Why Nobody's Vegan Anymore

Summary

The video explores the rise and fall of the vegan movement, highlighting its peak popularity with plant-based foods and influencer culture, followed by a decline amid social, political, and cultural pressures. The host reflects on personal experiences with veganism and plant-based diets, noting how divisive debates, radical activism, and the commercialization of the trend contributed to its backlash. The discussion also touches on the emergence of the carnivore diet, illustrating the internet's tendency to swing between extremes rather than embrace nuance. Ultimately, the decline of veganism is framed as a contextual response to societal stress rather than a lack of empathy or environmental concern.

Takeaways

• 🌱 Veganism and plant-based diets were at peak popularity a few years ago, with fast food chains launching their own plant-based products and influencers gaining massive attention.
• 🥩 The trend has shifted toward carnivore and meat-focused diets, with veganism losing social momentum and some plant-based restaurants closing.
• 📉 Google Trends and restaurant closures indicate a measurable decline in interest and support for veganism in major cities like New York, Portland, and LA.
• 🤝 Veganism was socially isolating for some, as it often conflicted with family, friends, and social dining experiences.
• 🎥 Many people, including the content creator, were drawn to veganism due to documentaries like 'Cowspiracy' and social consciousness movements like zero waste and minimalism.
• ⚖️ Veganism became highly divisive and politicized, creating an 'us vs. them' mentality that alienated non-vegans and contributed to the movement's decline.
• 🍔 The mainstream commercialization of plant-based products led to questionable foods and reinforced political and social labels, which some found off-putting.
• ✊ Activist organizations like PETA had a polarizing effect, drawing attention with extreme tactics while also using strategic influence behind the scenes.
• 🥩 The carnivore diet shares social challenges with veganism, such as isolation and extreme adherence, highlighting the difficulty of niche dietary movements.
• ⏳ Veganism’s decline is largely contextual, driven by modern stresses, lifestyle simplification, and the effort required to maintain a plant-based diet rather than lack of empathy for animals or the planet.
• 💡 The current trend reflects a shift toward more sustainable and flexible eating habits, like flexitarianism, rather than a complete rejection of plant-based diets.
• 🌐 Social media and online discourse amplify extremes, eroding nuance and making it harder for moderate approaches to dietary choices to gain visibility or community support.

Q & A

What is the main reason for the decline of the vegan movement according to the video?

The decline is attributed to the divisive and polarizing nature of the vegan movement, social isolation for those following it, and the stressful societal context making strict plant-based diets less practical for many people.

How did documentaries like 'Cowspiracy' influence people's adoption of veganism?

Documentaries like 'Cowspiracy' exposed the industrial food system, motivating many viewers to adopt plant-based diets and view veganism as more than a dietary choice, but a lifestyle and social identity.

What role did social media play in the rise and fall of veganism?

Social media amplified extremes, highlighting confrontational debates and polarizing content. This created an all-or-nothing mentality, making middle-ground eaters invisible and contributing to backlash against veganism.

Why was veganism considered socially isolating?

Veganism limited options for dining with friends and family, as many restaurants did not serve vegan food, making social interactions and shared meals more difficult.

How did mainstream companies like Impossible Foods initially market their products, and what was the effect?

Impossible Foods initially marketed aggressively against meat-eaters, framing them as 'Neanderthals,' which alienated potential customers. They later pivoted to flexitarian products to appeal to a broader audience.

What role did activism and organizations like PETA play in shaping public perception of veganism?

PETA and similar activists often used extreme messaging, such as comparing animal agriculture to slavery or the Holocaust, which overshadowed subtle strategies and fueled backlash, contributing to veganism's polarizing image.

What is the connection between the decline of veganism and the rise of the carnivore diet?

The carnivore diet emerged as a simpler, more immediate approach to dietary trends. Its rise mirrors the social challenges of veganism but appeals to people seeking simplicity, showing a reactionary shift in internet-driven food trends.

How did capitalism affect the vegan movement?

The rush by companies to produce vegan products created forced, low-quality options, which felt inauthentic to non-vegans and made the movement appear commercialized rather than culturally transformative.

Why does the video suggest veganism's decline is not due to a lack of empathy?

The decline is framed as a contextual response to modern stresses, including time, effort, and cost, rather than a failure of concern for animals or the environment.

What does the video indicate about the middle-ground or 'flexitarian' eaters?

Most people fall in a middle ground between strict veganism and full meat consumption, but online trends and social media focus on extremes, leaving these individuals without representation or community support.

How did the video creators describe their own dietary history?

The hosts experimented with veganism and plant-based diets in the past but now eat a more flexible diet, often consuming 60–80% plant-based foods depending on circumstances, highlighting the variability of real-world eating habits.

What broader social movements was veganism linked to, according to the video?

Veganism was linked to zero waste, minimalism, environmental consciousness, and socially progressive ideologies, which made it part of a larger cultural trend but also more polarizing.