Vegan alert – a boom and it’s dangers

Vegan Alert: A Boom and Its Dangers is a documentary that examines the rise of veganism and the potential negative consequences of this dietary trend. While the film aims to highlight important issues related to the growing popularity of plant-based diets, it often overstates its case and provides a one-sided narrative, which weakens its overall argument.

The documentary begins with an exploration of how veganism has surged in recent years, thanks in part to celebrities and social media influencers advocating for plant-based eating. The film paints this rapid growth as both a positive and concerning development.
On the one hand, it acknowledges the environmental and ethical reasons many people turn to veganism, but on the other, it warns of its potential dangers to public health and society.

However, the documentary fails to provide a balanced view. It relies heavily on anecdotal evidence and interviews with experts who highlight the risks of veganism, particularly the nutritional deficiencies that can arise from eliminating animal products. The focus on issues like Vitamin B12 deficiency, calcium loss, and the difficulty in getting enough protein may have some merit but feels exaggerated and lacking in nuance. The film suggests that a vegan diet is inherently dangerous, without offering sufficient counterpoints or emphasizing that many people can thrive on a well-planned, plant-based diet. There’s little discussion of the ways to mitigate the risks through proper supplementation or alternative sources of nutrients.

The documentary also attempts to portray the rise of veganism as part of a larger trend of food fads, comparing it to past diet crazes that eventually fizzled out. This perspective feels somewhat dismissive and doesn’t account for the long-term, deeply rooted social, ethical, and environmental concerns that continue to drive the movement. By focusing so much on the potential dangers, the film overlooks the positive aspects of veganism, such as its impact on reducing animal cruelty and its benefits for the planet. The lack of exploration into these angles limits the documentary’s ability to provide a comprehensive view of the movement.

Another weakness of the film is its tone. At times, it comes across as alarmist and sensationalized, particularly when discussing the supposed health risks of veganism. The documentary presents these risks in a way that feels more like fear-mongering than an objective exploration of the subject. This is further compounded by the lack of representation from proponents of veganism, who could have offered a counter-narrative to balance the criticisms.

In conclusion, while Vegan Alert: A Boom and Its Dangers raises valid concerns about the potential health risks of an unbalanced vegan diet, it ultimately fails to provide a fair or nuanced examination of the broader topic.
The documentary is overly focused on the dangers, with little room for discussion of the benefits or ways to make veganism a healthy and sustainable choice. This results in a film that feels more like an alarmist critique than an informative, well-rounded documentary.

And what I personally found very annoying: the entire documentary is in German. And this couldn’t be changed on Netflix…
We thought it was going to be about how a vegan diet is bad, but in the end, it’s about how a vegan diet is actually good for you.
Game Changers is a way better documentary with clear points and nice explanations by professionals!