Its not a vegetable.

1) Mushrooms are not vegetables, they are not plants and they are not animals. They are fungi: "Mushroom(s) are the fleshy, spore-bearing fruiting bodies of fungi typically produced above ground on soil or on their food sources." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mushroom 2) "For a long time taxonomists considered fungi to be members of the Plant Kingdom." "However, the fungi are now considered a separate kingdom, distinct from both plants and animals, from which they appear to have diverged approximately one billion years ago. Many studies have identified several distinct morphological, biochemical, and genetic features in the Fungi, clearly delineating this group from the other kingdoms. For these reasons, the fungi are placed in their own kingdom, Eumycota." Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fungi 3) Most vegetarians and vegans consider eating mushrooms to be OK for them. Me too. Here some examples: " Around 1,000lbs of mushrooms are sold in every average sized supermarket each week - Mushrooms are full of nutrients, particularly B vitamins, potassium, magnesium, selenium, copper and zinc. - Some types of mushroom, such as oyster and shitake, boost the immune system and help lower cholesterol. - Mushrooms are a perfect alternative to meat in recipes that call for a certain type of ‘chew’ and intense savoury flavour. It’s no wonder they’re so popular with vegetarians!" Source: http://www.vegsoc.org/press/pressarchive/vw3.html "Mushrooms have good nutritional value and are an important part of today's healthy diet. Eat them raw or lightly cooked to obtain the most benefit.": Source: http://www.vegsoc.org/cordonvert/articles/mushroom.html "Mycoprotein is a food made by continuous fermentation of the fungus, Fusarium gramineurum.": Source: http://www.vegsoc.org/info/soya.html#myco "do i eat too many mushrooms ....... they are so good": http://www.calorie-count.com/forums/post/38850.html "Conquering Fear of Fungi": http://www.vrg.org/recipes/mushroom.htm 4) I found this: "And I won't eat mushrooms. Mushrooms are not vegetarian. They eat other plants and animals. They are heterotrophs. I don't eat things that eat other plants and animals." But if you read the whole posting, you will find out that they were not really meaning it. It was a controversy thread where mainly vegetarian and vegan discussed about the issue "Vegetarianism motivated by animal welfare is illogical because it ignores the cruelty involved in producing milk and eggs." Source: http://jyte.com/cl/vegetarianism-motivated-by-animal-welfare-is-illogical-becuase-it-ignores-the-cruelty-involved-in-producing-milk-and-eggs Generally the vegan support this, the vegetarian don't. So a Vegetarian was telling a vegan that if the vegan were so conscious about killers in nature, they should not eat fungi because fungi are killing animals. But this was just to point out at the problems involved with some arguments. 5) here an example of an insect killing fungus: "An entomopathogenic fungus is a fungus that can act as a parasite of insects and kills or seriously disables them." Source and further information: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Entomopathogenic_fungi

In reserach I've found the mushrooms to be more of the animal kingdom than the plant kingdom because of the large amount of "chitin" they contain.Those who eat a vegan diet would not find them suitable for consumption. Check out www.wettropics.gov.au/pa/pa_fungi_info.html Charity

It's neither a plant nor an animal. It's in kingdom fungi. True they are heterotrophs (meaning they eat other organisms), but not eating heterotrophs seems like an odd reason to be vegetarian. I don't eat animals because they have nervous systems, so they can think and feel pain. (And also because it's healthier.)

I am a vegetarian, i eat mushroom. Its up to the individual, it all depends what was the main purpose of one becoming a vegetarian. I don't want to do cruelty to animals, but some non-vegetarian friends of mine argue that I still kill plant. What am I to do, just breath? Even then, I am still killing millions of germs, etc. Punz

In my opinion and some research, Mushrooms is a fungus and should not be treated as a vegetable. I hate to find Mushrooms in my vegetable soup. I hate to find Mushrooms in my salad. They should be left on alone and let people and ask for them if they want it. I don't want to have to find out if there will be Mushroom in my soup or in my salad. Who would want to eat fungi? Fungi are killing us. And it has been found that Mushrooms are carcinogenic which is a natural toxin. Bottom line; if you think is good for you, eat it, but restaurants shouldn’t consider them as a vegetable.