Frequently Asked Questions

Who is behind the Vegan.org Certified Vegan Logo?

The Certified Vegan Logo is issued by Vegan Action, a not-for-profit organization working hard to make the world a better place for all, since 1995. Vegan Action develops and runs programs to benefit all animals, the environment, and human health.

What is the difference between Certified Vegan and products that just say "vegan" on them?

Since there is no official or government definition of "vegan" it is completely unregulated. Any company can claim their product as vegan and make their own vegan logo or statement on products. Trusting a vegan logo by a third-party organization, one that is impartial and dedicated in determining if a product is truly free of animal products and animal testing, is critical in making your purchasing choices.

How does Vegan Action define Animal Testing?

Animal Testing is defined by Vegan Action as the use of animals (live or deceased) for any type of research purposes whatsoever to include environmental safety, feed or nutrition trials, toxicity testing, or animal tests or trials "as required by law" including contracted testing by another company,since the year 2009 and will not be tested on animals in the future. This must be confirmed for individual ingredients, ingredient components, as well as the final product.

We do NOT allow products sold to or distributed to China that bear the Certified Vegan Logo if they are required to be animal tested. Personal care products and cosmetics made outside of mainland China are still subject to animal testing unless the company can show "acceptable safety".  These products would require confirmation that animal testing was not required in order to sell Certified Vegan products in China.  

What about animal testing that doesn't kill the animal?

We do not permit an ingredient or product that has been tested on any non-human animals in Certified Vegan products to include feed trials, skin tests, nutrition panels, etc. For that reason, some pet foods have not qualified for Vegan Certification.

Do you consider figs to be vegan?

We consider figs just as "vegan" as any other fruit. The wasp entering the fig to pollinate the flower is a natural process and is not due to human intervention. Not every female wasp gets trapped in the fig however, if she does, she is enzymatically digested. This would be no different than insects and earthworms decomposing in soil. There are unintentional insects in much of the food we eat and are often unavoidable in commercial products. We permit figs in Certified Vegan products.

Is Palm Oil permitted in Certified Vegan Products?

We agree that the environmental degradation and animal suffering involved with most palm oil harvesting is devastating. However, because palm oil contains no animal products and is not tested on animals, these are the guidelines we use for Vegan Certification, and palm oil does qualify.

Yes, palm oil is permitted in products with the Certified Vegan logo. Our certification criteria are based on a product containing no animal ingredients and not being tested on animals. Since palm oil meets these requirements, it qualifies.

We agree that the environmental damage and animal suffering caused by palm oil harvesting is devastating. However, if we were to include environmental impact and habitat destruction in our certification standards, very few products would be eligible. Large-scale farming of any crop—from potatoes to soy—causes environmental damage and leads to the deaths of countless animals. We all do our best to make responsible choices, but it's technically impossible for any consumer to be completely free of a negative impact.

While we do not promote palm oil or any specific company, our purpose is to help consumers find products that are animal-free. We believe that choosing vegan options is an important step toward a more compassionate world. The good news is that many products on the market are both vegan and palm oil-free, so consumers have plenty of options.

Do you certify products from large multinational corporations?

Yes, we certify products from brands owned by large corporations.

Our mission is to end animal cruelty, and we believe the most effective way to do this is by expanding the availability of vegan products. By certifying brands owned by major corporations, we show the broader food & cosmetic industries that there is a significant and profitable market for vegan products.

The more vegan options that are available, the easier and more affordable a vegan lifestyle becomes for everyone. We want to make veganism accessible, not restrictive. Certifying products from large companies helps to make vegan options more widespread and visible to the public. As more people discover how simple it is to choose vegan, the movement will grow, and animal suffering will decrease.

Are Certified Vegan Products "veganic" or confirmed to not be grown with animal by-products?

We do not take into account soil, fertilizer, or farming practices when reviewing documentation for Vegan Certification. If we were to account for animal by-products in outdoor soil and farming practices, then nothing would qualify as vegan. We base our Certified Vegan standards on ingredients, animal testing, and processes for individual ingredients and the final product. We started the Certified Vegan Program for ethical reasons (to reduce the greatest harm to animals and those are ones bred and raised for food) and to make it easier to become vegan and choose vegan products. We want to support companies making a genuine effort in making vegan products and we don't want it to be an impossible venture as that would not serve anyone.

What are some Common Ingredients that may be animal-based and found in products?

Lanolin, shellac, glycerine, caseinate, squalene, guanine, vitamin D, stearic acid, carmine, collagen, elastin, keratin, isinglass, castoreum, whey, gelatine, Hyaluronic acid, Chondroitin, enzymes, probiotics, omega-3s, etc.  For a more detailed list, see this website for the A to Z listing. 

Do you accept products that are manufactured on shared machinery?

We allow companies to use shared machinery for products, provided they follow strict cleaning protocols and document them. This means that while the equipment is thoroughly sanitized between non-vegan and vegan batches, there may still be trace amounts of animal products present, such as eggs or dairy. For this reason, a product with our Certified Vegan logo may not be suitable for individuals with food allergies.

The Certified Vegan logo is not a label for food allergies or dietary purity. It's a symbol of our core mission: to reduce animal suffering and cruelty. We understand that many people choose a plant-based diet for health, religious, or allergy reasons, but the Certified Vegan logo is specifically designed to help consumers use their purchasing power to support cruelty-free products.

Most vegan companies, especially small ones, can't afford their own dedicated machinery and often lease non-vegan kitchens or equipment. If we were to require separate equipment, many of these companies wouldn't be able to exist, and there would be far fewer vegan options on the market.

When we developed our certification, we had to decide what "vegan" would mean for our label. We concluded that it was more beneficial to allow for the possibility of trace cross-contamination rather than exclude a wide range of products that are otherwise animal-free. We believe that this approach, which is shared by other prominent vegan organizations, is the most effective way to grow the movement.

Our goal is to make veganism more accessible and appealing to everyone. By showing the food and cosmetic industries that there is a strong market for vegan products, we can encourage more companies to create them. As the market grows, more companies will be able to afford their own dedicated vegan machinery. We want to demonstrate that a vegan lifestyle is neither difficult nor expensive, and by doing so, we can help reduce animal cruelty.

Dietary Notes: By ingredients, Certified Vegan products are dairy-free/non-dairy, egg-free, and vegan. However, for those with food allergies, please check with the company on their manufacturing processes for all varieties if potential allergen cross-contamination is an issue for you. Many companies that make vegan products are using shared machinery.

I don’t think you should certify products that are not organic / contain petroleum products / contain hydrogenated oils / etc.

While we understand and sympathize with these concerns, our primary reason for promoting a vegan lifestyle is to protect animals from suffering. Vegan Action is very concerned with the health of humans and of our environment, but we realize that in order to accomplish our goal of protecting animals, there needs to be a large variety of animal-free alternatives. We recognize that veganism must come to the mainstream before major changes will happen with animals and the environment. The only restrictions we are willing to put on our certification is: vegan or not vegan.

While our logo doesn't address organic or other health-related concerns, your purchasing power does. We encourage you to support brands that align with your values. By choosing products that are both vegan and free of the ingredients you'd like to avoid, you can show companies there's a strong demand for these alternatives.

As consumers like you continue to "vote with your dollar," companies will see that producing environmentally friendly, animal-free, and healthier products is profitable. This will ultimately lead to a wider variety of better products for everyone.

What about fertilizers, do you make sure animal products are not in fertilizers?

We do not request or require documentation on fertilizers that are used on food products that are Certified Vegan. In addition to that being nearly impossible for most companies to even attain that information, we recognize that all natural soil has animal waste and animal detritus present.

As consumers like you continue to "vote with your dollar," companies will see that producing environmentally friendly, animal-free, and healthier products is profitable. This will ultimately lead to a wider variety of better products for everyone.

What about natural insecticides, can those be Certified Vegan?

We do not offer Vegan Certification for a product whose sole purpose is to kill, even if it is what we would consider harmful parasites such as fleas or ticks to protect our companion animals. However, we would offer Vegan Certification for a product where the purpose is to deter insects, for example.

What about the Impossible Burger, could that be Certified Vegan?

While the Impossible Burger is completely free of animal products in ingredients, there is one ingredient that was recently tested on animals and therefore it would not qualify for Vegan Certification. We recognize that this product is really popular with meat-eaters and has replaced many animal-based burgers being purchased over years, having a significant positive impact for the animals.

Can Cultured Meat be Vegan Certified?

While we greatly support the cultured meat movement and will encourage folks to choose it over factory farmed animals, we will not Vegan Certify cultured meat due to our guidelines. Because animal cells and/or proteins are required for growing the product, it would not meet our Certified Vegan requirements of "not being sourced from animal products or animal by-products." We believe this option will soon be a viable, affordable, and accessible option that will reduce animal suffering and death as well as detrimental impacts to the environment. Even though it does not meet criteria for being Vegan Certified, we consider this a win for the animals and the Earth and look forward to cultured meat being made available worldwide.