Is Fish Considered Meat?
By debris
Preface:
There is a debate being waged by many that challenges whether fish fillets are meat or not. This may sounds silly to some, but it is being debated. Some vegetarians eat fish, citing that they are allowed to because fish is either not meat, or not an animal. I believe the more accurate term for this sect is Pescatarian. Fish are clearly an animal and the tasty fillets that they carry on their sides are made of protein, aka meat. I will discuss this a little bit further below.
Definition Of Meat:
The whole debate rests squarely on the shoulders of the definition of meat. You can use a general definition from a dictionary, the criteria used for the food pyramid, a religious definition, or a scientific assessment. The reason a debate even exists is because people use different definitions. For the purposes of this article we will use a scientific assessment. All meats share similarities such as being a part of an animal and being made of protein.
Origin:
Fish meat is obviously from fish, a living animal. In fact, the meat is the majority of the fish, so you are almost completely consuming the entire animal. This fits the description of being a piece of an animal. Fish swim, fish eat, fish digest, fish see, fish breathe, fish bleed, and fish live.
Protein:
Fish meat is high in protein, it is almost completely protein. This is because the meat is the muscle that the fish uses for movement. All muscles are made of protein. This fits the above description of meat as well.
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Conclusion:
Fish is considered a meat. Some might say that this conclusion is too simplistic, but it is really not. The only thing complicated about this matter is trying to classify a meat as something other than meat. It is a protein, and it comes from an animal. That is it, plain and simple. The only reason there is any debate is because people want to avoid thinking that they are eating meat. If you are eating fish, then you are eating meat.
Some people within the Catholic religion follow a latin definition that specifically excludes fish, seafood, and insects from the definition. This is why they eat fish on lent, but as stated before: definitions serve different purposes.
I've also found a blog that linked to this article that has a lot of great information. It presents the many different aspects behind the question "Is Fish Meat?"
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Comments
@Rochelle: LOL, that literally made me laugh out loud. Thank you for your observation :).
-Debris
Couldn't believe it when I came across this through Google, lol.
Nicely done, definitely a meat! :D
@Mrvoodoo: Thanks! The debate in the forum gave me the idea to further elaborate on my views about this subject. I'm glad that you liked it :)
-Debris
just to be clear, vegetarians do consider fish as meat, you mean pescetarians, and they never say fish is not meat. Obviously the vegetarians you have met were not really vegetarians.
@Anonymous: Thanks for the great information. Not being from either sect I tended to lump them into the same category. Sorry if it is offensive in any way. I did some further research and noticed that there tends to be a large divide between vegetarians and pescatarians. I clearly believe this to be a good thing in that there is obviously a fundamental difference in society.
You are most likely correct on me not meeting "real" vegetarians. I think vegetarianism has a somewhat invogue persona and I'm sure that many of the people I know are simply vegetarians because their friends or their significant other is. In any event, I have lots of respect for people that can exhibit such discipline. I thank you for the knowledge that you provided me and do hope that you'll come back again. Maybe with a screen name so I'll be able to better identify you :).
I've removed that line from my article as to not further offend any readers.
I always thought that fish was not meat, that it's just fish. I even got into an argument about it earlier today. I guess i was looking at it from the religious (Catholic) side. I was doing some research on this subject and found this page. Your simple way of explaining this actually convinced me that fish is meat. Thanks! :)
Thanks i allways concidered fish as meat but as you say the catholics of which my wife and stepdaughter are from malta dissagree.
I'm from BraZil and back home and distinguish red from white meat. White meat being fish and chicken. I'm also a catholic and on Good Friday we don't eat red meat as a symbolism to the flesh&blood of God hence why fish is considered okay to eat. It is not correct to say Catholics exclude fish from being meat, we just consider it White meat.
@Kapaxiana: What about Chicken? That's a white meat and the Catholics I know can't eat that on Friday. I thank you for your explanation, but it doesn't hold water for everyone I've talked to. If you read some of the above comments, some of the Catholic people did not consider it to be a meat. In your region of the world your explanation may be the correct one, but in the U.S. it is because they don't believe it to be meat.
Just because they don't believe it to be meat doesn't mean it's not. Its the flesh of a living animal. How is that not meat?
@Chris: We agree. :)
I am Vegan and I often do see people claim vegetarianism but they still eat fish time to time or I see people claim vegetarianism and they eat all types of meat on occasion. Plants are plants and animals are animals. I think there is a lot of confusion with what is what because people don't really follow what they say they follow. I can't tell you how many times people have asked me oh but you eat fish right! I am like no way fish is meat it is a sentient being.
Great post
Just the other day I was talking to my girlfriend about this subject. Her family is catholic, and while my girlfriend believes fish to be meat. Her stepmom says that since a fish lives in water it is not meat. I personally believe fish to be a meat, because it comes from a formerly living, eating, breathing, functioning animal.
Call me crazy but I don't totally understand why one would want to completely cut meat out of their diet. Now as far as vegetarians who don't eat meat go...is it really that big of deal that they eat fish?? It's their decision to eat what they want even if it is fish. I don't understand it bit then again I don't make the rules. This is definitely a subject that should have any hostility....lol let's all break bread cut steak (or fish) together :)
@meatlova :) Fish has tons of mercury. In excess it is incredibly bad for your body. I happen to be a vegetarian but I chose to be one since I don't actually like the taste of meat. That includes fish.
Thank you for posting this. I just got into a heated debate with my dad trying to explain how fish are meat. He saw some guy on TV say vegetarians eat fish and we don't. To me, eating a fish holds the same respect to eating a dolphin, cow, chicken etc. Its just gross :/ but hopefully this article will make him realize its just simply meat.
Many thanks for this article.. I always thought that fish is a type of meat! The above explanation makes really sense and it's really as simple as described.. (I'm soooo pleased I'm winning an argument I was into!!)
Well done!!
I got into a fight weather if fish was a meat and reasoned many things to that person, but then was confront by this statement that left me puzzled: I think it isn't a meat because its COLD BLOODED. I could break through that type of arguement unfortunately since all other meat comes from warm blooded creatures. The only question I have now is: Does it matter if fish is warm blooded to be considered a meat? If you have an answer, e-mail me: lorma000@yahoo.com
Hello A Random Guest,
Warm blooded and cold blooded makes no difference. Those terms just refer to how the animal regulates its body temperature. I've never heard this argument, but it is interesting to hear. But body temperature regulation has nothing to do with whether it is meat or not. Ask your friend what they would consider alligator --meat? I don't know what else to call the flesh of an alligator, it is meat, and they are cold-blooded.
Thanks,
Debris
I am a vegeterian, but since I am only 13 my mother forces me to eat fish she says I need protien AND that it is not meat. I do kind of consider fish as meat, but idk i mean I am only 13
Haha....the great meat debate. Perhaps the question should be "Animal, vegetable, or mineral?" Much easier that way. And clearly the first question that should be asked in 20 questions.
WHAT?! i was so convinced well actualy it is kinda convincing because if it is not meat then what is it type of question that makes sence, so yeah,so i get it now.
THANKS!
i new it. some of my friends think it is meat and others dont. i think it is and finaly they said to look it up. so i did and its considered meat. so me and my friend were right. nice
I'm a vegetarian but fish? hummm kinda an odd debate u know.... oh well...
Thanks for the information that fish is a meat.For me it's hard to identify...
THANKZ!!!!
"Fish are clearly an animal and the tasty fillets that they carry on their sides are made of protein, aka meat."
Because something has protein does not necessarily mean it's meat. Peanuts are made of protein, but they are not meat.
"Fish meat is obviously from fish, a living animal."
Chickens lay eggs; eggs are from a living animal but they are not meat. Eggs are eggs, fish are fish, both parve.
i think fish is meat beacause meat comes from living animals and a ish is a living animal (some times u have to kill the animal) but any wat fish is meat ok
I also was in a debate about this. I personally believe fish is meat but with this info. I might win the argument! Thanks. :D
"Chickens lay eggs; eggs are from a living animal but they are not meat. Eggs are eggs, fish are fish, both parve."
Unfertilised eggs are not meat seeing they are a product of an animal. A fish IS an animal.
When you talk about it being parve, I assume you say so in a religious context. If that is so, then that is perfectly fine if you choose to do eat fish for that reason.
But I would be extremely careful with labelling fish in a vegetarian diet. It isn't about saying that a persons food choices are any less valid, but it is a good way to communicate what you consume and what you don't. A vegetarian does NOT eat any animals. It has nothing to do with being parve as it isn't based upon religion, but the definition of what an animal is on a secular basis.
Fish breath, fish have circulation and they are also sentient. If they are not an animal, what are they? They aren't a vegetable, and they are not a peanut. You can't just call them "fish". Look in any dictionary and it will tell you what it is.
All animals have a central nervous system, even a fly.
If it came from an egg it is meat.
I am a vegetarian, but I do not believe that Beef, lamb and Chicken are meats, so I allow myself these as a source of protein.
For an animal to be meat it does not have to be cold or warm blooded. I know you can get cold blooded horses for example. Last time I checked they were still meat. Also if fish isn't a meat does that mean it's a cabbage?
@MikeG - I know you commented seven days ago, but I just have to say that if you eat beef, lamb and chicken, you're not a vegetarian. You can't just say "I don't believe that these types of very delicious meat are meat." so that you can keep eating them.
@MikeG
I'm sorry but, are you stupid?
@MIKEG PLEASE DON'T POST NOTHING ESLE
dude on wikipedia it says the flesh of mammalian species (pigs, cattle, lambs, etc.) raised and prepared for human consumption, to the exclusion of fish, poultry, and game. when discussing the defenition of meat. meat by fact comes only from mammals, fish the last i checked is a fish not a mammal.
@FishIsNotAMeat: Cite Wikipedia in a doctoral Dissertation and see what kind of reaction you get ;). It's a controversial topic for a reason.
@Protein is not meat: Peanuts don't swim around, eat food, breath, or have a nervous system. Fish Lay eggs too, Comparing a Fish to an Egg is comparing Apples to Asteroids. A proper comparison would be a Fish to a Chicken, whoops, they're both meat.
Well then.. if fish is not a meat might I politely ask what one would consider it to be?
Wow ! This Is Good! I Always Thought Fish Wasnt Meat!
fish is not meat
FISH IS TOTALLY NOT MEAT YA KIDDING!!!
Fish are in the new category of the food pyramid called, Disgusting.
Thanks for making it clear.
Protein is not meat (above) clearly posted the most sensible comment here. fish, like eggs is parve. Also think about why most people call you a vegetarian once you do not eat meat: Even if you do eat fish, you may still be considered a vegetarian (see the comment of the young girl above, whose mother makes her eat fish). Fish is fish and meat is meat. However, you can call fish meat: After all you call certain drinks made from soy soy-milk, or milk made from coconut coconut-milk. You can call certain cleaning fluids cleaning milk, and still, by definition milk usually means "an opaque white fluid rich in fat and protein, secreted by female mammals for the nourishment of their young". In Jamaican Patois an avocado is called a pear: It shares certain features with what standard english knows as apear (most significantly its shape). An avocado can be a pear if you call it that.So if you want to call fish meat, go ahead. Your just being pretty inaccurate then, and in denial of certain culture, law and belief.
i love you all
There are different definitions of "meat."
A) The strictest is that muscles of an animal. This includes insects, beef, pork, cats, dogs, alligators, fish, whatever.
B) Another is the muscles of a warm-blooded animal (excluding fish, shellfish, insects, eggs, milk, etc).
C) A third is the material found inside nuts or certain fruits (i.e. coconut meat, the meat of an avocado).
D) The fourth is Catholic, as was mentioned. For Catholics, fish is NOT meat. It is it's own category (fish).
E) The fifth is soy-based "meats" which taste and look like pork or bacon or chicken but are not from an animal.
F), G), H), etc. There are other definitions for various traditions, including Jews, Seventh Day Adventists, and people involved in the culinary arts (where the distinction goes: meat, poultry, fish).
So, depending upon context, fish either are or are not meat. There is no single answer for all contexts: there is no single answer for all people. You have to live with ambiguity. Sorry!
World English Dictionary
"meat (mi?t)
— n
1. the flesh of mammals used as food, as distinguished from that of birds and fish"
In scientific terms this is correct, meat has a different substance than poultry and fish. And no, proteines do not define meat, beans and nuts are not meat. Stick to the corect terms please.
Fish is an animal not a vegie a d not a mineral.
Therefore its meat
Mmmm......meat
Im not vegetarian or vegan i guess. I dont eat any meat exept fish because beef and pork ect. Shares the same ph balance as us. Our bodies literally use nore energy to digest it than what is gets in return. Plus when u cook anything u lose most of the nutritional value it had in the first place. I eat only real whole food. No preservatives. And only real whole wheat. Most of the whole wheat they sell at the supermarket is riddled with artificial fillers and chemicals. Scientifically i lean towards fish not being considered meat, due to the ph balance. But thats just my opinion of course
If you don't eat red meat or poultry and the only meat you consume is fish, you are a pescetarian. It annoys me when people claim they are vegetarians that eat fish. That doesn't work. Vegetarians only eat plants and dairy products and DO NOT CONSUME ANY FLESH OF AN ANIMAL AKA MEAT. How hard can this debate be?
Rochelle Frank 2 years ago
It would be hard to define it as a vegetable, fruit or grain. Must be meat.