The thing about B-12 is that it isn't a big deal, unless it is. So why gamble when there are so many ways to supplement? Especially when we're talking about children. Give them one of those vegan gummy vitamins with a billion percent of the USRDA of B-12, just to be sure. They think it's candy.
I don't really think it's a monster, an elephant, or a gorilla or any other kind of large animal. If B-12 is the only nutrient that is deficient in the vegan diet, it's still a damn sight better than the "standard American diet" which, BTW is HEAVILY fortified. Folic acid in the hamburger buns to prevent birth defects, iodine in the salt to prevent goiters, and so on.
As for the analogue problem, I think that's a non-issue because most of those things are nasty. Have you ever actually eaten blue-green spirulina? Bleah! I'd gladly pop a pill to keep from having to eat that ever again. Tempeh isn't a big part of my diet, because whenever I make it, it ends up tasting like urine. (I know it doesn't have to, there's an Indonesian restaurant near me that does awesome things with it. I just suck at the tempeh making.)
Finally, I would totally agree that the emphasis on meat and dairy as being "true" sources of B-12 is total horsehockey. They get it the same place the supplement manufacturers do, from bacteria.
Sounds to me like your having discussions (arguments?) with a bunch of WAPers (A holistic dentist? Are you kidding me?) or people that a desperately looking to justify the sale or consumption of organic, "humanely raised", grass fed, beef. As far as I'm concerned, vegans and those people are never going to see eye to eye on this, which is a nice way of saying that they can suck it.
I don't really think it's a monster, an elephant, or a gorilla or any other kind of large animal. If B-12 is the only nutrient that is deficient in the vegan diet, it's still a damn sight better than the "standard American diet" which, BTW is HEAVILY fortified. Folic acid in the hamburger buns to prevent birth defects, iodine in the salt to prevent goiters, and so on.
As for the analogue problem, I think that's a non-issue because most of those things are nasty. Have you ever actually eaten blue-green spirulina? Bleah! I'd gladly pop a pill to keep from having to eat that ever again. Tempeh isn't a big part of my diet, because whenever I make it, it ends up tasting like urine. (I know it doesn't have to, there's an Indonesian restaurant near me that does awesome things with it. I just suck at the tempeh making.)
Finally, I would totally agree that the emphasis on meat and dairy as being "true" sources of B-12 is total horsehockey. They get it the same place the supplement manufacturers do, from bacteria.
Sounds to me like your having discussions (arguments?) with a bunch of WAPers (A holistic dentist? Are you kidding me?) or people that a desperately looking to justify the sale or consumption of organic, "humanely raised", grass fed, beef. As far as I'm concerned, vegans and those people are never going to see eye to eye on this, which is a nice way of saying that they can suck it.
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