Can vegetarians have milk?
Yes, vegetarians can consume milk and dairy products as they do not eat meat, fish, or poultry. Vegetarianism is primarily concerned with dietary habits and involves avoiding animal flesh, including red meat, pork, and poultry. However, it does not restrict the consumption of animal by-products such as eggs, dairy products, honey, and gelatin obtained from plants.
Milk and other dairy products like cheese, yogurt, butter, and ice cream are considered acceptable for vegetarians because they come from animals that are not slaughtered for food purposes. The production of these products typically involves milking cows, goats, sheep, or other mammals, which is not considered harmful to the animals.
It’s important to note that there are different types of vegetarianism, such as lacto-ovo-vegetarianism (which includes dairy and egg products) and veganism (which excludes all animal products). So, while most vegetarians consume milk and dairy products, some may choose to exclude them from their diet for various reasons.