The Definition of Veganism

 

The development and understanding of veganism over the previous 80 years or so has seen several definitions emerge, and with the rapid growth of veganism over the last decade or so, it’s true to say that the understanding of what veganism truly means has shifted somewhat, into a more consumer based lifestyle choice with a focus on plant based food, rather than the ethics and morals and an understanding of vegan philosophy and the animal rights position. To an extent that is to be expected – after all, the lure of a vegan doughnut or new vegan ice cream is always going to a bit more tempting that a delve into the whys and wherefores of veganism, but as we move beyond the plant based revolution and into a world where more and more plant based is becoming available and in many cases the default option, it’s important to understand what veganism really means. 

 

Veganism has seen several definitions emerge over the last 80 years or so, beginning with Leslie Cross’ version in 1951. Leslie, an animal rights activist and vice-president of The Vegan Society commented that “The object of the Society shall be to end the exploitation of animals by man”; and ‘The word veganism shall mean the doctrine that man should live without exploiting animals”. Leslie went on to write several essays defining veganism and its principles, including The Surge of Freedom in 1954

 

In 1979 a new definition was introduced by The Vegan Society, refined in 1988, and recognisable as the ‘official’ definition of veganism today by The Vegan Society. 

‘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 humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.’

 

It’s useful to note that the 1979/88 definition includes both the focus and the scope of veganism, and the 2^nd part of the definition (‘and by extension…’) is important, as it includes benefits for humans and the planet as part of its definition. Its also useful to note that the definition describes veganism as a philosophy or way of life, before commenting on ‘dietary terms’ – very much underlining that veganism is more than ‘just’ a diet – something which isn’t always understood these days.

 

The definition carries an important loophole – ‘wherever practicable and possible’. This means that vegans choose non animal products if able to be done or put into practice successfully. This does not mean ‘where practical’, and an example of this may be when taking medication – most medication is tested on animals or contains animal ingredients, and people taking medicine may not have a choice in the matter and be obliged to take non vegan medicines. The definition recognises that in a non-vegan world, it’s not always possible to choose vegan options.

 

Another useful way of explaining veganism – ‘A position opposed to the willful commodification of all animals.’ And it could be said that veganism is a set of lifestyle choices that follows this position. The important aspect to note is that veganism focuses principally on ending the use of all animals, whilst its broad scope includes the benefits of veganism for humans and the planet – and that veganism is a philosophy or way of life, and more than just a diet.

 

 

A question that is often asked is – how do you know if someone is vegan or not. And apart from the rather tired old joke (don’t worry, they’ll soon tell you’), the best way to define a vegan person is someone who follows the philosophy of veganism. Veganism has been somewhat reduced in meaning these days, and you may well hear people say that they are ‘80% vegan’ or ‘sometimes vegan’ – this is a misunderstanding of what veganism means. What they really mean is they eat a pretty much plant-based diet, which is  a big step forward, but also different from veganism – and can give rise to the ‘accusation’s’ that they are ‘not a proper vegan’. When we understand veganism as a philosophy or a position we take against the willful commodification of all animals, as distinct from eating a plant-based diet, then these misunderstandings are then cleared up. To be vegan means taking a position against all animal use – including animals used for entertainment, clothing, research and other uses, as well as food, & eating a plant-based diet, and is a justice for all philosophy encompassing all sentient beings..

 

 

Vegan food is again slightly different in its definition – in part because of contamination issues. There are multiple products that are registered as vegan or carry the Vegan Society Trademark, which may have very low levels of contamination of animal product. This can usually be seen by the allergy warnings on the back of products – they may say ‘may contain’ traces of dairy, egg etc because they are made in the same factory as one handling non vegan items. Many vegans recognise a small amount of trace contamination may be acceptable, others will look for products made in vegan only factories and units, to ensure 100% free from any contaminants. This is a grey area for some products – chocolate being a good example due to quite high levels of contamination that have been found in the manufacturing process. Generally speaking,  if a product carries the Vegan Society Trademark it is considered suitable for vegans, but not necessarily for allergy sufferers. There are a few different vegan logos and certifications – the Vegan Society currently registers over 70,000 products worldwide and is considered the ‘gold standard’ for whether a product or food is considered vegan or not, or suitable for vegans. To be 100% sure to avoid cross contamination, it is possible to source products from vegan owned factories and manufacturing units where only plant based ingredients are used and the business run to ethical standards consistent with veganism.

 

 

Benny Malone – Defining Veganism 

(Forca Vegan Issue 4 Page 20)