Food Fried in Oil used For Omni Products?

[binkyybunnyy]

Am I still vegan if my food was deep fried in oil that's been used for animal products?

My boyfriend and I might go to Red Robin later for dinner and I am interested in trying their Impossible Cheeseburger (without mayo or cheese, so it's vegan) ideally with a side of steak fries. I know fries aren't the healthiest thing ever, but we very rarely ever go out to eat and I love their fries. I heard that they fry them in oil shared with animal products though. I don't know if all locations have one, but I heard that they might have a designated fryer for the fries. Would it be "rude" to ask them to use this designated fryer for my order? Is someone still vegan if they ate something fried in vegetable oil used for animal products? I may just end up getting a side of steamed broccoli (without butter if they normally add it) to avoid the hassle.

 

[PTree15]

I personally wouldn't want the fries if they are cooked in the same oil as, say, chicken fingers, or whatever animal products they deep-fry. What I try to do ahead of time is call the restaurant with any questions during non-peak times, like midafternoon or late morning. If that's not an option, I would have no problem asking them how the fries are cooked once I'm there. If it's not to my satisfaction, I would order something else.

I went on the PETA website, which had a short article on Red Robin in November, and they seem to frown upon asking about the fryer situation so as not to make veganism sound difficult or extreme. I personally would disagree with that stance, but again, it's all what your comfortable with. I never avoid asking questions, though, because it alerts restaurant staff that this might be something they should think about in the future for other vegans/plant-based eaters.

https://www.peta.org/living/food/red-robin-vegan-options/?utm_source=PETA::Google&utm_medium=Ad&utm_campaign=0422::veg::PETA::Google::SEA-Vegan-Grant::::searchad&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw-qi_BhBxEiwAkxvbkOD2X3HN60HThki-f32Y-YHFZwbyl2dzHBV8-pn1agepM-evqKsWNRoCaksQAvD_BwE

From the article:
"Being vegan is not about maintaining personal purity but doing our best to reduce animal suffering and encouraging others to do so, too. Boycotting menu items that were cooked on the same equipment as animal products makes being vegan seem difficult to your friends and to restaurant staff, discouraging them from going vegan, and only makes restaurants less inclined to offer vegan options (which really hurts animals)."

Whether it's vegan to eat something cooked in shared fryers is debated regularly in the vegan world. I think technically it could be vegan if the fries themselves are vegan (McDonald's fries in the U.S., for example, are not vegan because they contain beef tallow for flavoring). I just don't like the idea of fries cooked in shared fryers, especially ones used for sea creatures. I wouldn't want my fries to taste like that.

 

[Lou]

The technical term for this is contamination. And lots of our vegan foods in one way or another are at least a little bit contaminated with animal products. .
IMHO, not something to worry about. it's just not worth the worry.
That impossible burger may be cooked on the same grill as the other beef burgers. French fries may be fried in the same machine as chicken nuggets. Sometimes the Plant Based food we buy is made in the same plant as non-plant based foods. Plant milks may be made in the same plant as dairy products.
And that Impossible Burger - one of the ingredients WAS tested on animals.
I agree for the most part with PETA, personal purity does almost nothing for the animals we are trying to protect. And in terms of PR - may be harmful.
The "practical and possible" clause in the definition of vegan already covers this.
Do what you can. Don't sweat the small stuff.

 

[silva]

I agree with all of the above. I ask about if the oil is shared because of the taste
I will eat a Beyond or Impossible on a shared grill though. I think I had one that was microwaved once, and it was not good. I say that because I was asked if I wanted it vegan. Just wasn't cooked right--and that won't help sales! I do know many omnis who love those burgers, as well as the sausages. If they came out of a microwave they wouldn't get ordered!

I think it comes down to how you feel 'normal'. I remember well my first year vacillating back and forth between guilt and want. I learned that sometimes giving in helped more than hindered, and helped me say no the next time

I don't identify as vegan, mostly. I'm happier seeing people become more interested in plant foods, cutting out meat and dairy, whether for their own health or ethics.

But yeah, it is always best to prepare by sending emails to companies and restaurants, making requests