Food borne illness is on the increase worldwide and in most cases animal products are implicated as the main source of infection. These infections may be mild, seriously debilitating, and can even be fatal, particularly in elderly people and infants.

Western diets have, however experienced a sharp increase in the consumption of animal products, including dairy products, with concomitant decline in the consumption of grains, legumes, fruits and vegetables, and this may explain the increase in the incidence of degenerative diseases in industrialized countries.

The consumption of caffeine begins at an early age for many people. Caffeine is a natural ingredient in tea, coffee, and some soft drinks, and it is used as an additive in many baked goods, frozen dairy products, sweets, gelatins, puddings and soft drinks.

Children have smaller stomachs than adults and they have higher needs for nutrients per unit weight, therefore diets that are appropriate for adults can indeed be deficient for young children.

Vegan vegetarians must plan diets that will compensate for the omission of dairy products, by ensuring that they include adequate quantities of high energy foods in their diets, which must also meet all the other basic needs of the body. Provided this is done, it has been shown that a vegan diet can provide all the body’s needs and can be followed without fear.