What Is ‘Ostroveganism’? The Problem With Eating Mussels And Oysters

Are Vegans Hypocrites For Eating Imported Vegetables? A Factcheck Of Piers Morgan’s Argument

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It may sound shocking, but some people believe that eating some bivalve mollusks like oysters and mussels can be compatible with veganism. This is called “ostroveganism.”

The name comes from the latin “ostrea,” which means oyster. The idea behind it is that bivalve mollusks, animals with a two-part hinged shell, do not possess a brain and central nervous system. This has led some to believe that they are incapable of pain and suffering and are therefore fair game to eat. Some “ostrovegans” just eat oysters and mussels, while others extend to scallops and clams as well. The former two are sometimes regarded as less sentient as they are the most sedentary.

The claim that oysters and mussels may be vegan is hugely controversial, and those who label themselves as “ostrovegans” make up a tiny subset of the movement. But does their argument have merits? And can people who eat these animals really call themselves vegans? Here’s everything you need to know.

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