86
Vitamin B12 derived from geneticaly modified spirulina
(scitechdaily.com)
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
this post was submitted on 04 May 2026
86 points (98.9% liked)
Vegan
1957 readers
22 users here now
A place for solarpunks working toward a world without speciesism
Rules
- This is not a place to debate veganism
- There is no place for (carnist) trolls
- No unsolicited promotion of commercial products
- No speciesism
- No promotion of violence in any way
founded 3 years ago
MODERATORS
The algae are natural, except they are modified so you can actually absorb the B12 vitamin from them. B12 pills are less appealing within a soup than an algae.
Also, you absorb the vitamins in a natural way, instead of all at once. So it is better for your health.
Supplements are the option you choose only when you have no other, and there is research showing how it is bad for your health.
I'm guessing easier to produce than vitamin pills as well.
If you don't like pills, there's also powder, drops etc. that you can take instead and which you can also add to your food or drinks. There's also vegan milk alternatives and convenience food that already has B12 included.
If I wanted to supply my needs with algae only, I'd probably also want them in a powdered form or similar as fresh algae - even if refrigerated - turn bad pretty quickly.
Don't get me wrong, I'm happy if they invented another vegan source for B12, I just don't see the huge difference or advantage compared to status quo.
The main argument that vegans can't survive on just a vegan diet, is now moot. Though with the caveat that this is technologically intensive. Also, vegans could technically survive with certain plants like Chlorella.
From my perspective that argument is pretty stupid in the first place and just a smokescreen to object a vegan diet. Those people will either not listen to facts at all or find new reasons to justify an omnivore diet.
A 100% vegan diet shouldn't be the goal.
Converting 10 people to a 90% vegan diet is more achievable than making 9 people 100% vegan.
I agree, but I don't understand how this contradicts my comment. People who insist that 'veganism is unnatural because you should supplement B12' never did the slightest research.
There's absolutely no issue to supplement nutrients as long as it's a reasonable dose corresponding to your needs.
Wasn't trying to prove you wrong. I was trying to say that Vegan + a bit of cheese (b12) is perfectly fine for the "can't do vegan" people.
Similarly, people who can't live without their steak/burger/bacon. Fine. Only have it once a week, or once a month.
Thank you for communicating, I appreciate the creative wordplay in your username!
For all eternity, I believe, we can very well aim towards fueling our metabolisms (popularly referred to as eating) kindly, thus; ethically, and completely vegan.
While indeed presently beginning wherever, and with whatever we can. All the best! • ♡ ☻ ❂
Perfect is the enemy of good.
Personally we can aim for 100% but we are more likely to influence someone from carnivore -> 90% vegan than carnivore -> 100% vegan.
you already answered so well, I could've saved some time had I noticed it before :)
Anyways, chlorella (to my knowledge) does naturally contain vitamin B12 produced by bacteria in chlorella's habitats. So even seems completely natural to me.