Link: "Academic Impacts of Vegetarian Childhoods"

[Korn]

Here's a link to an article from 2000 about B12 levels in children vegan/vegetarian children.

(Just a little reminder: I don't necessarily agree in articles I post link to, and this article definitely deserves some comments...)

[Hemlock]

It's all very subjective really. My son was brought up vegetarian, he has a degree and is a recognised artist, cartoonist and illustrator (his latest work can be see in 100% biker magazine he does the comic strip - Goldfish - blatant plug)
We only ate wholefoods, home cooked food a huge variety of food and all fresh. We did not tend to eat puddings or junk.
There are many types of vegetarian/vegan. Some eat almost entirely processed junk food and if you add a fussy or picky eater to that then yes they are going to have deficiencies.
Anyone eating a proper balanced wholefood diet shouldn't have any problems.

[harpy]

At a quick read, I don't think they are saying ovo-lacto-vegetarians are very likely to be at risk of B12 deficiency, just those who avoid "animal-based foods", i.e. those with vegan and similar (e.g. macrobiotic) diets.

FWIW if I had a vegan child I would want to give it a B12 supplement and/or fortified foods, same as I have myself.