Meat-eaters slam 'deluded' vegans in an online row to prove a plant-based lifestyle isn't as 'healthy' or 'cruelty free' as …

People choose to be vegan to oppose exploitation of and cruelty to animals for food, beauty or clothing.

However the lifestyle is not necessarily cruelty-free, despite what many believe.

Meat-eaters debated with those who enjoy a plant-based diet online to point out that workers are often exploited to produce crops favoured by vegans such as quinoa, and that pest control is ‘essential’ for food production worldwide.

It resulted in a furious argument on Tumblr, Reddit and Facebook, with both sides claiming the other is wrong – but who is right?

The debate began on Tumblr when user rosasdesal told her followers that veganism is not ‘affordable,’ ‘cruelty free’, or ‘the best choice for everyone’.

Vegan user caged-freedom shot her down quickly by stating that the lifestyle can be affordable, is cruelty free and everyone should adopt a plant-based diet.

However meat-eaters then proceeded to point out that a vegan lifestyle is often not completely cruelty free due to the exploitation of workers that harvest crops, pest control, and farming methods that accidentally harm animals in the process.

Their points could make you think twice about switching to a vegan diet – but others say that although it’s nearly ‘impossible’ to live a cruelty free life, trying to be more ethical should always be encouraged and rewarded.

The debate raged between vegans, vegetarians and meat-eaters online

Some said that those who claim veganism is cruelty free ignore the exploitation of farm workers, stating that 500,000 children harvest crops in the US – a claim reported in The Atlantic in 2012.

More than half of farm workers are also undocumented immigrants in the US, according to a report by the Federation for American Immigration Reform.

One claimed that South Americans were ‘starving’ due to the over-harvesting of quinoa crops.

While perhaps an exaggeration, it’s said that many Bolivians can no longer afford their native crop of quinoa due to rising demand in the west, according to The Guardian.

it’s said that many Bolivians can no longer afford their native crop of quinoa (pictured) due to rising demand in the west, according to The Guardian

Another user, breelandwalker, shot down the claim that honey is cruel to bees as she states responsible beekeepers don’t harm bees – and actually help protect the insects from extinction.

However the Vegan Society says honey isn’t vegan-friendly because bees need honey to survive and without it, they die.

Many said it is near impossible to live cruelty free unless you subside on vegetables you have grown yourself.

But a few said that even though it’s hard to live cruelty free, that doesn’t mean you should not try to live ethically at all.

So which side is right?