FAQs about veganism

 

What does the term "vegan" mean?

A person whose lifestyle excludes all forms of animal products including meat, fish and poultry, eggs, dairy, gelatine, honey, leather, wool and silk.

 

Where does the term "vegan" come from?

The word vegan is a contraction of vegetarian and was coined in the UK in 1944 by the pioneers of the first Vegan Society in the world.

 

So you don't eat meat?

No. No animal flesh of any kind.

 

And you don't eat fish?

No. Fish are animals too but a lot of people seem to think of them as a different category so we have included it separately to be explicit. So no we don't eat fish.

 

And you don't even eat diary products?

Nope. No milk, cheese, butter or eggs.

 

And you don't even have the odd bit of honey?

No way.

 

Honey is an animal product so we don't eat that either.

 

But surely a bit of honey does not do you or the bees any harm?

You'd be surprised. See "Why honey is not vegan" for an excellent article.

 

The vegan ethic says that the way to be certain is to consume no animal or animal derived products.

 

So what do you eat?

Well without animals or animal derived ingredients there's only all the vegetables, fruit, nuts, crops, and artificially produced products left!

 

Believe you me we don't miss out. Every one who isn't a vegan that comes to our meals is really surprised that it is quite easy and best of all very tasty.

 

Why not try it for just one day.

 

Where can I find out more about veganism on the web?

Start with the Vegan Society, the UKs official vegan society and the oldest in the world.

 

Another excellent UK resource is the Vegan Village.