don't feel bad... as soon as I read your post I felt so much better.. year of curiosity finally laid to rest.... and then I read the next post. I don't know-- this makes the engineer in me nutso!

[texmati]

And sorry if I didn't mention before... I fall under 'lacto-ovo vegetarian'. (I'm Hindu, and don't go out of my way to avoid eggs) I just wonder if I'm defining myself incorrectly when calling myself a vegetarian.

[fresh_veggie]

I've wondered about this too - basically you guys have answered the question, but in my book vegan is considered more of a "lifestyle"...no leather, feathers, pearls, silk ALONG with the food stuff. Vegetarians are technically plant-foods only, and lacto-ovo vegetarians are plant foods + milk products + eggs. But vegan is the lifestyle term, while the others cover only diet.

But it's pointless to use those technical terms, as "vegetarian" means lacto-ovo to most people anyway. So I say vegetarian when people ask, because I sometimes have foods with dairy or eggs. I guess I should be saying lacto-ovo-vegetarian.

[caiesmommy]

Originally Posted by Sri Radha

It just describes what kind of vegetarian they are, meaning they eat eggs and dairy. Some vegetarians may just be lacto-veg or I guess more uncommonly ovo-veg.

That's funny b/c dh ds and dd are all ovo-veg. Im vegan except for the odd bit of chocolate that mysteriously winds up in my mouth So Im a occasionally-choco-veg I guess

[caiesmommy]

Originally Posted by texmati

And sorry if I didn't mention before... I fall under 'lacto-ovo vegetarian'. (I'm Hindu, and don't go out of my way to avoid eggs) I just wonder if I'm defining myself incorrectly when calling myself a vegetarian.

Do you eat meat? As in flesh? Nope then your a vegetarian...I dont go with all the titles b/c I find it just confuses people even more!

[susumama]

Originally Posted by caiesmommy

Do you eat meat? As in flesh? Nope then your a vegetarian...I dont go with all the titles b/c I find it just confuses people even more!

Yes, BUT, I would think that a vegetarian WOULDN'T eat eggs, cheese, milk etc because I would think that VEGEtarians only ate VEGEtation. I figured that's what the name meant. True vegetarians only ate vegetation YKWIM?

[eepster]

Originally Posted by susumama

Yes, BUT, I would think that a vegetarian WOULDN'T eat eggs, cheese, milk etc because I would think that VEGEtarians only ate VEGEtation. I figured that's what the name meant. True vegetarians only ate vegetation YKWIM?

Not according to the originators of the word in Victorian London. If vegetarians didn't eat eggs and dairy, then there would have been no need for vegans to separate themselves from vegetarians.

Check out some history here http://www.vegsoc.org/news/2000/21cv/history.html

[eepster]

Originally Posted by fresh_veggie

But vegan is the lifestyle term, while the others cover only diet.

I've known many vegetarians who eat anything that doesn't involve killing the animal and only wear things that don't involve killing the animal. Their relation ship to the entire lifestyle is dedicated on the same level as some vegans are, they simply don't mind things that don't involved the slaughter of the animal in question.

A vegetarian fully invested in avoiding products that involve killing the animal would avoid: leather, buffalo down yarn (though it is sheared, it is only sheared from dead buffalo since they won't sit still for shearing while alive,) bombyx silk, carved bone, etc. However that same vegetarian will use: wool, mohair, tussah silk, alpaca, eider down, etc, which are harvested without harming the animal.

There certainly are vegans who are into it mostly for the health and don't get into the lifestyle. Just as every person is different, every veg*n is different too. It is important to always keep this in mind.

[fresh_veggie]

Originally Posted by eepster

I've known many vegetarians who eat anything that doesn't involve killing the animal and only wear things that don't involve killing the animal. Their relation ship to the entire lifestyle is dedicated on the same level as some vegans are, they simply don't mind things that don't involved the slaughter of the animal in question.

A vegetarian fully invested in avoiding products that involve killing the animal would avoid: leather, buffalo down yarn (though it is sheared, it is only sheared from dead buffalo since they won't sit still for shearing while alive,) bombyx silk, carved bone, etc. However that same vegetarian will use: wool, mohair, tussah silk, alpaca, eider down, etc, which are harvested without harming the animal.

There certainly are vegans who are into it mostly for the health and don't get into the lifestyle. Just as every person is different, every veg*n is different too. It is important to always keep this in mind.

Sorry, I know that's what people DO, this was just how it theoretically makes sense in my mind. People pick and choose. Obviously. Please do not jump down my throat, as I didn't mean to say "THIS is how it IS!" I'm on my own journey just like the rest of us.

[Sayward]

Originally Posted by eepster

I've known many vegetarians who eat anything that doesn't involve killing the animal and only wear things that don't involve killing the animal. Their relation ship to the entire lifestyle is dedicated on the same level as some vegans are, they simply don't mind things that don't involved the slaughter of the animal in question.

A vegetarian fully invested in avoiding products that involve killing the animal would avoid: leather, buffalo down yarn (though it is sheared, it is only sheared from dead buffalo since they won't sit still for shearing while alive,) bombyx silk, carved bone, etc. However that same vegetarian will use: wool, mohair, tussah silk, alpaca, eider down, etc, which are harvested without harming the animal.

There certainly are vegans who are into it mostly for the health and don't get into the lifestyle. Just as every person is different, every veg*n is different too. It is important to always keep this in mind.

But the literal definition of 'vegan' (as established by the founder of The Vegan Society in the 1940s, when the term was coined) dictates that it encompass an entire lifestyle, *not* just a diet. If somebody says that they 'eat vegan/are vegan for health reasons', it's actually a misnomer - they are a strict vegetarian, but are NOT a vegan unless they eschew all animal products in all aspects of their life (which has nothing to do with health)

Not that it really matters and I'm not trying to be argumentative, just thought I'd point it out because, well, I'm a word geek and I think words should be used accurately. =)

[texmati]

Originally Posted by eepster

Not according to the originators of the word in Victorian London. If vegetarians didn't eat eggs and dairy, then there would have been no need for vegans to separate themselves from vegetarians.

Check out some history here http://www.vegsoc.org/news/2000/21cv/history.html

neat link!

I call myself vegetarian (have for years)-- I guess I really don't want to have to qualify lacto - ovo, but I would if it's the correct thing to do.