Awesome, it sounds like LRC has an expert on veganism and all the nuance and rules and stuff! This is great because I've been wondering about some specifics for a while and wanted to see if I'm really a vegan or NOT vegan. Until now hadn't found an expert who knew the rules.
1. If I order food at a place I *always* check to make 100% sure that they only use vegetable oils for any fried foods. However my friend says that's not vegan when I order fries at my favorite place since they cook them in the same fryer that they use for the chicken nuggets. Is that okay or is it NOT vegan since the oil soaks up some of the meats? What if I asked them what days they clean out the oil and only go on those days?
2. What about vegetables? Is it okay if they were fertilized with manure or blood meal? Vegan or not?
3. Can I shop at any grocery store, or just ones that don't sell animal products? Is it vegan to support businesses that sell meat?
4. Also, can I still be a vegan if I own cars or electronic devices? I heard that animal byproducts are used in circuit boards and things like rubber and glues but I thought it might be okay since I'm not eating them. If it is not vegan would I be able to still be okay as long as I just had my friend drive me?
5. Along those lines, can I be vegan if I use electricity at all? I read that the oil refining process uses animal products at a number of steps but I wasn't sure what the rules were.
Thank you! I know it's a lot of questions but I just want to make sure I'm sticking to all the rules and don't disqualify myself on something ticky tacky.