2025

The Truth About Vegan Labels and What They Hide

Let’s get real about something that’s been bugging me for a while: vegan labels. You know the ones I’m talking about—those little stamps or bold text on packages that say “Certified Vegan” or just “Vegan.” People see that, and they’re like, “Oh, this must be good for me, or ethical, or sustainable.” But hold up—do you actually know what that label means? Because I’m telling you, it doesn’t always mean what you think it does.

Let’s start with the basics. A vegan label usually means the product doesn’t contain any animal-derived ingredients, and it’s not tested on animals. Cool, right? I’m all for that. But what it doesn’t tell you is where the ingredients came from, how they were produced, or what the workers who made it were paid. You could be buying a vegan chocolate bar, but if the cocoa was sourced from exploited labor, is it really as ethical as it looks on the shelf?

And here’s the thing about vegan labels: they don’t have to meet some universal, gold-standard definition. Different organizations have different criteria, and companies can sometimes self-certify their products. Yeah, you heard me—self-certify. It’s like the Wild West out there. Just because a product says it’s vegan doesn’t mean some third-party group went through and verified every single step of the process.

Then there’s the issue of sustainability. A lot of vegan products are marketed as being better for the planet, but it’s not always that simple. Take almond milk, for example. It’s vegan, sure, but almonds require a ridiculous amount of water to grow, and most of them are grown in drought-prone areas. And don’t get me started on the carbon footprint of some of these ingredients, like the palm oil that sneaks into so many “vegan” cookies and spreads. Palm oil is technically vegan, but its production is destroying rainforests and habitats for endangered species like orangutans. Vegan? Yes. Ethical? Not so much.

And let’s talk about health for a second. Vegan labels don’t mean a product is healthy. A vegan candy bar is still a candy bar. Vegan potato chips are still fried in oil. I saw a “vegan” label on a soda the other day. Soda! Like, who’s out here thinking Coca-Cola wasn’t vegan? But there it is, with a big ol’ label to make you feel better about drinking it.

Now, I’m not saying vegan labels are completely useless. They can be a helpful guide, especially if you’re new to veganism and trying to avoid animal products. But they’re just one piece of the puzzle. You’ve got to look deeper. Where do the ingredients come from? How is the product made? Is it actually good for your body or the planet? That label won’t answer any of those questions.

If you want to dig deeper into this, check out this article from the Vegan Society about what vegan certification really means: https://www.vegansociety.com/go-vegan/definition-veganism. It’s a good starting point to understand what’s behind the label.

At the end of the day, being an informed consumer means going beyond the labels. Don’t just trust what’s on the front of the package. Flip it over, read the ingredients, and think critically. Veganism isn’t about perfection, but it’s also not about blindly trusting every product that slaps “vegan” on the box. Stay curious, stay skeptical, and make choices that align with your values.

Educating Yourself about Vegan Issues

I’ve been hearing a lot of people say they want to educate themselves on vegan issues but aren’t sure where to start. First off, let me just say that going vegan isn’t about being perfect. People assume if you’re vegan, you must be the most ethical, sustainable human on the planet. Wrong. There’s nuance, there’s research, there’s always more to learn. If you don’t invest time in the learning part, you’re basically running on vibes and kale smoothies alone. That might work for a week, but eventually, you’ll get stuck in an awkward conversation where someone questions your knowledge, and you’ll have nothing to back it up. So do yourself a favor, and read a little. Watch a documentary. Actually pay attention. It’ll help you navigate all the angles—environmental, ethical, health-related—without getting side-eyed at the dinner table.

Now, some folks say, “But isn’t it enough to just do it? Why do I need to read?” Because the issues around veganism are complicated, that’s why. Sure, you might not care about the science behind factory farming or the ethical debates about aquaculture, but if you don’t at least skim the basics, you’re missing the whole point. You’re also missing the chance to have real, educated discussions with people who aren’t vegan, which—let’s be honest—is going to be most people you encounter. If you want to stand your ground, you need actual facts. If you want to understand the bigger picture of supply chains, global impacts, and cultural perspectives, you’ve got to crack open a book or two.

Speaking of books, let me spend some time on that, because that’s where the gold is. There are some incredible reads out there on vegan ethics, plant-based nutrition, and the environmental impact of the animal agriculture industry. Books like “Eating Animals” by Jonathan Safran Foer or “How Not to Die” by Michael Greger give you the scientific background and personal stories that really cement why people choose veganism. Then you’ve got more philosophical takes, like “Why We Love Dogs, Eat Pigs, and Wear Cows” by Melanie Joy, which dives into the psychology of carnism. Those are just a few that come to mind, but there are so many more. The point is, these authors have spent years studying the subject, and they’re handing you their knowledge on a platter. Take advantage of it.

Now, I know some of you might say, “That’s cool, but I’m broke.” Trust me, I feel you. No one wants to blow their budget on a stack of books they might not even finish. But there are ways to score free or cheap reading material. First of all, public libraries exist for a reason. Don’t sleep on them. Second, you can find used bookstores that offer crazy discounts. You can also look for e-book deals—sometimes retailers do massive price drops. And if you’re really on the hunt for freebies, check out BookRaid for some free books. They have daily deals, special offers, and a bunch of discounted options, so you don’t need to pay full price to start educating yourself.

Another tip: sign up for newsletters from your favorite authors or vegan organizations, because they sometimes give away e-books for free. And let’s not forget digital lending services—there are apps where you can borrow e-books without leaving your house. The bottom line is, there’s no excuse to stay in the dark about vegan issues when the information is out there and often doesn’t cost a thing. You just need to know where to look, and I’ve dropped a few hints.

So, if you’re serious about this, get out of your comfort zone and start reading. Don’t rely solely on social media to form your opinions. Pick up a couple of those books I mentioned, or look for more options that fit your specific interests. And hey, if a book doesn’t speak to you, move on to the next one. The more perspectives you absorb, the better equipped you’ll be to hold your own in a conversation—or even just to clarify your own thoughts. Trust me, once you dive deep into the literature on veganism, you’ll never run out of things to say when somebody asks, “So, why are you vegan?”