Is this product vegan?
Not sure how to tell if a product is suitable for vegans? Need help finding vegan-suitable products? This section will show you how!
What does ‘vegan’ mean?
Veganism is a way of living which seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practical, the use of animals for food, clothing and any other purpose.
Instead, vegans choose from the many different types of food, clothing and other products which are not made with the use of animals.
What makes a product suitable for vegans?
1) It is free from animal ingredients or materials
In terms of food, this means the product does not contain meat, fish, animals’ milk, egg or honey, or any other animal-derived substances such as gelatine.
2) It has not been tested on animals
For example, to be eligible for the Vegan Society’s Trademark, the product and its ingredients must not have been tested on animals by or for the manufacturer.
If a product is vegan, this means it is also suitable for the many other consumers who seek non-animal tested products, for example ‘cruelty-free’ cosmetics.
How can I tell if a product is suitable for vegans?
Step 1: Look for the Vegan Society’s Trademark on the packaging (pictured):
If the product doesn’t display the Trademark:
Step 2: Read the label - for example, look if the label says 'suitable for vegans', look at the allergy advice and ingredients (food), or look at the materials label (clothing/shoes)
More advice about reading labels
For the vast majority of food products and clothing, you will have worked out by now whether or not the product is vegan. Cosmetics may require a bit more research if the product is not labelled ‘suitable for vegans’.
If you still can’t tell or are unsure:
Step 3: Look on the company’s website for information about their products
If their website doesn’t have this information:
Step 4: Contact the company to ask if the product is suitable
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