banjoman, I think some of these things, however named, make a convenient form of food. Regardless of how it is made, a burger shaped object that you can say simply grill for a few minutes each side is handy.

Of course vegetarianism and related diets do seem to have changed over time and there can be different outlooks. Both my parents are vegetarians of a dairy and egg eating variety but when and why they changed differ. Mum, as a young child got upset over hearing of the fate of her favourite piglet and dad’s came sometime in his late (I think) 40s/early 50s for health reasons. One difference between the two is that mum was initially hesitant to try the Quorn I (not vegetarian but usually have the same meals) I use in the form for fillets (which look a bit like chicken breasts) or the mince (with which I make a “cottage pie”). As far as she was concerned, when I first tried the fillets, she’s “never” liked meat and doesn’t see why things should have to look like a cut of meat.

Fast forward to now and I read of companies vying to produce the most authentic possible Vegan beef burger and I guess even I get lost there. But as far as I’m concerned, if I really wanted a genuine beef burger, I’d have one but quite often would prefer some form of vegetable patty/bake instead. It’s a choice to me.

I guess it can all get rather complicated and confusing. I can also have my own doubts about meat eating but have so far tended towards the “all food is good food” lines and at least try to leave other people’s choices and reasoning to themselves.