This is one of the things im more harsh on because it comes off very sheltered, emotional & ignorant.
Especially when you try to make a fanfic law and headcannon that restricts everyone else when you dont even know what youre talking about in the first place.
Plants are also very much alive & concious of whats happening to them but just because they dont have eyes nor a recognizable body you feel better about it in your own logic. And theres f***ed up things in cultivation as well such as overgrowing, deforestation & chemicals (which I agree isnt right either).
Eating is life. Life isnt always fair or comfortable. Animals for sure know this pretty well.