Anyone who has strolled along the non-dairy milk aisle of their local supermarket undoubtedly came across products labeled as “vegan” or “plant-based” before. Food brands oftentimes use these two terms interchangeably, causing many consumers to falsely believe that they are synonymous (1). In fact, vegan and plant-based diets differ vastly in various regards! Learn more about the most important differences below.
What is Veganism?
The British founder of The Vegan Society, Donald Watson, first coined the term “vegan” in 1944 in order to describe people who, besides not eating meat and fish like regular vegetarians, also didn’t consume dairy and eggs. But vegans existed long before the 20th century.
Greek philosopher Pythagoras abstained from eating animal foods, making him an early advocate of strict vegetarianism dating back to the 6th century BC. The Arab poet al-Ma’arri (c.973- c.1057) was also among the earliest known vegans. In his works, he advocated for animal rights and welfare (2). But what does “being vegan” actually mean?
According to The Vegan Society, “Veganism is a 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” (3). Vegans commit to a lifestyle that is free of any animal products. This includes the dietary aspect, which excludes the consumption of meats, fish, poultry, dairy, and eggs. Further, vegans also avoid using cosmetics tested on animals and animal-based textiles, such as leather or wool.
Those who live a vegan lifestyle are typically motivated by ethical, environmental, or health reasons. However, being vegan doesn’t automatically imply a healthy diet. Especially with the wide array of vegan processed foods on the market, vegans can live entirely off of Oreos (yes, they’re vegan!) , potato chips, and french fries if they so desire. Learning about what the features of a healthy (vegan) diet are is key! Visit the Nutrition category if you want to know more.
What Does “Plant-Based” Mean?
The term “plant-based” is more flexible than the term “vegan”, because no singular definition of the concept exists. Generally, a plant-based person consumes mostly, or even exclusively, plant foods. Vegans are always plant-based, while those ascribing to a plant-based diet aren’t necessarily vegan. But, unlike vegans, someone with a plant-based diet may still choose to consume little amounts of meat, dairy, or other animal products.
Being plant-based doesn’t inherently have the ethical connotation that veganism does. Instead, a plant-based diet is oftentimes solely health-oriented. The term actually originated in the health-science community, with the purpose of describing a diet consisting predominantly of plants but without the leniency of a vegan lifestyle.
What is “Whole-Food” Plant-Based?
One of the most popular specifications of the plant-based diet is the whole-food plant-based version. Besides minimizing or completely excluding animal-based foods, someone who eats this way primarily consumes unprocessed and minimally refined plant products such as fruits, (starchy) vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Products such as bleached flour, refined sweeteners, and oils are oftentimes avoided. However, similarly to other plant-based diets, the label “whole-food” plant-based has no strict definition.
If you still find the exact distinctions between vegan, plant-based, and whole-food plant-based confusing, here’s a handy chart from the EcoWorlder Instagram account to make your life easier!
Key Takeaways
- Veganism is a lifestyle. Vegans don’t eat any animal products or consume animal-based cosmetics and textiles.
- The term “plant-based” is flexible. Hereby some people still eat small amounts of animal products.
- “Whole-food” plant-based refers to a version of the plant-based diet which minimizes processed and refined foods.
References
(1) https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/voraciously/wp/2019/02/15/how-plant-based-rebranded-vegan-eating-for-the-mainstream/
(2) Margoliouth, D. S. (15 March 2011). “Art. XI.—Abu’l-‘Alā al- Ma’arrī’s Correspondence on Vegetarianism”. Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain & Ireland. 34 (2): 289–332. doi:10.1017/s0035869x0002921x. JSTOR 25208409.
(3) https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism