A family run Scots butchers has been slammed for poking fun at vegans with a controversial chalkboard sign.
W.M Christie Butchers, which is based in the Bruntsfield area of Edinburgh, was pictured with the sign that called on locals to end “violence against plants” by eating their meat.
As the photo of the sign circulated across social media, a number of vegans took offence to the sign.
Some branded it ‘nonsense’ while others called the owners ‘psychopaths’.
The full sign read: “Everyday thousands of innocent plants are killed by vegetarians. Help end the violence and eat meat.”
Jakub Dragon shared the image on Facebook, with the sarcastic caption: “Spotted at family butcher in Bruntsfield, sooo funny!”.
He told our partner title Edinburgh Live : “I just think it’s nonsense, I don’t understand, how can they justify killing an animal like that. It only bring anger, and fights and I don’t find that funny. Surely eating plants is less damaging to the environment, and plants, unlike animals are not sentient."
Many were outraged by the tongue and cheek sign that pokes fun at the vegan diet.
Shay-li Menzilevsky branded the family butchers, "F****** psychopaths."
Kevin Thomson exclaimed: "Jeez, the ignorance is astonishing. Plants are not sentient and exist in synergy with humans and animals as a food source.
"You just can't say I murdered a carrot. People will cling to all sorts of nonsense to justify murdering animals....animals that have exactly the same fundamental wishes as us - to be happy, safe and free from suffering."
Adam Rennie said: "So if I interpreted that right we need to eat the humans because it was humans that killed the plants too?”
Lisa Roy added: "And what does their meat eat?"
While one believed it was just a laugh and there was no need to get upset over it. Gilly Billy said: "Surely we can take this in good humour.
"These people are running a business that has been in their family for generations. It doesn’t mean we all have to eat meat.
"It can’t be okay for Vegans to fly the vegan flag, and not okay for meat eaters to do the same. Regardless of our reasons behind being Vegan."
Willie who runs the butchers with his brother was amused by the online reaction and thankful for the free advertising.
He said:"As it it’s veganary, isn’t it fitting it could be meatanury too? It wasn’t malicious in anyway, just a simple joke and banter.
"People have taken it wrongly. we are surrounded with people telling us to go vegan and vegetarian, yet my business is a Butchers. We sell meat and I’m promoting my business.
"Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect that, I’m just expressing mine. And it seems to have worked, given the attention my Butchers has now received."
