As most of us are aware, there is a big differences in the foods allowed between vegetarianism and veganism. However a bigger difference exists, in the motivation of their practitioners.
Vegetarians are motivated by the (debatable) health benefits of eating only plant based products. Where as vegans are motivated by a ethical or religious decision not to harm animals. This concept is not new, as this philosophy as a part of the 2300 year old, Indian Jainist movement, who's adherents often wear masks to prevent in accidentally inhaling small insects.
Of course, very few of the Witnesses who practice veganism are aware of the fact that they are following the core teaching of a pagan faith, but non the less it is true. However, like wearing wedding rings and having a pinata party, everything can be allowed if its been washed a few times and put in a new box.
But crazy as this may all be to animal eaters, veganism is not as ethically extreme as it once was. As there is now a community of modern thinkers who want us not to eat vegetable products either, due to the 'fact' that plants may actually be conscience at some level too. These ones view the eating plants alive or putting them into boiling water, may actually be cruel. As a result, they see the developing a food industry based on vat grown, single celled organisms would be a much more humane option for the globe to practice, while at the same time stopping the strip mining of the natural biosphere to produce cultivatable farmland.
While many people already happily live on beer (my attempt at humor here), veganism in all its forms, is just another 'belief' trying to be normalized into mainstream Western culture, by branding everything else as either morally toxic or physically poisonous.
As for me, the sooner we all start eating Soylent Green, the better. At least it was meat, at some point in its life cycle.