Glossary

Definitions of terms from the veg* world—from ingredients and nutrition to certifications and ethics. Glossary terms are also linked automatically in articles and recipes elsewhere on the website.

A

Abolitionism Abolitionism is a strand of the animal-rights movement that rejects all human use of animals—not only abuse, but also keeping… Agar Agar, or agar-agar, is a plant-based substitute for gelatine made by boiling red seaweed. Unlike animal-derived gelatine, it is therefore… Anthropocentrism Anthropocentrism is a worldview in which humans are the centre and measure of all evaluation: nature and other beings are… Aquafaba Aquafaba is the thick liquid from cooked chickpeas or other pulses—most commonly simply the liquid from a tin, which would…

B

BDIH Standard BDIH is a German standard for controlled natural cosmetics that defines what may be regarded as natural cosmetics and establishes… Black Salt (Kala Namak) Kala namak is a Himalayan mineral salt whose sulphur compounds, primarily hydrogen sulphide, give it an unmistakable egg-like taste and…

C

Calcium (Plant Sources) The richest plant sources of calcium include sesame seeds and tahini, poppy seeds, almonds, tofu set with a calcium salt,… Carnism Carnism is a term introduced by psychologist Melanie Joy in 2001 for the invisible belief system that leads people to… Certified Vegan Certified Vegan is an American vegan certification awarded since 1997 by the non-profit organisation Vegan Action. The logo guarantees that… Choline Choline is a nutrient important for liver function, the nervous system and fat metabolism. The body can produce some choline… Complete Proteins Of the twenty amino acids that make up proteins, nine are essential: the body cannot produce them itself and must… CPK – Certified Natural Cosmetics CPK is a Czech natural-cosmetics certification managed by the independent organisation KEZ o.p.s. A product bearing this label must contain…

E

EU Organic EU Organic EU Organic is the mandatory European label for food from organic farming. The green leaf made of stars may appear…

F

Fairtrade Fairtrade is a fair-trade certification that guarantees growers and workers in developing countries a minimum purchase price covering production costs,… Flaxseed as an Egg Substitute Flaxseed is one of the richest plant sources of the omega-3 fatty acid ALA, but the body can use it… Flexitarianism Flexitarianism is a flexible form of vegetarianism: the diet is predominantly plant-based, but occasional consumption of meat or other animal… Fruitarianism Fruitarianism is an extreme form of veganism in which most of the diet—typically around 90%—consists of fruit, with nuts and…

I

Iodine Iodine is one of the more challenging nutrients on a plant-based diet: vegetables, fruit, grains, pulses and nuts do not… Iron Iron from plant sources, including pulses, leafy vegetables, oats, seeds and buckwheat, is known as non-haem iron and is absorbed…

J

Jackfruit Jackfruit is the fruit of the tropical jack tree. When unripe, it is used as a meat substitute because its…

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Leaping Bunny Leaping Bunny is an international cruelty-free certification guaranteeing that neither the finished product nor any of its ingredients were tested…

M

Macrobiotics Macrobiotics is a dietary and lifestyle approach originating in Japan and based on the principles of yin and yang. Foods… Miso Miso is a thick fermented paste traditionally made in Japan from cooked soya beans, salt and a koji culture. Depending…

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NATRUE NATRUE is an international standard for natural and organic cosmetics created in 2008. Certified products may contain only ingredients classified… Nutritional Yeast Nutritional yeast consists of dried, inactive yeast sold as a yellow powder or flakes with a distinctive nutty, cheesy flavour.…

O

Omega-3 Fatty Acids Omega-3 fatty acids comprise three main types: ALA, EPA and DHA. Plant sources such as flaxseed, walnuts, chia seeds and…

P

Pescetarianism Pescetarianism is a form of vegetarianism that excludes the meat of mammals and poultry but retains fish and seafood in… PETA – List of Brands Not Tested on Animals PETA’s Ultimate Cruelty-Free List is a database run by PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) for companies that… Plant Milk Plant milk is an umbrella term for drinks made from soya, oats, almonds, coconut or other plant ingredients as a…

R

Rainforest Alliance Rainforest Alliance is a sustainable-agriculture certification recognisable by its green frog logo. It assesses environmental, social and economic criteria simultaneously… Raw Food raw Raw food, also known as a raw or living-food diet, is a way of eating in which food is not…

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Seitan Seitan is a meat substitute known for its meaty texture and made from wheat gluten. It is produced by washing… Speciesism Speciesism is a term popularised by philosopher Peter Singer in his 1975 book Animal Liberation. It describes prejudice in favour…

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Tempeh Tempeh is a traditional Indonesian food made by fermenting cooked soya beans with a mould of the genus Rhizopus, which… Tofu Tofu is made by coagulating soya milk, similarly to the way curd cheese is made from cow's milk, and pressing…

V

V-Label V-Label is an international labelling system for vegan and vegetarian products overseen by the European Vegetarian Union (EVU). The label… Vegan Trademark Vegan Trademark is the world's oldest vegan certification mark, awarded by the British organisation The Vegan Society since 1990. Recognisable… Veganism Veganism is a way of eating and living that excludes all products of animal origin, including meat, fish, milk and… VEGANOK VEGANOK is an Italian certification mark for vegan products managed by VEGANOK Srl Società Benefit. The certification confirms that a… Vegetarianism Vegetarianism is a way of eating that excludes meat and fish but permits other animal products, including milk, dairy products,… Vitamin B12 B12 Vitamin B12 (cobalamin) is essential for the production of red blood cells and the proper functioning of the nervous system.… Vitamin D (Vegan Sources) The body produces most of its vitamin D when sunlight reaches the skin, but during the winter months there is…

W

Welfarism Welfarism is a position that accepts the use of animals by humans provided that attention is paid to their “good… Whole Food Plant-Based WFPB Whole food plant-based is a way of eating based on whole, minimally processed plant foods: vegetables, fruit, pulses, whole grains,…

Z

Zinc (Plant Sources) Good plant sources of zinc include pulses, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, oats and nuts. Because phytates occur naturally in plant-based…