The word 'vegan'

NB: PICTURES OF WATSON AND SHRIGLEY?

The word vegan was derived from vegetarian. originally the term vegetarian meant non consumption of all animal products, but had slowly come to include the eating of egg and dairy products. Frustrated at that fact in 1944, Elsie Shrigley and Donald Watson founded the UK Vegan Society. They used the first three and last two letters of vegetarian to form "vegan," which they saw as "the beginning and end of vegetarian."

The British Vegan Society defines veganism in this way:

"The word "veganism" denotes a philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practical — 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."