Vegan Certification

History of Veganism

The word "vegan" emerged in 1944, coined by Elsie Shrigley and Donald Watson as a derivation of the word "vegetarian." A diet and lifestyle in which products of animal origin are excluded from one's life and plant-based living and vegetarian nutrition are preferred is called "vegan." The word "vegetarian" comes from the Latin "vegetus." In a definition made in 1842, it means lively, healthy and full of life. Individuals who follow a diet in which animal food sources such as meat and meat products are never consumed, but animal products (such as milk, eggs, honey, wool, silk and leather) are consumed in various combinations, are called "vegetarian."

With the growing demand for vegan and vegetarian products, producers and consumers look for specific labels and marks that guarantee a product's suitability, independent of complex ingredient information and food code numbers. Unilateral declarations by producers, and the presence of certain auxiliary materials that are used in the process but not stated in the product, make it necessary to have intermediary organizations that act under supervision and share the same sensitivity. The V-Label, developed by the European Vegetarian Union and recognized by the International Vegetarian Union and its member countries, is the only globally widespread symbol. The activity of auditing, registering and controlling whether production is carried out in line with the terms "vegan" or "vegetarian," and of building confidence in this culture, together with the certificate of this activity, is called the "Vegan-Vegetarian Certificate."

What Is a Vegan Certificate?

In recent years, growing consumer awareness of personal health, sustainability, natural living and animal welfare has increased interest in the VEGAN market.

Many companies avoid animal-derived ingredients as far as possible and move toward consumer preferences. Producers that want to be preferred and gain a foothold in the market in the face of consumers' changing dietary habits produce options that comply with VEGAN standards, obtain a VEGAN certificate for these products, and strive to become a preferred company for conscious consumers.

The market for VEGAN products, which contain no animal-derived content in their production and distribution processes, proves its growth potential every day. Upon consumer demand, it is preferred not only in the food sector but also in many sectors such as cosmetics, energy, pharmaceuticals, textiles and footwear.

The VEGAN certificate is a document issued by authorized organizations to products that contain no animal products or animal by-products and that have not been tested on live animals.

Products holding a VEGAN certificate also carry a VEGAN label. In this way, these products are easily recognized by consumers looking for VEGAN products.