By: A.H. (Nova24tv)
“It is sad that under this government we are witnessing the disintegration of the system of values in science,” said a group of renowned paediatricians who are strongly opposed to the new government guidelines on nutrition, as reported by Planet TV. The Golob government apparently wants to impose a vegan diet with supplements on children at all costs. Given that this is a proven harmful way of eating with detrimental effects on child development, the only explanation for such “instructions” can be found in the influence of Tina Gaber, who is a staunch vegan.
The fact that the Prime Minister’s companion is a “militant vegan” and that it has long seemed she is the one actually running the country, comes as no surprise when considering the government’s push to impose a specific diet on people. This is happening even in the face of findings that such a diet is harmful and is strongly opposed by a group of renowned paediatricians.
Members of the current government solemnly vowed before the elections that the experts would have the final say. However, it has been shown several times that this was mere ‘talk’ and nothing different is the case with the establishment of the strategic council for nutrition, which proposed that children in kindergartens and schools must have the option of a plant-based or vegan menu. An article published in a peer-reviewed journal titled Nutrience supports the government’s stance, claiming that a well-designed vegan diet can be healthy and support normal growth and development in children if carefully planned, meaning if children take dietary supplements and receive dietary supervision.
This proposal is strongly opposed by renowned paediatricians who claim that the National Institute of Public Health (NIJZ) does not support vegan diets in educational institutions. “It is sad that under this government the system of values in science is disintegrating”, they are critical.
Vegan diets cause developmental harm to children
Children on vegan diets have an increased risk of nutritional deficiencies. They are often lacking in vitamin B12, calcium, vitamin D, and iron, as noted by the University of South Australia. According to research, children on vegan diets had 5% lower bone mineral content and were on average 3 cm shorter. This is significant, as higher bone mineral content influences greater bone density. This 5% difference is concerning because individuals at this age have a limited period in which to optimise bone mineral density. Adequate bone mass is achieved by around age 20. Lower bone density is associated with a higher risk of fractures later in life. Experts warn that it would be unethical to put children on a diet that could negatively impact their growth and cause risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. This is just one of many studies highlighting the negative aspects of depriving children of important and nutritious food sources, but this, it seems, does not concern the current government. The reaction to the engagement for vegan food in schools was also sharp on social network X.
“Contrary to Golob’s government nutrition council™, ACTUAL science finds that children on vegan diets are 4 cm shorter and weaker than their peers and have lower bone density. Let’s protect children from the dangerous ideological madness of some adults!” wrote a profile on network X, posting one of many studies warning about the negative consequences of such a diet.
“If they are crazy and psychopaths, let them be for themselves. But we must not, under any circumstances, allow them to impose their pathological madness on us. We really need to resist this,” wrote journalist Vinko Vasle.
Lack of vitamins, minerals, brittle bones, and poor cognitive ability
Some important brain nutrients, such as creatine, carnosine, taurine, omega 3, iron, and vitamins B12 and D3, naturally occur only in animal sources, according to the International Livestock Research Institute. Although they can be synthesised or obtained from plant sources, they are often present in small amounts in vegan diets. For example, to consume enough vitamin B6 daily, one would need to eat about five cups of potatoes. Reduced vitamin B12 can cause serious developmental issues in children and is associated with lower IQ and brain shrinkage in adults. Iron is crucial for brain development, and vegans are more susceptible to anaemia due to iron deficiency.
Other common deficiencies in vegan diets include vitamin D3, omega 3 fatty acids, selenium, folate, and iodine. Choline, which is abundant in eggs, beef, and seafood, is also important for cognitive development. Vegans often need to take dietary supplements to meet their nutritional needs.
Who decides about the child’s health?
The whole of Slovenia now knows that Tina Gaber is vegan and that even her master’s thesis was ‘vegan’, linking meat consumption to sexism and racism. Many were first surprised by Prime Minister Robert Golob’s advocacy for reducing meat consumption, but everything we have seen and heard is connected to Tina Gaber. Gaber is not just a vegetarian but a vegan who even ‘reduced’ people to animals in her thesis.
To her, we are just one species of ‘sentient animals’, many of which we discriminate against. All of this is apparently based on her views and not on facts rooted in scientific findings. We have experts for this, but the government, under Gaber’s influence, has evidently overlooked them. Regardless of the cost.
