I know vegan crab meat exists, but they’re usually shredded, and it’s a lot harder to find than “imitation crab”, which is fish. I’m looking for something that at least somewhat mimicks the texture of whole crab leg meat like what they serve at upscale buffets. Also, anyone have any idea how to replicate the shell for the ascetic, either edible or inedible but safe to put hot food in?

This may or may not be inspired by that scene in the show Archer, with Pam chowing down on vegan crab legs, fake shell and all.

    • AgreeableLandscapeOP
      42·
      3 years ago

      I respectfully disagree. Since simulating meat with plants does not directly affect animal rights in any way since it doesn’t use any animal products, so TBH I don’t see it as incompatible with veganism. If I’m being honest, even though I’d personally not eat simulated human flesh nor would I actively recommend it to anyone, I think I’d generally wouldn’t see anyone simply choosing to eat simulated human flesh (without other questionable factors involved) as morally objectionable.

      As for your second point, I don’t see how having more vegan alternatives harms the vegan movement, as more options lower the barrier to entry to veganism, can help people transition over by helping them acclimate to vegan tastes, and generally reduces animal exploitation if someone substitutes it for meat, even if the person is not fully vegan. I give you this example: as a socialist, I obviously think actual socialism is the way to go, but I will still give critical support to policies in capitalist nations that help prop up workers and common citizens in general, while at the same time still campaigning for full socialism, as I see any reduction in the suffering of workers as a small victory, even if it’s not perfect.

      Obviously if simulated animal products is outside your comfort zone, don’t eat it and I absolutely do not encourage you to eat it if that’s the case, but I just want to voice my opinion on the concept itself.

        • AgreeableLandscapeOP
          1·
          3 years ago

          Edited 2: it is true that I cannot demostrate the source of the opinion in my first comment but since “Veggie” became trending as a diet, I see classmates speaking like this “I won’t go vegan if there is no replacement to cheese which tastes the same”.

          I would argue that if someone sees a barrier that thin as keeping from veganism, not having vegan alternatives to animal products would not have done anything to convince them toward veganism, and therefore the presence of vegan “animal products” has anywhere from no effect on their ethical choices, to maybe a slight positive if they choose to substitute it for at least some real animal products. On the other hand, these vegan alternatives do help people genuinely concerned about what veganism stands for make the transition.

          IMO , veganism is about protecting animals and protecting the environment, not about how food tastes or what they look like.

            • AgreeableLandscapeOP
              6·
              3 years ago

              And if vegan alternatives hadn’t become popular, they might not even know what veganism is or think it’s a fringe “hippie” ideology. Now that veganism is becoming more mainstream, serious discussions are being had among a larger part of the general population than ever before. I don’t see vegan alternatives harming their understanding and possibly eventual transition to veganism.

              What I say is specific to imitation where “vegan alternatives to animal products” involve everything.

              Okay, if your opinion is that some vegan alternatives to meat ( like Beyond Meat’s products, etc) is okay, but we shouldn’t keep seeking to have vegan alternatives to every type of meat, then I do tend to agree out of the principle that there are more pressing matters we can be spending that effort on. I also do see how an obsession to replicating animal products of that extent can harm animal rights discourse.

                • AgreeableLandscapeOP
                  3·
                  3 years ago

                  BTW, I think this is the more polite and quiet discussion I have had.

                  Thanks. I try my best to accomplish that.