Vitamin B12 – The myth about vegan malnutrition

Yes, vitamin B12 is present in relevant amounts in animal products. For most non-vegans, this remains a major argument to justify eating animal foods. The fact is, however, that the vitamin B12 in animal products in most cases comes from fed vitamin supplements.

However, since animals in factory farming do not eat grass and thus also traces of microorganisms and soil on pasture – but rather a mix of various types of grain and preparations – the animals' feed must therefore be enriched with cobalt. In order for a cow in breeding stock to produce enough vitamin B12 to supply some humans – who in turn later eat its meat – the amount of cobalt added to the feed would have to be immensely high. In most cases, it is quicker, less complicated and cheaper to enrich animal feed directly with vitamin B12 instead of cobalt. Since pigs and chickens, just like us, cannot produce vitamin B12 in relevant quantities, the nutrient is also fed to these animals. Thus, in most cases, vitamin B12 from animal products is absorbed in the same way from artificial vitamin preparations. In this case, the animal is used as an intermediate supplier instead of supplementing it directly. When meat is eaten, one takes these supplements with it. One could save the way, in which one supplements it directly.