I have met more than one person who claims to be a vegetarian, but happily chows down on fish, scallops, and other seafood. Sorry, this just won’t wash. Fish are animals, and by definition a vegetarian does not eat animals. No, Virginia, a clam is not a vegetable!
Of course there is nothing wrong with eating seafood, it is tasty and healthy. But, it is not vegetarian. If you eat seafood but no other animals, then you are a piscaterian.
What about caviar? Since eggs are vegetarian, shouldn’t caviar be, too?
You are right – caviar is fish eggs and is therefore vegetarian.
How can it be vegetarian when you have to kill or make incision to the fish to take the eggs? It’s not…
Vegetarian means “no animal flesh.” Fish eggs are not animal flesh, therefore are OK. The fact that the fish is often killed to get the eggs is irrelevant, although some people will avoid caviar for that reason.
Would you claim that broccoli is not vegetarian because lots of rodents, snakes, and other critters are killed when the field is plowed?