My coworker blabbed to the others that I don't eat meat, despite me trying to keep it a secret to not be hated, and two of my other coworkers attacked me and started saying that I would die without meat and started saying pseudo-science stuff like collagen in her food (which does nothing) etc., I smiled and nodded because I didn't want to argue, but deep inside I was so angry. 50% of the reason why I ditched meat was my congenital health problem and the other 50% is disagreement with specicism (of course it's only the last reason for other forms of exploitation).

How can anyone tell a person that they would die without meat to a person who not only doesn't want, but physically can't eat it? Do they have empathy at least for humans?

On the positive side, I put that coworker in place in the following dialogue:

— He doesn't eat meat until he gets anemia

— Nope, my hemoglobin has been totally fine

— Yet
— For 10 years straight now

And she didn't know what to reply with lol