What Makes a Product Vegan-friendly?

Jul 20, 2022 Vegan

It’s important to understand what veganism is and that it means different things to different people (and no one is wrong). There is also a difference between eating as a vegan and living a fully vegan lifestyle. A vegan, in general terms, is someone who does not eat anything that comes from animals and won’t use/actively avoids using other animal products. From a food point of view, this means no animal containing products or anything that comes from an animal i.e., eggs, milk, cheese etc.

Most vegans are also careful not to use skincare products that contain animal products, actively support the use of cruelty-free products and more.

So, what makes a product vegan-friendly?

 

Choose From a Range of Products Suitable for a Vegan Lifestyle

Thankfully veganism is more widely recognised and understood than it was in the past. Most eateries, bars and shops have a section where vegans can access appropriate ingredients or products. Here at SimplyMeds Online Pharmacy, we have a dedicated section to highlight vegan-friendly products.

That’s not to say that there aren’t other vegan-friendly products available throughout the site. It’s important to always do your own checking.

Vegan supplements are a good example of a product that has been designed with the vegan lifestyle in mind. While it is entirely possible to get all of the vitamins and minerals you need from food, a vegan multi-vitamin, for example, can make sure your bases are covered. Some vegan foods, including nutritional yeast (which is great for adding a cheesy/nutty flavour to foods), are fortified with vitamin B12. Vegan supplements and products like this make a vegan lifestyle a little more accessible.

 

What Makes a Product Vegan-friendly - Check Vegan Labelling

One of the quickest and easiest ways to identify whether a product is vegan-friendly is to look out for The Vegan Trademark. Products that are registered with the Vegan Society are certified as being completely vegan in ingredients, and the manufacturing process and won’t have been tested on animals.

Some suppliers use their own “Vegan-friendly” logo to help you identify at a glance whether the product is appropriate for you.

 

What if a Product Has No “Vegan” Label?

If a product doesn’t have a clear vegan label it may still be vegan-friendly. Some people call these products accidentally vegan. If you want to check whether something is free of animal-derived ingredients check the allergen information (allergens are usually in bold writing) and the rest of the ingredients list.

Still not sure about something in the ingredients? The best bet is to do a quick internet search to be sure.

 

Cruelty-Free Products

Look out for cruelty-free disclaimers or logos to check that products aren’t tested on animals. Sometimes this might include the brand’s own disclosure or, most recognisable, the Leaping Bunny or PETA animal testing free logo.

 

What if My Medicine isn’t Vegan?

Prescribed medications often contain animal-derived products such as lactose and similar. Many medicines have had to be tested on non-humans before they can be approved for human use. This can provide an ethical problem for some people. The general thinking is that being vegan is about doing all that is “possible and practical” to avoid animal products, animal cruelty and so on.

You can read more about this and some great advice on the Vegan Society’s website. It is not advised to avoid taking medications that can help keep you healthy.

 

What Makes a Product Vegan-friendly - In Conclusion

How a vegan chooses to live, what they decide to prioritise and so on is entirely up to them. It is a personal decision. Some vegans, for example, won’t use anything with palm oil in it because of environmental issues while others won’t use honey. Each to their own. What is universal, however, is that it is important to ensure that the products on the market are clearly marked as vegan (or as containing animal-derived ingredients therefore to be avoided).

While veganism was once misunderstood, much like vegetarianism was, it is widely accepted and as such many products on the market are geared towards or altered to make them vegan-friendly. Gelatin, for example, which is animal-derived, has in the past been present in numerous products, such as vitamins, gummies, jellies and so on. Products like these Wellwoman Multi-Vitamins are made without gelatin and therefore are suitable for vegans.

Here at Simply Meds Online Pharmacy, we continue to invest in bringing vegan-friendly products to our customers.