Can vegetarians eat clams?

Question

I had an interesting conversation with my boss at work about clams. We couldn't decide if vegetarians could eat clams or not. I know clams have hearts and stomachs, but do they have brains? I'm pretty sure it is still considered to be flesh...

Anyways, are vegetarians able to eat clams? What about sea cucumber? I believe the answer is no, just want to confirm!

Answer 1

Easiest way to figure out whether something is vegetarian: determine whether or not it is a piece of an animal. If it used to be a member of the animal kingdom, it's not vegetarian. If it is a member of the plant or fungus kingdom, it is! Most vegetarians also eat things that animals make. However, again... did the animal have to die in order for the item to be on the plate? If the answer is yes, then the item is not vegetarian.



Clams: not vegetarian.

Sea cucumbers: not vegetarian.

Kittens: not vegetarian.

Caviar: not vegetarian (hafta kill the fish).

Chicken eggs: vegetarian!

Venus fly trap: vegetarian!

Answer 2

Only those vegetarian idiots who claim the don't eat anything with a face and argue that they don't eat anything that feels pain.



Vegetarians are still omnivorous people who can eat anything they want, plant or animals. "Vegetarian" is just a relatively new made up descriptive word of a specific diet. It does not refer to a physiological ability or limitation. The idea is "clams are animals and people who don't eat clams and other animals are called vegetarians and not "people are vegetarians therefore they cannot eat clams".

Answer 3

They're animals. If depends on how vegetarian you want to be, and on the reasoning behind your decision. Personally, I don't eat any animal, regardless of how sophisticated its nervous system is. In my eyes, an animal is an animal. Saying that, I used to eat fish because the majority of fish leads a free life until it's caught, as opposed to being farmed. Think of it this way- where do you draw the line? If you say oysters are ok, then what about snails? What about crab? What about tuna? What about shark?

Answer 4

If you are a vegetarian and wish to remain one, you should not eat clams, which are seafood. Clams have a circulatory system, kidneys, and a mouth. They do not have a brain, but do have a nervous system. They also reproduce by females releasing a large numbers of eggs into the water while males release sperm.

Answer 5

Vegetarians are able to eat what ever they want. The right question would be if they choose to. Some vegetarians choose to eat seafood and others don't. Depends on the person.

Answer 6

That's a personal decision.



Many people who consider themselves to be "vegetarians" actually still consume sea food including shell fish.

Others abstain from shellfish, and some refrain from eating any flesh whatsoever.



Then there are even some who abstain from all animal byproducts - from eggs, milks, and dairies on down to gelatin and certain types of dyes.



There is no all encompassing answer - it depends on the individual.

Answer 7

Sure, vegetarians *can* eat clams, but most do not.

Answer 8

You can and should eat whatever you want but you can't use the label vegetarian if you eat something that can biologically described as an animal- even if they cant feel it

Answer 9

usually they only do not eat meat and dairy products

so I say YES



I LOVE CLAMS



do you know there are soft shell clams where New England have steamers and clam boils

and Hard Shelled clams called "Quahog" that the soup companies use for their sops and CHOWDERS







smile

good luck

Answer 10

Do they reproduce? Yes

Arte they heterotrophic? Yes

Do they have organs? Yes



They're animals, you should choose not to eat them if you're a vegetarian(Veggies only).

Answer 11

If you are a pescetarian you may still eat fish. Sometimes vegetarians will eat dairy, poultry, fish, etc. Vegans are those who consume absolutely no animal products.

Answer 12

Vegetarians dont eat sea animals.

Answer 13

no because clams are animals. vegetarians dont eat animals hence seafood.

Answer 14

Clam= animal = meat



NO

Answer 15

NO.



If you eat fish/seafood, but do not eat any other meat, you are a PESCETARIAN, NOT a vegetarian.

Answer 16

vegetarians don't eat seafood. PERIOD.

Answer 17

not if u don't eat meat

Answer 18

No ma'am. They are animals. =)