What Type of Vegans Eat Eggs? Exploring Vegganism and the Truth

October 6, 2025 •

4 min read

By its official definition from The Vegan Society, veganism is a way of life that seeks to exclude all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing, or any other purpose. This means that no true vegan eats eggs; however, a newer, informal term has emerged for people who follow a plant-based diet but include eggs: veggans.

Quick Summary

This article clarifies the distinction that vegans do not consume eggs, but an emerging dietary pattern known as 'vegganism' involves eating eggs while largely following vegan principles. It contrasts this with ovo-vegetarianism and examines the ethical debates and nutritional factors that drive these choices.

Key Points

Vegans Don't Eat Eggs: By definition, veganism excludes all animal products, including eggs, due to ethical concerns over animal exploitation.
'Veggan' is an Informal Term: The informal term 'veggan' describes someone who primarily eats a plant-based diet but includes eggs, often from 'ethically' sourced hens.
Ovo-Vegetarians Also Eat Eggs: An ovo-vegetarian consumes eggs and plant-based foods but avoids meat and dairy, a distinct dietary pattern from veganism.
Ethical Egg Debates: The vegan community debates whether 'humane' egg consumption from sources like backyard hens is truly ethical, citing issues like male chick culling and hen exploitation.
Vegan Egg Alternatives Exist: Vegans use various plant-based substitutes, such as tofu, flaxseed, and chickpea flour, to replace eggs in cooking and baking.

Understanding the True Meaning of Veganism

Before exploring any variations, it's crucial to understand the foundation of traditional veganism. A vegan diet is one that contains no animal products whatsoever, including meat, fish, dairy, eggs, and honey. The reasons for this choice are typically rooted in ethical, environmental, or health concerns. From an ethical standpoint, vegans avoid eggs because they view the egg industry as inherently exploitative. This includes the culling of male chicks who are considered useless to the industry, the confinement of laying hens, and the slaughter of hens once their egg production declines. From an environmental perspective, industrial egg production is seen as resource-intensive. For these reasons, anyone who consumes eggs cannot, by definition, be considered a vegan.

Introducing the Term 'Veggan'

So, where does the misconception about vegans eating eggs come from? It's largely due to the emergence of the term "veggan," a portmanteau of "vegan" and "egg". The term is not recognized by official vegan organizations but is used to describe individuals who follow a plant-based diet for the most part, but intentionally incorporate eggs into their meals. The motivations for becoming a veggan are varied:

Health: Some individuals find it challenging to obtain all necessary nutrients, such as vitamin B12, vitamin D, iron, and high-quality protein, on a strictly plant-based diet and see eggs as an easy way to fill these nutritional gaps.
Ethics (perceived): Many veggans only consume eggs from sources they consider humane, such as backyard hens or small-scale, pasture-raised farms. The argument is that if the hen is treated well and the eggs are unfertilized, no harm is done.
Flexibility: For those transitioning to a fully vegan lifestyle, adding eggs provides a less restrictive middle-ground, making the shift easier to manage.

The Ethical Debate Around 'Humane' Eggs

Despite the good intentions of many veggans, the concept of truly ethical egg consumption is hotly debated within the vegan community. Even backyard or free-range operations often acquire their hens from hatcheries that engage in practices like male chick culling. Furthermore, proponents of strict veganism argue that taking eggs from a hen is inherently exploitative, as it disrupts the hen's natural cycle and removes vital nutrients like calcium that the hen would otherwise consume. Ultimately, the debate hinges on whether it is possible to consume a product from an animal without engaging in exploitation, which is at the core of vegan philosophy.

The Key Differences: Vegan, Veggan, and Ovo-Vegetarian

To avoid confusion, it's important to differentiate between these three dietary patterns. While a "veggan" is a relatively new and informal term, ovo-vegetarianism has existed for a long time. The distinctions are quite clear.

Comparison of Diets


Feature	Vegan	Veggan	Ovo-Vegetarian
Meat, Poultry, Fish	No	No	No
Dairy Products	No	No	No
Eggs	No	Yes	Yes
Honey	No	No (typically)	Maybe
Primary Motivation	Ethical, environmental, health	Health and/or ethical (flexible)	Various (ethical, health, religion)
Ethical Stance	Avoids all animal exploitation	Prioritizes 'ethically' sourced eggs	May prefer humane sources but less strict
Official Recognition	Yes (The Vegan Society)	No (informal term)	Yes (Type of vegetarianism)

Nutritional Considerations and Vegan Alternatives

One of the main reasons some people turn to eggs is for their nutritional content, particularly protein and vitamin B12. However, a well-planned vegan diet can easily provide these nutrients through other sources.

List of Vegan Egg Replacements and Nutrient Sources:

For Binding: Ground flaxseed or chia seeds mixed with water.
For Scrambles: Tofu or chickpea flour seasoned with black salt (kala namak) for an 'eggy' flavor.
For Baking (Leavening): Aquafaba (chickpea brine) can be whipped like egg whites.
Vitamin B12: Fortified plant milks, breakfast cereals, nutritional yeast, or supplements.
Vitamin D: Fortified foods and supplements are necessary, especially in winter.
Iron: Legumes, dark leafy greens, and fortified cereals.

Finding Your Nutritional Balance

For anyone considering dietary changes, especially those with pre-existing health conditions or during critical life stages like pregnancy, consulting with a registered dietitian is recommended to ensure adequate nutrient intake. A balanced, whole-food plant-based diet is naturally rich in fiber, vitamins, and minerals and can provide a variety of health benefits, including lower cholesterol.

Conclusion: Clarity on the 'Vegan' Label

Ultimately, the term "vegan" is clearly defined: a person who refrains from all animal products, including eggs. The term "veggan" is an informal label used to describe those who, for various reasons, choose to eat eggs while mostly adhering to a plant-based diet. While this choice may be seen as a step towards a more plant-centric lifestyle, it's not consistent with the ethical principles of traditional veganism. True veganism avoids animal exploitation entirely, a standard that is not met by any form of egg production. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for anyone navigating the nuances of plant-based and vegetarian diets.

Learn more about the core philosophy of veganism at The Vegan Society.

Frequently Asked Questions

Traditional vegans do not eat eggs because the practice of egg production is considered a form of animal exploitation and cruelty, which is fundamentally against the principles of veganism. This includes the culling of male chicks, poor living conditions for hens, and their eventual slaughter.

No, a person who eats eggs, even from their own backyard chickens, is not considered a vegan. While their intentions may be more humane, the act of consuming an animal product derived from a living creature, and potentially exploiting its reproductive cycle, is inconsistent with strict vegan principles.

A 'veggan' is an informal term for someone who eats a primarily plant-based diet but includes ethically sourced eggs. An 'ovo-vegetarian' is a type of vegetarian who eats eggs and plant foods but avoids meat and dairy.

People who add eggs to a plant-based diet often do so to supplement their intake of nutrients like protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D, and iron, which can require more careful planning to obtain from purely plant-based sources.

Yes, there are many healthy vegan egg alternatives. Examples include ground flaxseeds or chia seeds mixed with water for binding, mashed banana or apple sauce for moisture, and silken tofu or chickpea flour for scrambles and omelets.

Vegans get vitamin B12 through fortified foods like plant-based milks, nutritional yeast, and breakfast cereals, as well as through supplements, as it is a nutrient mainly found in animal products.

No, the term 'veggan' is not widely or officially accepted. It is a relatively new and informal term used by some individuals, but it is not recognized by vegan organizations and contradicts the core principles of the vegan movement.