Back in the 1940s, it was a lifestyle in search of a name. “Dairyban” did not quite cut it, neither did “vitan” or “benevore”. In the end, six early adherents, including Donald Watson, the British animal rights campaigner, settled on “vegan” to describe their philosophy — that animals should not be exploited for food or any other purpose — and founded the Vegan Society.
A vegan does not eat meat, poultry, fish, shellfish, dairy products, eggs or honey. Many choose to avoid animal products, such as leather and wool. The movement, once associated with hippies and flower power, is now appealing to a wider audience, including the UK Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn