What Is Excluded In Veganism? A Comprehensive Nutrition Diet Guide

October 14, 2025 •

3 min read

According to the Vegan Society, veganism is a way of living that 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. Consequently, a vegan nutrition diet strictly avoids any and all animal-derived products, a restriction that goes beyond just meat and dairy.

Quick Summary

A vegan diet is defined by the complete exclusion of all animal-derived products and by-products. This extends beyond meat, dairy, and eggs to include lesser-known ingredients and additives found in many processed foods, requiring careful label reading.

Key Points

Core Exclusion: Veganism fundamentally excludes all meat, poultry, fish, seafood, and animal by-products like dairy, eggs, and honey from the diet.
Hidden Ingredients: Many processed foods contain non-vegan ingredients such as gelatin, casein, whey, carmine, and isinglass, which must be identified by reading labels carefully.
Nutrient Planning: A well-planned vegan diet must account for nutrients typically found in animal products, particularly Vitamin B12, often requiring supplementation or fortified foods.
Label Vigilance: Identifying hidden ingredients in foods, beverages (like some beers and wines), and even fortified cereals is key to a strictly vegan diet.
Beyond Diet: For many, veganism extends past food to exclude all forms of animal exploitation, including leather, wool, and products tested on animals.

A vegan diet is built on the foundation of plants, including vegetables, fruits, grains, legumes, nuts, and seeds. For many, this dietary choice is tied to a larger ethical and philosophical commitment to prevent animal exploitation. As such, understanding the full scope of what is excluded in veganism is crucial, as many animal-derived ingredients can be subtly integrated into common products.

The Fundamental Exclusions

At its core, veganism eliminates all obvious animal-derived foods from the diet. This is the first and most widely understood aspect of the vegan lifestyle.

Meat, Poultry, and Fish

Any flesh of an animal is off-limits for a vegan. This includes:

Red meat: Beef, pork, lamb, and other meats.
Poultry: Chicken, turkey, duck, and other birds.
Fish and seafood: All types of fish and shellfish, such as shrimp, crab, mussels, and clams.

Dairy Products and Eggs

Products derived from the mammary glands of animals and eggs laid by birds are strictly excluded. These items are widely available but have numerous plant-based alternatives:

Dairy: Milk, cheese, butter, cream, and yogurt.
Eggs: Whole eggs and ingredients derived from them, like mayonnaise.

Honey and Other Bee Products

Because honey is produced by bees, it is not considered vegan. Other bee products like beeswax, bee pollen, and royal jelly are also avoided for the same reason. Common alternatives include maple syrup, agave nectar, and molasses.

The Less Obvious Exclusions: Hidden Ingredients

Navigating the world of processed foods can be tricky for vegans, as many products contain hidden animal-derived ingredients. These require careful label reading to identify.

Gelatin: A gelling agent made from the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals like cows and pigs. It is often found in candies, marshmallows, and desserts.
Casein and Whey: These are milk proteins found in many non-dairy creamers, snacks, and some protein powders.
Carmine (E120): A red food coloring made from crushed cochineal scale insects.
Isinglass: A substance from fish bladders used to clarify some beers and wines.
L-cysteine: An amino acid often used as a dough conditioner in baked goods, sometimes sourced from animal hair or feathers.
Shellac (E904): A resin secreted by the female lac insect, used as a food glaze for candies and some produce.
Vitamin D3: Most commonly derived from lanolin (sheep's wool), though vegan alternatives are available.
Refined Sugar: In some regions, refined white sugar is processed using bone char (charred animal bones), making it non-vegan.
Natural Flavorings: Some 'natural flavors' can be animal-derived, such as castoreum, from a beaver's anal glands, though this is rare.

Comparison of Vegan and Vegetarian Exclusions

It is important to differentiate between vegan and vegetarian diets, as their exclusions differ significantly.


Feature	Vegan Diet	Vegetarian Diet (Ovo-Lacto)
Meat (Red & White)	Excluded	Excluded
Fish & Seafood	Excluded	Excluded
Dairy Products	Excluded (milk, cheese, butter)	Included
Eggs	Excluded	Included
Honey & Bee Products	Excluded	Typically included
Hidden Animal Ingredients	Excluded (gelatin, casein, carmine)	Exclusions may vary, often included

Nutritional Considerations and Supplementation

Because vegans exclude all animal-derived foods, a well-planned diet is necessary to ensure adequate intake of certain nutrients.

Vitamin B12: This vitamin is only reliably found in animal products, so fortified foods (like some plant milks, cereals, and nutritional yeast) or supplements are essential for vegans.
Iron: While many plant foods are rich in iron, non-heme iron from plants is not absorbed as efficiently as heme iron from meat. Pairing iron-rich plant foods with Vitamin C can improve absorption.
Calcium: Vegans can get calcium from fortified plant milks, tofu, sesame seeds, and leafy greens.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids: Fish are a common source of omega-3s, but vegans can obtain them from algae, walnuts, chia seeds, and flaxseeds.
Vitamin D: Fortified plant milks and supplements can provide vitamin D, as D3 from animals is excluded.

For a detailed list of common hidden ingredients to watch out for, check out this comprehensive guide on Healthline.

Conclusion

What is excluded in veganism is a more extensive list than many initially realize. It encompasses all animal flesh and obvious products like dairy, eggs, and honey. Beyond these, a strict vegan diet requires careful attention to ingredient labels to identify and avoid hidden animal derivatives that appear in many processed foods and drinks. With careful planning, a well-rounded vegan diet can be nutritionally complete and rich in a variety of whole plant foods while adhering to its ethical foundation.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, vegans do not eat eggs or dairy products, as these are animal products. This includes milk, cheese, yogurt, and butter.

Honey is excluded from a vegan diet because it is produced by bees. The ethical philosophy of veganism seeks to avoid animal exploitation, which extends to bees and their products.

Gelatin is a thickening agent derived from the skin, bones, and connective tissues of animals like cows and pigs. Because it comes directly from animal sources, it is not vegan.

Yes, many processed and pre-packaged foods can contain hidden animal ingredients. Examples include casein in non-dairy creamer, gelatin in some candies, and carmine (a red dye from insects).

Vegans must rely on fortified foods like some plant milks, cereals, and nutritional yeast for Vitamin B12, or take a supplement, as this vitamin is not reliably found in plant sources.

Some fortified foods and vitamin supplements may contain animal-derived ingredients, such as Vitamin D3 from sheep's wool or gelatin capsules. Vegans should check labels carefully for these, as plant-based alternatives are available.

No, not all wines and beers are vegan. Some producers use animal-derived fining agents like isinglass (from fish bladders), gelatin, or egg whites to clarify their products.