Drug companies urged to make vegan-friendly feeds for people battling eating disorders

Drug companies must start making re-feeding solutions which the NHS can use for vegans, experts have said.

Hundreds of vegans each year could be being force-fed animal products in a bid to save their lives as they’re treated for eating disorders.

Fluids hospitals use to give patients nutrition when they can’t or won’t eat are all based on animal products, according to a report.

And dietitians and psychiatrists report this is increasingly becoming a problem when they try to treat eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia.

A report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the British Dietetic Association and the eating disorders charity, Beat, claims there are no enteral feeds approved for vegans (stock image)

The report has been published by the Royal College of Psychiatrists, the British Dietetic Association and the eating disorders charity, Beat.

The three organisations have urged pharmaceutical companies to develop feeding solutions which can be used to drip-feed vegans in line with their beliefs.

They say the Advisory Committee on Borderline Substances (ACBS) has not approved any vegan nutritionally-complete enteral feeds or sip feeds. 

‘In life-threatening situations and medical emergencies it is not possible to avoid animal products,’ the report said. 

Vegans, of whom there are believed to be more than half a million in the UK, refuse to eat or use anything which was made from parts of animals.

And although there is little research to link the lifestyle to eating disorders, past research has found the mental illnesses disproportionately affect people who don’t eat meat.

According to estimates around 10 to 30 per cent of the approximately 1,000 people admitted to hospital because of eating disorders each year are vegan, meaning up to 300 people could be affected.

When people are being treated for the conditions they may need to be fed through a tube or given meal replacement fluids if they are severely malnourished or refuse to eat.

But liquids currently used to feed people in this way are all based on animal products, according to the report.

‘There have been cultural shifts around diet and the choices people are making,’ said Dasha Nicholls, spokesperson for the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

‘It is important that clinicians respond to these changes and that the right treatments are made available to treat vegans with an eating disorder.’

NHS URGED TO OFFER VEGAN MILK VOUCHERS TO FAMILIES

Vegans have demanded the NHS overhauls its Healthy Start scheme to include milk and vitamins that aren’t derived from animals.

In a scathing letter sent to officials, The Vegan Society accused the scheme, for families on benefits, of being ‘discriminatory’ and ‘unlawful’. 

The Healthy Start scheme offers vouchers to families and pregnant women on benefits that can be exchanged for milk, vitamins and fruit and vegetables.

But parents are restricted to buying plain cow’s milk that is whole, semi-skimmed or skimmed. Milk substitutes such as almond or soya milk cannot be purchased.

Heather Russell, a dietitian who signed the letter, said: ‘It is important for everyone to eat calcium-rich foods daily and fortified plant milk plays an important role in vegan nutrition.

‘In fact, the UK’s Eatwell Guide recognises that fortified plant milk represents a valuable alternative to cow’s milk.

Calcium content is comparable and the soya variety is similar to cow’s milk in terms of protein quantity and quality.’ 

And although the Vegan Society acknowledges there are times of medical need in which animal products can’t be avoided, experts say vegans should be able to have the treatment without going against their beliefs.

The report read: ‘Treating someone with anorexia nervosa requires respecting that person’s religion or beliefs, including veganism, while ensuring that they are not discriminated against in terms of the quality of treatment they receive.

‘This produces a dilemma, although this can be circumvented in times of necessity.’

It added: ‘The pharmaceutical industry needs to lead developments of medications, supplement drinks and enteral feeds that are suitable for vegans in order to address the current disparity.’

The British Dietetic Association (BDA) said the same problem could also apply to other hospital patients who need feeding tubes.

But this report was produced because it had been noticed as a particular issue by those treating eating disorder patients.

Vice-chair of a mental health specialist group at the BDA, Sarah Fuller said: ‘Due to the lack of appropriate prescribable products, patients are sometimes receiving life-saving treatments that are not in-line with their beliefs.

‘This can create difficult therapeutic relationships. Until there is consistent availability of vegan diets and… approved nutritional products across all service provisions this will continue.’

Dietitian Heather Russell, spokesperson for The Vegan Society  said: ‘If an ethical vegan is affected by an eating disorder, it’s important that their beliefs are respected during treatment, taking into account that they may have no alternative to using animal products in some situations. 

‘For instance, there is a need for development of animal-free alternatives in the areas of medical nutrition and medicine.’

An NHS spokesperson said the NHS policy is to provide patients with ‘individualised’ re-feeding plans and take dietary preferences, religion and cultural choices into account.

NHS England declined to comment.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk