OMG: Italy is trying to ban parents from raising babies vegan

Veganism is one of those extremely hot topics that never really seems to cool off, and a recent incident where a baby in Italy was hospitalized as the result of their vegan diet has some Italian officials seeking to ban parents from being allowed to raise their babies on a vegan diet. Because this wasn’t the first time.

According to Reuters, Elvira Savino, an Italian politician, is the one behind the push to make it illegal for kids to go vegan.

“I have nothing against vegans or veganism as long as it is a free choice by adults,” Savino explained. “I just find it absurd that some parents are allowed to impose their will on children in an almost fanatical, religious way, often without proper scientific knowledge or medical consultation.”

Savino would make it so that there is severe punishment for parents whose children suffer from a vegan diet and end up in the hospital, with them facing up to four years in jail, though it increases anotheryear if the child is under three. Like, woah.

The law isn’t just targeting vegans, though.

It would specifically prevent parents from forcing upon kids “a diet devoid of elements essential for healthy and balanced growth.” 

Which, TBH, makes sense. Vegan or not, children should be in environments with healthy environments, and that includes their diet.

What much of it comes down to is that many of these parents who raise children under a vegan diet aren’t properly educated.

“Do-it-yourself on these matters terrorizes me,” Savino explained. “If even only one child ends up in a hospital because of this behavior, I feel we have to protect them all.” 

It’s really interesting considering there hasn’t been much mainstream discussion about whether or not vegan parents should be able to expect their children to also be vegan. Savino’s concern is that parents don’t have to do a minimal amount of research to make sure they know how best to raise young vegans. While not everyone is sure if punishment is the best way to go about this, it’s a step toward figuring out how to handle this unique dilemma.