Tasmanian Politician Felix Ellis Under Fire For Claiming Vegan Food Is 'Unethical'

A Tasmanian politician has come under fire from some of his followers for explaining his disgust over vegan food.

Liberal MP Felix Ellis, who is seeking re-election this year, explained how he was 'allergic' to meat and dairy-free food in a Facebook post.

While there were plenty of people who supported the Tassie pollie, there was one person who called him out for his stance.

A woman named Gracie said: "Liberal values allow freedom of choice. Vegan or not, it's not for you to decide what people should or should not eat."

The follower copped more than 150 likes, and Mr Ellis commented saying a ban on vegan products isn't on his political agenda.

"Fear not, while I think vegan food is unethical, I don't think it should be illegal," he replied.

He didn't elaborate on what he means by vegan food being unethical, nor has he since provided a statement or a set of facts that backs that up.

The comment wasn't as well received and people absolutely slated him in other mentions.

One person said: "It's remarkable how everyone keeps mocking the 'pushy vegans', and yet every time I've met someone who wouldn't shut up about their dietary choices, it was someone who ate meat."

Another added: "I'm not sure mocking some of the people you represent is solid PR?? I know people who are vegan who put their values in practice every minute of every day. Wonder if you could say the same?"

A third wrote: "Plenty of farmers in my electorate love vegans sport because they eat what farmers grow. Me, personally, I love my meat but I'm not going to make other people feel like crap for exercising their own personal choice about what they eat."

Once the post went a little more viral than his usual posts, the criticism extended to Mr Ellis' political opponents.

Labour and the Greens were quick to savage him for his anti-vegan stance, with Labor MLC's Sarah Lovell saying the Liberal candidate should remember vegan food is a 'a significant income stream for our hard working Tasmanian farmers'.

She added that his anti-vegan statement on Facebook calls into question his 'maturity' as a member of parliament.

Greens Braddon candidate Darren Briggs slammed Mr Ellis for claiming the 'grain, vegetable and fruit businesses' and industries were 'unethical'.

Topics: Vegan, Australia

Stewart Perrie

Stewart Perrie is a Trending Journalist at LADbible. His first job was as a newsreader and journalist at the award winning Sydney radio station, Macquarie Radio. He was solely responsible for the content broadcast on multiple stations across Australia when the MH17, Germanwings and AirAsia disasters unfolded. Stewart has covered the conflict in Syria for LADbible, interviewing a doctor on the front line, and has contributed to the hugely successful UOKM8 campaign.

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