What is veganism
Veganism is the belief and the lifestyle followed by people who avoid using animals and food and other products made using animals. A vegan (an adherent to veganism) basically commits to abstaining from the consumption of the use of all animal products. These may include meat, fish, poultry, honey, eggs, dairy products and articles made out of fur, wool, bone, leather, feathers, pearls, coral, etc. Some vegans also do not use medicines tested on animals.
There are many reasons for adopting veganism. These could be ethical, environmental, and personal reasons like health, spirituality, or even religious reasons.
According to a survey conducted by Time/CNN about 0.2% of adult Americans are vegans.
In the United Kingdom, only 0.25% of the population is vegan.
As per the British Vegan Society, the definition of veganism is: “a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude – as far as is possible and practical – 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 regards to diet the British Vegan Society says, “the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals.”
The definitions of the American Vegan Society are quite similar.
As per veganism, “animal product” can be anything derived from animals for human use. So while human breast milk is fed to babies it is okay but a human being cannot drink the milk of a cow or any milk giving animal because it is designated as an “animal product”.
Other animal products include: meat, poultry, fish, eggs, fur, leather, wool, pearls. There are even byproducts that are avoided by vegans, some of them are: gelatin, lanolin, rennet, and whey. Insect derivatives include: silk, honey, beeswax, shellac, and cochineal.
Some vegans will also avoid cane sugar filtered with bone char or beer and wine clarified with albumen. Others will avoid food cooked in utensils used for cooking non-vegan foods.
Toothpastes containing calcium extracted from animal bones are also among the list of items to be avoided. Same goes for soap.
Vegans also do not support industries that use animals. Circuses and zoos are included in this category.
The word vegan (pronounced vee-gun) was derived from the word vegetarian in 1994.
Elsie Shrigley and Donald Watson had become frustrated because “vegetarian” had included dairy products and so they formed the UK Vegan Society. The first three and last two letters in “vegetarian” were combined to get “vegan”.
Since then, 1994, the word vegan has grown to include people who have a common interest in eliminating animal products from all aspects of their lives and not merely the avoidance of eating animals.
