Veganism
In November 1944, Donald Watson published the first issue of The Vegan News from a small room in Leicester, England. This quarterly newsletter marked the birth of a new word and movement that would eventually reshape global food systems. Watson needed a term to distinguish those who avoided all animal products from vegetarians who still consumed dairy and eggs. He chose "vegan" by taking the first three letters of vegetarian and adding the last two. The word signaled both the beginning and end of the older practice while creating a distinct identity for non-dairy plant-based living.
The Vegetarian Society had rejected his request to create a dedicated section for non-dairy members earlier that year. Watson responded by founding an independent organization that grew rapidly. By November 1945, The Vegan News had attracted 500 subscribers and changed its name to simply The Vegan. Early members included Elsie B. Shrigley, Fay K. Henderson, and Alfred Hy Haffenden. They distributed recipes and compiled trade lists showing which toothpastes, shoe polishes, and glues contained no animal ingredients.
Historical roots extended far back before Watson's coinage. Ancient Indian philosophers like Parshavnatha and Mahavira practiced strict non-harm toward animals during the Indus Valley civilization period between 3300 and 1300 BCE. Arab poet al-Ma'arri wrote poems rejecting animal consumption in the 11th century. English philosopher Lewis Gompertz argued against eating meat as early as 1813. Percy Bysshe Shelley published A Vindication of Natural Diet advocating abstinence from all animal food in 1813.
Sylvester Graham promoted a meatless diet in the United States during the 1830s using stoneground flour and water. Amos Bronson Alcott opened Fruitlands in Massachusetts in 1844 as a vegan community. James Pierrepont Greaves founded Concordium on Ham Common in England that same year. These early experiments laid groundwork for modern ethical veganism while remaining isolated movements until Watson unified them under a single name.
Ethical veganism opposes speciesism by assigning value to individuals based solely on their species membership. Donald Watson asked why he became an ethical vegan after listening to criticisms and meeting them satisfactorily in his own mind. He concluded that killing creatures for fun represented the very dregs of human behavior. Vivisection and animal experimentation stood as probably the cruelest attacks on creation according to his writings.
Alex Hershaft, co-founder of the Farm Animal Rights Movement and Holocaust survivor, described being bothered by hitting innocent animals over the head then shoving pieces into his mouth. His experiences in Nazi concentration camps allowed him to empathize with conditions inside factory farms and slaughterhouses. He knew firsthand what it felt like to be treated as worthless objects. Several activists including Isaac Bashevis Singer and Gary Yourofsky compared treatment of animals in concentrated animal feeding operations to the Holocaust.
Law professor Gary Francione argues all sentient beings deserve rights not to be treated as property. Philosopher Tom Regan contends animals possess value as subjects-of-a-life because they hold beliefs, desires, memory, and ability to initiate action toward goals. Pleasure, convenience, and economic interests of farmers do not justify overriding these rights. Peter Singer takes a utilitarian approach arguing there is no moral justification for failing to count animal suffering when making decisions.
Veganarchism emerged as a political philosophy incorporating veganism into revolutionary praxis seeking total liberation for all animals including humans. Brian A. Dominick popularized the term in 1995 through his pamphlet Animal Liberation and Social Revolution. Groups like the Animal Liberation Front engage in direct action sometimes criminally to further their goals. Steven Best criticizes focus on wealthy Western audiences while ignoring people of color working class and poor especially in developing nations.
Scientific reviews conclude that properly planned vegetarian or vegan diets support healthy living across all life stages including pregnancy lactation infancy childhood adolescence older adulthood and athletic performance. The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics states special attention may ensure adequate vitamin B12 omega-3 fatty acids vitamin D calcium iodine iron and zinc intake. Vitamin B12 deficiency occurs in up to 80% of vegans in some Asian countries requiring supplementation from fortified foods or supplements alone.
A Cochrane review found insufficient information currently available to draw conclusions about effects of vegan dietary interventions on cardiovascular disease risk factors. Meta-analysis of prospective cohort studies concluded vegan diets associate with reduced ischemic heart disease risk but showed no clear association for stroke or general cardiovascular disease. Evidence suggests moderate effectiveness for overweight individuals or those with type 2 diabetes inducing meaningful weight loss and improving glycemia over at least twelve weeks.
Vegan diets tend higher in dietary fiber magnesium folic acid vitamin C vitamin E iron phytochemicals yet lower in saturated fat cholesterol omega-3 fatty acid vitamin D calcium zinc and vitamin B12. Poorly planned elimination of animal products can lead to nutritional deficiencies counteracting beneficial effects causing serious health issues preventable only through fortified foods or supplements. Iodine may require supplementation using iodized salt while protein concerns remain unsubstantiated according to American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
German Society for Nutrition cautions against vegan diets for pregnant women breastfeeding women babies children adolescents due to lack of data regarding vulnerable groups. They suggest seeking professional advice when planning such complex irreversible diets where consequences cannot be ruled out if poorly executed. Canadian Pediatric Society recommends attention given nutrient intake particularly protein vitamins B12 and D essential fatty acids iron zinc calcium providing healthy alternative lifestyle at all growth stages.
Nine percent of people follow a vegan diet globally residing primarily within Asia Pacific region. India and Mexico each account for about nine percent of their populations identifying as vegans while many developed Western countries show roughly two percent prevalence rates. Chiang Mai Thailand held most vegan restaurants per resident in 2021 followed by Ubud Bali Indonesia Phuket Thailand Tel Aviv Israel Lisbon Portugal according to HappyCow data collection.
One out of ten Americans over eighteen considered themselves vegan or vegetarian as of January 2022. Gender distribution shows almost four out of five vegans are women with about one out of five being men based on surveys from eight thousand participants in the United States during 2013. Personality studies found vegans scored higher in openness and agreeableness compared to omnivores though sample sizes varied across different research projects.
China's vegan market rose more than seventeen percent between 2015 and 2020 representing fastest international growth rate exceeding United Arab Emirates ten point six percent and Australia nine point six percent projections. Hong Kong saw increased popularity particularly among millennials driving regional expansion. By 2016 forty-nine percent of Americans drank plant milk while ninety-one percent still consumed dairy milk indicating shifting consumer habits toward alternatives.
January 2021 marked record participation when 582,538 people from 209 countries signed up for Veganuary breaking previous year's 400,000 participant threshold. That same month ONA became first French restaurant earning Michelin star status as fully vegan establishment. Seventy-nine additional vegan restaurants worldwide received Michelin stars throughout 2021 signaling mainstream acceptance expanding beyond niche communities into high-end dining sectors.
The United States vegan food market reached $3.9 billion valuation in 2017 growing to $8.1 billion by 2023 reflecting rapid commercial adoption. Global mock-meat markets increased eighteen percent between 2005 and 2010 rising eight percent annually within America from 2012 through 2015 reaching annual sales of $553 million. Plant-derived meat sales grew thirty-seven percent between 2017 and 2019 demonstrating accelerating industry momentum.
Vegetarian Butcher opened Netherlands' first known vegetarian butcher shop selling mock meats in 2010 while Herbivorous Butcher launched Minneapolis' first American vegan butcher operation in 2016. More than twelve thousand five hundred chain restaurant locations began offering Beyond Meat Impossible Foods products since 2017 including Carl's Jr outlets serving Beyond Burgers Burger King locations providing Impossible Whoppers. Europe saw first vegan supermarkets appear in Germany during 2011 with Veganz Berlin Vegilicious Dortmund establishing dedicated retail spaces.
Plant milk market expanded dramatically showing one hundred fifty-five percent growth over two years in the United Kingdom increasing from thirty-six million liters sixty-three million imperial pints in 2011 to ninety-two million liters one hundred sixty-two million imperial pints by 2013. New vegan product launches jumped one hundred eighty-five percent between 2012 and 2016 across British markets. Companies like Perfect Day Novacca Motif FoodWorks Remilk Final Foods Imagindairy Nourish Ingredients Circe genetically engineered yeast producing cow milk proteins whey fat without using actual cows.
Scholarly analysis indicates global adoption of plant-exclusive diets could reduce agricultural land use seventy-six percent saving three point one billion hectares area size Africa cutting total greenhouse gas emissions twenty-eight percent half coming from avoided animal production methane nitrous oxide half from trees regrowing abandoned farmlands removing carbon dioxide air.
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Common questions
When did Donald Watson publish the first issue of The Vegan News?
Donald Watson published the first issue of The Vegan News in November 1944 from a small room in Leicester, England. This quarterly newsletter marked the birth of the word vegan and the movement that would eventually reshape global food systems.
Who were the early members of the independent organization founded by Donald Watson?
Early members included Elsie B. Shrigley, Fay K. Henderson, and Alfred Hy Haffenden who distributed recipes and compiled trade lists showing which toothpastes, shoe polishes, and glues contained no animal ingredients. By November 1945 The Vegan News had attracted 500 subscribers and changed its name to simply The Vegan.
What historical figures practiced strict non-harm toward animals before modern veganism?
Ancient Indian philosophers like Parshavnatha and Mahavira practiced strict non-harm during the Indus Valley civilization period between 3300 and 1300 BCE. Arab poet al-Ma'arri wrote poems rejecting animal consumption in the 11th century while English philosopher Lewis Gompertz argued against eating meat as early as 1813.
How does ethical veganism oppose speciesism according to philosophical arguments?
Ethical veganism opposes speciesism by assigning value to individuals based solely on their species membership rather than treating them as property. Law professor Gary Francione argues all sentient beings deserve rights not to be treated as property while philosopher Tom Regan contends animals possess value as subjects-of-a-life because they hold beliefs desires memory and ability to initiate action toward goals.
When did the United States vegan food market reach $8.1 billion valuation?
The United States vegan food market reached $8.1 billion valuation in 2023 after growing from a $3.9 billion valuation in 2017 reflecting rapid commercial adoption. Global mock-meat markets increased eighteen percent between 2005 and 2010 rising eight percent annually within America from 2012 through 2015 reaching annual sales of $553 million.