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Revision #42 (current version) as edited by itsvegan editors on Thu, Oct 29, 2026 · 10:03 · “Initial version by the itsvegan editors”

Veganism

Veganism is the practice of abstaining from the use of animal products, particularly in diet, and an associated philosophy that rejects the commodity status of animals. A person who follows the diet or the philosophy is known as a vegan. The word was coined in 1944 by Donald Watson and other founding members of the Vegan Society in England, who took the first three and last two letters of “vegetarian” to mark what Watson described as “the beginning and end of vegetarian”. See history of veganism for the background.

Definition

The most widely cited definition comes from the Vegan Society, which adopted the following wording in its Memorandum and Articles of Association in 1979:

“Veganism is a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of animals, humans and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.”

Two features of this definition are frequently discussed. First, the phrase “as far as is possible and practicable” acknowledges that complete avoidance of animal use is not always achievable, for example where medicines are required by law to be tested on animals. Second, the definition extends beyond food to clothing and “any other purpose”, covering areas such as vegan fashion, cruelty-free cosmetics and entertainment involving animals.

What vegans avoid

In dietary terms, vegans do not consume:

  • meat, poultry, fish and other seafood
  • dairy products such as milk, cheese, butter and yoghurt
  • eggs
  • honey and other bee products (most vegans avoid these, although the issue is occasionally debated)
  • ingredients derived from animals, such as gelatin, casein, whey, carmine and isinglass (see hidden animal ingredients)

Outside of diet, many vegans avoid leather, wool, silk, fur and down, cosmetics and household products tested on animals, and activities such as circuses that use animals.

Dietary and ethical veganism

A distinction is commonly drawn between dietary veganism, in which a person eats no animal products but may not apply the principle elsewhere, and ethical veganism, in which the person rejects the use of animals across all areas of life. People who follow a vegan diet primarily for health reasons sometimes describe themselves as eating a “plant-based” diet instead; the overlap and differences between these terms are discussed in plant-based vs vegan.

Motivations

People adopt veganism for a range of reasons, which frequently overlap:

  1. Animal ethics – objections to the killing of animals and to conditions in factory farming, the dairy industry and the egg industry, often framed in terms of speciesism or animal rights.
  2. Environmental concerns – the land use, water use, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions associated with livestock (see environmental impact of animal agriculture and veganism and climate change).
  3. Health – interest in the potential benefits of diets rich in whole plant foods.
  4. Religious or spiritual reasons – some practitioners of traditions that emphasise non-violence (ahimsa), such as Jainism, adopt diets that are vegan or close to it.

Nutrition

Major dietetic organisations, including the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics in the United States and the British Dietetic Association, have stated that appropriately planned vegan diets can be healthful and suitable for people at all stages of life. Planning is important for certain nutrients, most notably vitamin B12, which vegans need to obtain from fortified foods or supplements. Other nutrients that warrant attention include vitamin D, iodine, calcium, iron, zinc, Omega-3 fatty acids and protein. Guidance for specific groups is covered in vegan pregnancy and children and vegan athletes.

Prevalence

Estimates of the number of vegans vary considerably depending on how surveys are worded, and figures should be treated with caution. Self-identification surveys can overstate prevalence, since some respondents who describe themselves as vegan report occasionally eating animal products. In the United States, Gallup polls have found the share of adults identifying as vegan to be in the low single digits, with its 2018 survey reporting 3% and its 2023 survey reporting 1%. Interest in vegan food has nonetheless grown markedly since the 2010s, reflected in the expansion of plant-based milks, meat alternatives and campaigns such as veganuary.

Terminology

Related terms include vegetarian (avoiding meat and fish but usually consuming dairy and eggs), plant-based, flexitarian (mostly plant-based with occasional meat) and raw vegan. A fuller list is available in the vegan glossary. Products and businesses that meet vegan criteria are often identified through vegan certifications and labels.

See also