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Belgian parents who make their kids eat vegan could face prison time after new findings about the potential health impact on their health…

A study conducted by Belgium’s Royal Academy of Medicine could see parents who make kids eat vegan sent to prison. The study found that the diet is ‘unethical’ and lacks vital nutrients which could cause deficiencies and growth delays.

A Big Responsibility

The Belgian government requested the study after a number of deaths in the country’s schools, nurseries and hospitals.

“It is unsuitable for unborn children, children, teenagers and pregnant and lactating women,” the paper says. “It is not medically recommended and even forbidden to subject a child, especially during periods of rapid growth, to a potentially destabilising diet, requiring frequent supplementation and control.”

Professor Casimir, who carried out the study, says that the vegan diet is comparable to ‘non-assistance to a person in danger’ which carries a sentence of up to two years in prison. Children will only be permitted to eat a vegan diet if their parents seek medical advice, take them for regular blood tests and ensure their child takes vitamin supplements. Those who fail to comply, and whose children experience health issues, will face prison, fines and the possible removal of their child from their care.

Seeking Advice

The Sydney Children’s Hospital network says that parents whose kids eat vegan should seek the advice of their family GP. “To grow and develop appropriately, children need to eat foods from all of the food groups,” they said. “The vegan diet is low in iron, B12, and potentially protein and total energy. It will need additional consideration and it is recommended that you seek advice to ensure your child is eating an adequate diet.”

We think sending parents to prison for how they choose to feed their children is excessive, with the obvious exception of extreme cases. That being said, the vegan diet can be quite restrictive so it’s definitely worth considering the potential health implications for young children.

Do you think parents who feed their young children a vegan diet should be prosecuted? Let us know in the comments.

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  • And what about low income families? I dont know but perhaps in Belgium they have a great social security system so that families dont have to worry about not having enough money to buy food on occassion.

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  • There are so many parents out there that would be feeding their kids less than nutritious meals that aren’t vegan Are they going to send them to prison too?

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  • Really hard to monitor, and need to be consistent and consider parents who fail to provide healthy food, adequate food, only processed packaged meals and so many other considerations including values, socio economic, education. Very sad to hear about deaths though.

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  • I suspect as with everything, any balanced diet is fine provided the child has adequate nutrition.

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  • If a child isn’t getting the necessary nutritional input to grow well and be healthy, then parents should face some kind of penalty. Some good points made below tho, if vegetarians can be jailed, how about the fast food addicts that do damage to their kids?

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  • Wow this is crazy. Parents should be able to feed their kids how they choose especially if it includes lots of fruit and veg.

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  • So parents who make their kids eat vegan could face prison time after new findings about the potential health impact on their health…
    However parents who feed their kids mainly junk -and the health impact of that may be even bigger- don’t face prison ?
    How is that logic ?

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  • I don’t think this is the problem.

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  • Seems extreme and I was under the impression that vitamins and nutrients can also be found in plant products. My friend is vegan and her 5yr old seems fine.


    • True, vitamins and nutrients can also be found in plant products !

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  • Unfortunately the human body is designed to grow and thrive on animal products despite what a vegan might say. To deprive a growing child whose bones and brains are developing need certain foods to achieve there full potential and with out it they will be stunted

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  • I wouldn’t jail parents for making their child eaten vegan but they do need to keep in close contact with their doctor or paediatrician to make sure the child is growing up healthy.

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  • I don’t agree with sending them to prison but I do agree that parents should let their kids choose what they want to eat vegan or non vegan, they can not impose their food choices on their kids because their parents didn’t grew then up on vegan diet so why they are doing this to the kids. Let them eat healthy and leave it on them to choose their food.

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  • This is absolutely ridiculous. The parents havd the right to choose what is best for their kids, whether it is a vegan diet or not. A child when eating will let it be known whether they like something or not. I rather my child be healthy than unheathly.

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  • Wow! I think every situation is different and you need to look at why and how. It’s not a one rule for all.

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  • Any parent who forces a child to not have a nutritious diet should be under governmental or health restraints so that the child doesn’t suffer detrimental effects.

    Reply

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