The KInd Life Community Forum
Use this space to share stories, exchange ideas, ask questions, and contribute to our growing community!
Are truffles (the fungus kind) actually vegan?
Started
by Donna Carter
on July 13, 2011
A thought occurred to me the other day - pigs are used to find and root up truffles so does that really make truffles and truffle oil a vegan product? I dont think the pigs do this job willingly - please correct me if I am wrong.
You're not talking about the chocolete, vegan truffles I've seen in the organic market recently (very expensive, too, but they sure look good), are you? What kind of truffles are you talking about?
I think that Donna means the mushroom kind of truffles that grow in the forest...okay, Donna, I did a little research and found that pigs are used in Europe to find truffles, not the U.S., and that these days in Europe and the U.S. dogs are preferred to pigs for truffle finding because they are less likely to eat the truffles. I don't really know the answer to your question, but it's doubtful that pigs are doing this job much anymore. (BTW, they find truffles very willingly, they love truffles...it does seem kind of unfair that they are used to find the truffles but not allowed to eat them...)
Thanks Isabelle, I havent actually tried them yet but I just wanted to make sure I wasnt hurting any pigs. That does seem unfair that they dont get to eat the truffles if they love them so much - there is a great Simpsons episode about a pig who goes crazy after eating Lisa's truffles. And Dennis I am fully with you on how flippin delicious vegan chocolate truffles are!
Yeah, they should be allowed to eat some. I think that would be a fair trade and work for all involved! 
And Donna, I have no idea about that. I've never had them. But, I saw them in the store, recently, and they looked awesome! It sounds like you recommend them.
5 Comments