Where does veganism come from?

Although there is evidence of people who rejected the consumption of animal products dating back more than 2,000 years, it is not clear whether these people simply did not consume animal carcasses or products that involved suffering. 

So we have to travel back to 1944 to meet the man who coined the term. He is the activist Donald Watson, who together with more than a dozen other activists decided to distance themselves from vegetarianism and coined this term to differentiate them. Donald was also the founder of The Vegan Society in the UK.

Donald Watson and veganism.

Donald Watson, along with colleagues such as Elsie Shrigley, had asked The Vegetarian Society to create a section for those who did not consume dairy products either. Faced with their refusal, they finally organised themselves to create The Vegan Society, an association that rejected all forms of animal abuse and suffering.

Who was Elsie Shrigley?

Elsie Shrigley is less well known to us, but she was president of The Vegan Society after Donald Watson and was a pioneer in creating the first guide to ease the transition to veganism, the "Animal Free Shoper". Other colleagues involved in the formation of The Vegan Society were equally important in spreading veganism. Leslie Cruz creating a soya milk company and later defining the term veganism, Fay Henderson and Eva Batt writing about theory, giving cooking courses and creating recipes, and so many others who made the growth of this movement possible.

Defining veganism.

In 1951 Leslie Cross considered it necessary to give a meaning to the word veganism that would not lead to confusion. He defines the object of The Vegan Society to be "to put an end to the exploitation of animals by man" and therefore, the word veganism will mean "the doctrine that man should live without exploiting animals". The Vegan Society commits itself "in pursuance of its aims" to seek "an end to the use of animals by man for food, transport, labour, hunting, vivisection and all uses involving exploitation of animal life by man".

The Vegan Society.

Finally, The Vegan Society defines veganism as "a way of life that seeks to exclude, as far as possible and practicable, all forms of exploitation and cruelty to animals for food, clothing or any other purpose".

In the rest of the world, veganism took root over the years with the following vegan societies emerging in 1948 in the United States, 1950 in Germany, 1956 in India and the Spanish Vegan Association created in 1993.

Evolution of veganism.

Over the decades, veganism has evolved and gained popularity around the world, attracting people for ethical, environmental and health reasons. Let's look at how it has evolved over the decades since its inception, although its integration in different countries and cultures can take many years to catch up. 

1960s-1970s: Veganism gained momentum in the 1960s and 1970s, along with the hippie movement and counterculture ideals. Animal rights awareness and environmental concerns also intensified during this period.

1980s: The 1980s saw a rise in public awareness of health and nutrition, which led to increased attention to plant-based diets. Some celebrities began to adopt vegan diets, or at least to use the word vegan (as they later stopped being vegan or were even consumers of animal products during this period), but the popularisation of the term helped to raise the visibility of the movement.

1990s: Veganism continued to grow, with a renewed focus on sustainability and ethics. Some vegan products began to appear on supermarket shelves, making it easier for people to move towards a vegan lifestyle.

2000s: In the 21st century, veganism experienced a considerable boom. There was an increase in the availability of vegan food in restaurants and supermarkets, as well as an increased awareness of the environmental and ethical impact of animal-based food production. Social media played a crucial role in disseminating information and building online vegan communities.

Last two decades: To this day veganism has become a global phenomenon. More people have adopted a vegan diet for ethical, environmental and health reasons. The food industry has responded to the growing demand with a wide variety of vegan products, from meat alternatives to dairy products and ice cream without animal ingredients.

As technology advances, innovative alternatives to animal-based products are emerging, such as plant-based meats and dairy and lab-developed products. These technological options have further expanded the possibilities for those seeking to follow a vegan diet.

The evolution of veganism has been a gradual process, and although it is influenced by a combination of ethical, environmental and health factors, as well as changes in the availability and acceptance of vegan options in society, we must not forget that veganism is for and by animals, although indirectly we humans also gain environmental and health benefits.