A vegan vocabulary, defined plainly.

Sanskrit for non-harming.

A central ethical principle in Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism. Ahimsa toward all sentient beings is the historical foundation of South Asian vegetarian and vegan practice.

Plant source of EPA and DHA omega-3s — what fish actually eat.

Sustainable, mercury-free, microplastic-free. Available as capsules or liquid; same biological benefits as fish oil.

Farming aquatic animals — fish, shrimp, shellfish — in tanks, nets or ponds.

Often called 'sustainable fishing', but fish farms create concentrated pollution, drive wild-fish demand for feed, and spread disease to wild populations.

The viscous liquid from cooked chickpeas; whips like egg whites.

Discovered by amateur cooks in 2014, aquafaba replaces egg whites in meringues, mayonnaise, mousses and baked goods.

A bacterially-produced vitamin essential for nerve and blood health.

Not made by plants OR animals — only by microorganisms. Vegans supplement directly; farmed animals are supplemented too. Cheap, effective, non-negotiable.

Wire cage system holding laying hens at high density.

Banned in the EU since 2012 but still used in the US and much of the world. Each hen typically gets less floor space than a sheet of A4 paper.

A 15th-century Indian community whose religion forbids killing animals or felling trees.

In 1730, 363 Bishnoi were killed protecting khejri trees from being cut — the inspiration for the modern Chipko environmental movement.

Non-target marine animals caught and discarded by fishing gear.

Global bycatch is estimated at 10–40% of total catch. For every kg of shrimp trawled, 5–20 kg of other animals can be killed.

Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation — the US regulatory term for factory farms.

Defined by EPA thresholds for number of animals and waste output. Over 90% of US farmed animals are raised in CAFOs.

2012 statement by leading neuroscientists affirming consciousness in non-human animals.

Signed at Cambridge University; concluded that mammals, birds and many other animals — including octopuses — possess neural substrates of consciousness.

The invisible belief system that conditions people to eat certain animals.

Term coined by psychologist Dr. Melanie Joy. Names the cultural framework that lets a society pet dogs and eat pigs without seeing a contradiction.

Thickener extracted from red seaweed; plant-based.

Used in many vegan ice creams, plant milks and meat alternatives. Some debate around degraded forms; food-grade carrageenan is generally recognized as safe.

The main protein in mammal milk.

Often hidden in 'non-dairy' products like coffee creamers and processed cheese substitutes. Always check labels.

Greenhouse gas emissions associated with a product, expressed in CO₂-equivalent.

Beef has the highest per-gram footprint of common foods; pulses and grains the lowest. Animal foods drive the majority of global food emissions.

A protein containing all nine essential amino acids in adequate amounts.

Soy, quinoa, buckwheat and amaranth are complete on their own. The body pools amino acids across the day, so the older 'complementary protein' rule is unnecessary.

Animals like lobsters, crabs and shrimp — now legally recognized as sentient in the UK.

The UK Animal Welfare (Sentience) Act 2022 added decapod crustaceans to the list of sentient beings, following peer-reviewed evidence of pain perception.

Meat grown from animal cells without raising or killing the animal.

Also called cell-cultured or lab-grown meat. Approved in Singapore (2020), US (2023) and Israel (2024). Still small-scale and expensive vs. plant-based alternatives.

The room where dairy cows are mechanically milked, typically two to three times a day.

Cows are kept pregnant on a roughly annual cycle to maintain milk production; calves are removed within hours of birth.

Permanent removal of forest, often for pasture or animal feed crops.

Beef and soy for animal feed are responsible for ~80% of Amazon deforestation. Without animal agriculture, the global agricultural land footprint could shrink by ~75%.

The point when greenhouse gases in the atmosphere stop climbing and begin to decline.

Project Drawdown ranks plant-rich diets as one of the top 5 most impactful climate solutions.

A philosophy advocating doing the most good per resource spent.

Many animal-advocacy organizations apply EA principles — focusing on the highest-impact interventions, including farmed animal welfare.

Nutrient pollution that creates oxygen-starved 'dead zones' in water bodies.

Largely driven by manure and fertilizer runoff from animal agriculture. The Gulf of Mexico dead zone is fed by the Mississippi Basin's livestock and feed-crop runoff.

Industrial animal agriculture optimized for output over welfare.

Produces over 90% of farmed land animals globally. Defined by high stocking density, breeds bred for extreme productivity, and routine antibiotic use.

Plant or synthetic alternatives to animal leather.

Includes Piñatex (pineapple leaf), Mylo (mushroom), Desserto (cactus), apple leather, recycled PU. Lower water and land footprint than chrome-tanned cow leather.

How many kg of feed it takes to produce 1 kg of animal product.

Cattle: ~25:1 for grain-fed beef. Pigs: ~6:1. Chickens: ~3:1. Eating the plants directly skips the loss.

Someone who eats mostly plant-based but occasionally consumes animal products.

The most popular dietary identity worldwide. Major reductions in animal-product consumption at the flexitarian level have outsized impact at scale.

Liver fattened by force-feeding ducks or geese.

Banned in the UK, Germany, Italy, Argentina and several US states/cities. The bird's liver swells to roughly 10× normal size.

A protein extracted by boiling animal skin, bones and connective tissue.

Hidden in marshmallows, gummies, capsules, some yoghurts, jellies and beer-fining. Vegan substitutes: agar-agar, pectin, carrageenan.

Metal stall used to confine pregnant pigs for the duration of pregnancy.

The crate is typically narrower than the sow's body, preventing her from turning around. Banned across the EU during pregnancy after the first 4 weeks; still legal in much of the world.

Food made by bees from flower nectar to feed their colony.

Commercial production routinely replaces honey with sugar water, clips queens' wings, and trucks hives across continents for pollination contracts.

Plant-based dietary tradition of Rastafari, rooted in the idea of 'livity' (life-force).

Ital food is typically vegan, unprocessed, salt-free or low-salt, and locally grown.

Indian religion practicing rigorous non-violence to all life for ~2,500 years.

Strict Jains avoid root vegetables (to spare the plant and soil organisms), and many practice radical non-violence even toward insects.

Indian black salt with a strong sulfurous, egg-like flavor.

Essential for tofu scrambles, vegan quiches and chickpea omelettes. Small pinch goes a long way.

Animal skin treated to prevent decay.

Not a 'byproduct' but a co-product worth billions per year, sharing the cattle supply chain. Major leather sources include cattle in Brazil, India and Bangladesh.

A greenhouse gas roughly 80× more potent than CO₂ over 20 years.

Livestock — especially cattle — account for ~30% of global anthropogenic methane emissions through enteric fermentation and manure.

Plant-based products designed to mimic the taste and texture of meat.

From tempeh and seitan (centuries old) to Beyond and Impossible (modern). Bridges culinary habits — useful for transition, not a requirement.

Cutting strips of skin from lambs' rear without anesthetic to prevent flystrike.

Standard practice in Australian merino wool production. Banned in New Zealand since 2018; the UK and EU have major retailers phasing it out of supply chains.

Deactivated yeast flakes with a cheese-like, umami flavor.

Often fortified with B12. Common uses: pasta, popcorn, soups, vegan cheese sauces, scrambled tofu.

Someone who eats fish but no other animal flesh.

Not vegetarian. Fish are sentient and capable of pain; an estimated 1–3 trillion fish are killed annually for food.

A diet free of animal products — often used to describe the food without the ethical framework.

All vegans eat plant-based; not all plant-based eaters consider themselves vegan.

The decline of wild pollinators driven by pesticides, monocultures, and intensive livestock-feed agriculture.

Wild pollinator loss threatens 75% of global food crops. Industrial animal-feed monoculture is a major driver.

Someone deliberately reducing their consumption of animal products without eliminating entirely.

Movement founded by Brian Kateman; emphasizes incremental change at scale over individual purity.

Enzyme traditionally extracted from the stomach lining of calves to coagulate cheese.

Microbial and plant-based rennets are now widely used. Always check cheese labels if going dairy-free is a goal.

Hindu/Ayurvedic dietary concept — foods considered pure, light and harmony-giving.

Typically excludes meat, fish, eggs, alcohol, onions and garlic. The basis of much South Asian temple cuisine.

The capacity to feel, perceive and experience subjectively.

The 2012 Cambridge Declaration on Consciousness affirmed sentience in mammals, birds and many other animals including octopuses.

Japanese Buddhist temple cuisine — entirely plant-based.

Centuries old. Emphasizes seasonality, balance of five flavors and colors, and minimal waste.

Assigning different moral value to beings based purely on species membership.

Term popularized by Peter Singer's 1975 book Animal Liberation. The argument is that species, like race or sex, is not a morally relevant criterion for ignoring suffering.

The legally required step of rendering an animal unconscious before slaughter.

Methods include captive bolt, electric, and gas (CO₂). Industry audits document stunning-failure rates of 5–10% in cattle and higher in poultry.

Indonesian fermented soybean cake, dense and protein-rich.

Higher in protein and fiber than tofu, with a firm texture that holds up to grilling, frying and braising.

Coagulated soy milk pressed into blocks.

Originated in China ~2,000 years ago. Comes in silken, soft, firm and extra-firm; calcium-set varieties are also a notable calcium source.

A way of living that seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation of animals.

Term coined by Donald Watson in 1944. Covers food, clothing, cosmetics and entertainment — not just diet.

Annual challenge to eat vegan for the month of January.

Founded 2014 in the UK. Over 1 million participants signed up in 2024 across 200+ countries. Major brands launch vegan products around it.

Someone who does not eat the flesh of animals (meat, poultry, fish).

Lacto-vegetarians include dairy; ovo-vegetarians include eggs; lacto-ovo-vegetarians include both. Vegans exclude both.

Pure wheat protein, used to make seitan.

Mix with water, herbs and broth; knead; simmer or steam. Produces dense, meaty texture suitable for cutlets, sausages and roasts.

Liquid byproduct of cheese-making — a milk protein.

Common in protein powders, biscuits, baked goods and 'plain' crisps. Always check labels if avoiding dairy.