Vegan Laura Jayne Paterson is outraged by a decision by Aldi to describe a burger made from meat and beans as 'flexitarian'

A vegan blasted Aldi for 'trying to tap into a trend' by labelling a burger as flexitarian and claimed meat eaters were just trying to make themselves 'feel better'.

Laura Jayne Paterson took umbrage when she spotted the retail giant had branded meat and bean patties as 'BBQ flexitarian burgers' - slamming the decision as 'wrong' and a 'poxy bit of advertising to flog products'.

However Ms Paterson was branded a 'ranting hysterical bore' when her complaint spiralled into an online spat as she brazenly informed anyone who called themselves 'flexitarian' that they were just omnivores.

The 44-year-old then shared her vegan doctrine replying to others claiming it is 'a way of life' when quizzed by other commenters.

After complaining to the supermarket online that flexitarian 'is not a thing' and was in fact a 'poxy' marketing ploy, Aldi responded and said her comments would be passed on to colleagues.

Ms Paterson, from Nottingham, said: 'Flexitarian is a term used for someone who eats plant based but also has meat-based products when they want to.

'It's a relatively new term, but if you're eating meat, technically you're an omnivore.

'Someone who wants to eat a meat burger buys a meat burger. Calling it a flexitarian or 'flexi' burger is daft. It's just trying to tap into a trend.

Ms Paterson contacted Aldi on Facebook after seeing the burgers for sale. She told the supermarket chain that flexitariansm 'is not a thing'

Ms Paterson claimed that a Flexitarian is exactly the same as an Omnivore

Following her original post, other Facebook users started debating the issue with her

Some of the comments were less than original

'It's a strange bit of marketing. Maybe it's designed to make people feel better about what they're eating.'

Her initial post on Aldi's Facebook page posted earlier this week read: 'Are you taking the mickey? Is this for real?

'Flexitarian is not a thing. You either eat meat or you don't. Don't use Flexitarian as a poxy bit of advertising to flog your products.

'It's a meat burger and that's all there is to it. You've got this very wrong.'

While Ms Patterson concedes that padding out a burger with veg or beans may be a starting point for someone curious about vegan lifestyle, she was firmly against calling any burger with meat in 'flexitarian'.

Ms Paterson said: 'Anything that helps someone become vegan is great, but calling burgers flexi is meaningless.

'By all means pad out the burger with veg or beans to bulk it up and use less meat, but it's still using meat.

'Veganuary is a great stepping stone for people and even if only a small percentage of people keep it up, then at least it's a positive.

'The majority of vegans used to consume animal products - we've all been there.

'But once you realise what it means for the animals and the environment, you know not using or consuming animal products is the right thing to do.'

Self-professed flexitarian Marcus Riley commented on the Aldi post that he had embraced a flexitarian lifestyle but was bluntly told by Laura Jayne that he was an omnivore.

Marcus wrote: 'I'd say I'm a flexitarian. Just someone who reduces their intake of meat and has certain days I eat meat and other days I don't.

'Obviously some people would do this coincidentally without thinking about it but I purposely have days I don't eat meat.'

Laura Jayne replied: 'Marcus Riley You're an omnivore and just cutting down your meat intake. That's all there is to it.'

The Oxford Dictionary describes a flexitarian as 'a person who has a primarily vegetarian diet but occasionally eats meat or fish' while an omnivore is described as 'an animal or person that eats a variety of food of both plant and animal origin'.

Another commenter branded Laura Jayne 'a hysterical bore' and suggested she should encourage people to try this diet without pushing people into veganism.

Facebook user Robert John wrote: 'Do you feel the same about pescatarians?

'Surely you should be encouraging people to try this diet rather than pushing them straight to veganism where ranting like a hysterical bore becomes a massive side effect!'

Laura Jayne responded writing: 'Btw Robert John you're the one ranting like a hysterical bore.

'If my post upset you that much, just keep on scrolling and find something that makes you happy.'

One user suggested Laura Jayne would have had an issue with Gregg's vegan sausage rolls, however she praised the store for providing a vegan-friendly snack.

Scott MacLellan wrote: 'Are you getting butthurt over what they called a burger? Bet you went mental over vegan sausage rolls as well.'

Laura Jayne replied: 'Not had one Scott, but am happy that people can pick a bit of junk/snack food up if they want to.

Ms Paterson tried to interact with some of her critics who contacted her over Facebook

'The only people who went mental over vegan sausage rolls were meat eaters, like the delightful Piers Morgan!'

Laura Jayne said that she has had to deal with comments that weren't so favourable towards vegans.

Animal lover Laura Jayne said: 'Those kinds of comments are mainly online. Face to face you can have good interactions with people and good discussions about things without it ending in trading insults.'

'If someone is considering going vegan I would recommend joining some local online vegan groups and see what support is available.

'I'd also recommend looking at vegan food groups and see that vegans don't just eat grass.

'There are lots of small independent vegan shops out there and despite not agreeing with Aldi over the marketing of this product, the supermarkets are doing really well and making things easier than they have ever been.

'Food tastes so much better knowing no animals were harmed for it.'

Aldi were contacted for comment.