Two vegans who fed their 11 month old daughter only on her mother’s breast milk went on trial in northern France on Tuesday. They have been charged with neglect after their baby died as a result of suffering from vitamin deficiencies and could face up to 30 years in prison if convicted.

Sergine and Joel Le Moaligou called the emergency services in March 2008 after becoming worried about their baby Louise’s lethargic appearance.

She had already died before medical attention arrived. The emergency services then called the police because the child was pale and thin and weighed about 5.7kg compared to an average 8kg for her age.

Their vegan diet had forbidden the consumption of any animal products including eggs and cow’s milk, which led to the deficiencies according to an autopsy.

Anne-Laure Sandretto, deputy prosecutor in the city of Amiens where the trial is taking place, said “The problem of vitamin B12 deficiency could be linked to the mother’s diet.”

Stephane Daquo, the mother’s lawyer explained that they became vegan after seeing “a television programme about how cattle were taken to abattoirs.”

Daquo continued:

The couple did not follow the doctor’s advice to hospitalise the baby who was suffering from bronchitis and was losing weight when they went for the nine-month check-up.

They preferred applying clay or cabbage poultices whose recipes they found in their books. These are people who read the wrong thing at the wrong time.

Maybe the breast milk food phase will fade out now.

[Source: Yahoo]