A vegan diet does not allow any food or ingredient derived from animals including, meat, fish, dairy, eggs, honey, or anything made from these. For example, a noodle made with eggs would not be vegan.

Similar to a vegan diet, vegetarian diets do not allow foods that involve the death of an animal. However, vegetarian diets are more flexible than vegan diets as they may include foods that come from or are made by animals, such as milk, eggs or honey.

A vegan diet that includes a variety of minimally processed whole plant foods and enough calories can be a part of a healthy lifestyle. However, like any diet that restricts or avoids an entire food group, it’s important that a vegan diet be planned and followed appropriately to make sure it provides enough essential nutrients to support optimal health. Nutrients that can be a concern for folks following a vegan diet include protein, calcium, iron, omega-3 fats EPA and DHA, and vitamins D and B12. We recommend you talk with your healthcare provider or a registered dietitian before beginning a vegan diet to make sure this eating approach is right for you.

There are a variety of vegan sources of protein to choose from if you’re living a vegan lifestyle. These include beans and legumes; nuts and seeds; nut and seed butters; tofu and other soy foods such as edamame, seitan, and soymilk; and whole grains such as quinoa, oats, and wild rice. Most fruits and veggies contain small amounts of protein as well.

The interaction between food production and the environment is complex. In 2019, experts from various fields including human health, agriculture, political science, and environmental sustainability came together to publish a report called “Food in the Anthropocene: The EAT-Lancet Commission on healthy diets from sustainable food systems.” This EAT-Lancet Commission used the latest scientific evidence to develop a “planetary health diet” that is both health-promoting and environmentally sustainable. Their proposed dietary pattern is flexible: mostly minimally processed plant foods, but optionally including modest amounts of fish, meat, and dairy foods. Producing food from plants generally uses less resources and is less stressful on the environment than producing foods from animals. However, farming practices play a big and important role in the impact of food production on the environment, and sustainably producing foods from animals can be an environmentally friendly use of resources.

Look for our Vegan Wellness Key on Wegmans Brand packaged products that meet our vegan labeling criteria. Wegmans Brand products produced in-store that are labeled “vegan” meet our Vegan Wellness Key criteria; however, in-store produced items have potential for cross-contact with non-vegan ingredients through shared preparation areas (including ovens, cutting boards, utensils, grills, and fryers).