A vegan (pronounced ˈvēgən or ˈvejən) is someone who avoids consuming or using animal products. This includes a diet focused solely on plant-based foods like vegetables, grains, legumes, fruits, nuts, and seeds. Beyond diet, vegans also avoid animal-derived products such as leather, fur, silk, wool, and cosmetics tested on animals.
Veganism vs. Vegetarianism
While vegetarians avoid meat, fish, and poultry, vegans take it a step further by excluding all animal products and by-products. This includes eggs, dairy, honey, and even processed foods made with animal-derived ingredients like refined sugar or certain wines. Veganism also extends to lifestyle choices, avoiding non-food items like leather, fur, and wool.
Definition of Veganism
Veganism is both a diet and a philosophy. It involves abstaining from animal products and rejecting the commodification of sentient animals. A person who follows this lifestyle is called a vegan.
The Vegetarian Resource Group: Vegans avoid all animal products, including food and non-food items.
About.com: Veganism excludes meat, eggs, dairy, and any animal-derived ingredients, often extending to products tested on animals.
Wikipedia: Veganism is the practice of avoiding animal products, rooted in a philosophy that opposes the exploitation of animals.
Who is Vegan?
For a comprehensive list of notable vegans, you can refer to the List of Vegans on Wikipedia. This list includes celebrities, athletes, and activists who follow a vegan lifestyle.
A. Breeze Harper, Critical race theorist and activist, United States
Al Gore, Politician and environmentalist, United States
Alicia Silverstone, Actress, United States
Amos Bronson Alcott, Activist, Writer, United States
Axel Fernando, Singer-songwriter, Argentine
Belinda Stronach, Businesswoman, Canada
Benjamin Zephaniah, Poet, United Kingdom
Bethany Black, Comedian, United Kingdom
Brendan Brazier, Athlete, Canada
Capleton, Musician, Jamaica
Carl Lewis, Athlete, United States
Cathy Jamieson, Politician, United Kingdom
Cesar Chavez, Farm workers union leader, United States
Charles Lane, Transcendentalist, United Kingdom
Coretta Scott King, Author, United States
Cory Booker, Politician, United States
Ellen Oléria, Singer-songwriter, actress, Brazil
Ellie Harrison, Artist, United Kingdom
Erykah Badu, Singer-songwriter, United States
George Church, Scientist, United States
Gulu Lalvani, Entrepreneur, India
Ingrid Newkirk, Animal rights activist, United Kingdom
Jane Goodall, Primatologist and anthropologist, United Kingdom
Janez Drnovšek, Politician, Slovenia
Karyn Calabrese, Chef, United States
Kerry McCarthy, Politician, United Kingdom
HRH Prince Khaled bin Alwaleed bin Talal, Prince of Saudi Arabia, businessman, Saudi Arabia
Lisa Winter, Engineer, roboticist, and television personality, United States
Maneka Gandhi, Politician, India
Nicole Lapin, American television news anchor, author, and businesswoman, United States