The Vegetarian Society was established in England in 1847 promoting a lifestyle that abstained from eating meat. Members interpreted this in different ways and in 1893 a group referring to themselves as Fruitarians had formed. Fruitarians classified themselves as people that lived on fruits. Some Fruitarians saw eggs as a fruit of hens and milk as a fruit of cows.
By the mid 1940’s there was a strong group of vegetarians who followed a non-dairy lifestyle that wanted to distinguish themselves from other vegetarians in a positive manner. The word ‘vegan’ is said to be first coined by Donald Watson in 1944 and the Vegan Society came into existence. Nevertheless, the Vegan Society was still debating the definition of veganism in 1949. The definitions of the time included statements like ‘… the emancipation of animals from exploitation by man …’ and ‘… to seek an end to the use of animals by man for food, commodities, work, hunting, vivisection, and by all other uses involving exploitation of animal life by man …’.
The legal structure of the Vegan Society was changed substantially in 1964 and again in late 1979. It was not until late in 1988 that their definition of veganism was standardised as ‘… a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives for the benefit of humans, animals and the environment. In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals …’ This is the definition that remains in place today.
This definition begins with the words ‘… a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude—as far as is possible and practicable—all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals …’ Of great significance in this definition is that the focus is on the rights of animals to be free from human exploitation and all the cruelty associated with exploitation. Also, of great significance in this definition is that veganism is ‘… a philosophy and a way of life …’