Two industry experts with opposite opinions on whether the food industry should adopt the term “vegan” or “plant-based” tell us why one should be favoured over the other
There has been a years-long debate about the use of the terms “vegan” versus “plant-based” on food labels. With both terms being used interchangeably by big brands, the search for animal-free products has become increasingly confusing.
While a vegan label has a clear definition of what’s excluded from food products (any ingredient that comes from an animal), plant-based has varying interpretations and definitions depending on who you ask. The term has become a buzzword because of its positive association with health and wellness, and it is now being used on all sorts of products—animal-free or not. While some products labelled plant-based are also vegan, there are brands and restaurants that use plant-based as a synonym for flexitarianism, meaning they emphasize plants but may also incorporate meat, dairy, and eggs. To be clear, this is not plant-based. But with the food industry now using the two terms interchangeably, the question becomes which one should be officially adopted to describe food that is free from animal products.
Miyoko Schinner, vegan activist and founder of vegan cheese and butter company Miyoko’s Creamery, has long been urging the industry to officially adopt the vegan label. “Veganism is truly phenomenal (yup, I have that tattooed on my arm!)—it’s about the power we have, as individuals, to make change in the world for animals, people, and the planet,” Schinner says on LinkedIn. “Veganism is beautiful, sexy, [and] exciting.”
Meanwhile, Lisa Feria, CEO of venture capital firm Stray Dog Capital and an investor in Miyoko’s Creamery, is a strong proponent of using the term plant-based. Feria believes that using “vegan” alienates a large section of potential customers and creates a barrier to the widespread adoption of foods that are better for the planet. “I believe the term plant-based carries the broadest appeal and is easily understood,” Feria tells VegNews. “The term vegan still, unfortunately, has some negative connotations that expand beyond food consumption. Vegans typically live their lives seeking non-animal-based products in general. Flexitarians may just want a plant-centric meal for dinner.”
Miyoko’s Creamery
Although the vegan term might still be recovering from a negative connotation of extremism, Schinner says brands should be working to inspire and entice consumers via marketing instead of shying away from the term. “The food industry adopted the term [plant-based] out of fear of turning off consumers with vegan,” Schinner says. “A few consumer studies were even done, showing slight preference for plant-based, but also more confusion around it … In stark contrast, however, organic Google search terms exceedingly favours vegan over plant-based.”
Why is “plant-based” so confusing?
If the industry were to adopt the plant-based label, it’s especially important that the label is clear and transparent so that customers can make quick and informed decisions. “It’s about having the consumer self-select a product or category quickly without tapping into potential negative associations that have nothing to do with the food product they are buying,” Feria says.
According to a 2020 survey conducted by The Vegan Society on public perception of the two terms, approximately 64 percent of the 1,000 participants believed plant-based means the product contains no animal products. “Plant-based, as is generally used, means that it doesn’t contain the same main ingredient as the product they’re replacing (animal-based meats, or dairy, for example),” Feria says. “It is true some brands have decided to call products plant-based when the second ingredient is an animal-based ingredient.”
But Feria says there are ways to use the perceivably more positive plant-based term on the front of a food package to entice more consumers, while giving vegans reassurance on the back. “A clever tactic we’ve seen some of our companies use is to obtain the vegan qualification logo and place it on the back of the pack next to other logos (‘GMO free’ or ‘B Corp’ or ‘100 percent Organic,’ for example) that give additional context cues to those consumers when they are looking for final confirmation that the product has what they want and not what they don’t,” Feria says. “Consumers are used to turning around the packaging to find out more info—our job is to ensure the front of the back helps them pick it up, to self-select a pack that communicates the key benefits they are seeking. Once they pick up the pack, they add what is needed to jump to the next level (going into the cart)”
Beyond Meat
How do you market animal-free food?
Even with both terms currently being used interchangeably, the animal-free food market has exploded in popularity, and so the question becomes: What’s the best way to market this food to ensure its future growth? Schinner believes it’s the role of marketing to change the perceived “baggage” around the term vegan, especially since consumer perception is undergoing rapid change with increasing acceptance of vegan food.
“Marketing is often a rearview mirror, looking at the recent past and current state of consumer mindset, which works when you’re selling a product that’s been around for a long time, but doesn’t work as well in a nascent category that is reinventing itself constantly (like the plant-based category),” Schinner says. “I also believe that, more than ever, consumers are looking for leadership, direction, even inspiration from brands. Instead of working in fear of frightening people away, shouldn’t brands work rather to inspire and entice them, and show them how the world could be? Isn’t the role of marketing to help people imagine, to ignite in them a passion that they may not have felt before? The word vegan can do that.”
Many brands just like Miyoko’s would agree. These companies have embraced the term vegan because they don’t believe in watering down their mission with the plant-based label just because it may be an easier term for consumers to digest. British vegan food company VFC, which specializes in ever-popular vegan fried chicken, actually banned the term plant-based. “There is a very welcome—and apparently unstoppable—surge in the growth of vegan foods. And with that comes a range of ideas and marketing tactics, and a lot of different conversations. Most food companies use the term ‘plant-based.’ It’s gentler, perhaps, and plays to the many important health aspects of eating animal-free foods. This is a good thing. But it is not our thing,” VFC explains on its website. “Our stance on the language we use goes way beyond the health aspects of our product. We want to use our food as a starting point for a bigger conversation about the rights of animals, the health of our planet, and how our food choices impact these.”
VFC
Despite Feria’s preference for plant-based, she says these mission-driven companies should keep doing what they’re doing. “There are some brands whose image, branding, and communication is about being vegan. They are communicating that they stand for the whole vegan ethos—to reduce or eliminate animal suffering through all the actions they do,” Feria says. “If the company’s lifeblood and passion stems from veganism, then it should be advertised as such to their consumers, who are looking to buy into that exact mission.”
Vegan food with a mission
Ultimately, if the food industry doesn’t want to alienate consumers, businesses and brands need to get on the same page, whether they are advocating for the vegan mission or not. “Clarity and consistency can only help with consumer selection and choice. I’d like to see the use of the name plant-based to mean the same across the board,” Feria says. “The quicker consumers can identify what they want (or not want), the quicker the company can shift to convincing them with their product characteristics (price, health, texture, taste, etc.). And with the plant-based category growing so quickly, that can only help in its expansion.”
Yet, perhaps the mission of all companies making animal-free foods should be to embrace the term vegan as if it’s going to save the world because according to many, including Schinner, it is. “If you can imagine a world without cruelty and suffering, that would be a vegan one,” Schinner says. “And I can honestly say that I have never frightened anyone by the use of this beautiful word. My job is to change its perception, rid it of any baggage (which isn’t as great as [consumer packaged goods] companies imagine), and give folks FOMO. The future of language is ours to define.”
Not all oranges, lemons or limes are vegan. Here’s why and what to look out for when choosing fruit as a vegan
UK supermarket giant Tesco recently came under fire for selling non-vegan fruit.
Some of its oranges, lemons and limes have beeswax and potentially shellac applied to them after they’ve been harvested meaning they are not vegan.
A natural wax produced by honey bees, beeswax is used in the construction of hives and being an animal by-product is not considered vegan. To add to the confusion shellac is also often added to biological fruit wax.
Shellac is a resin secreted by female lac bugs and has been used in everything from gramophone records to nail varnish. It is not vegan, though.
It takes hundreds of thousands of lac bugs to create one kilogram of shellac and unprocessed shellac can consist of up to 25% insect debris, although food-grade shellac contains almost no pieces of insects.
Still, that means a lot of bugs are killed or harmed in the creation of shellac.
Of course, if you only use the juice or flesh of lemons and oranges then that remains vegan, however, many vegans will still not be on board with the idea that beeswax or shellac has been used on them.
Some fruits such as oranges, lemons and limes are coated with beeswax or shellac which means many vegans will avoid them. Image credit: Alexander Spatari via Getty Images
How to choose vegan oranges and lemons
If you’re at a supermarket the clearest and easiest way of ensuring the fruits you buy are vegan is to opt for one clearly marked as unwaxed or organic.
Often the two go hand in hand and some supermarkets only offer organic unwaxed lemons.
While you can find unwaxed lemons for roughly the same price as waxed lemons if you look around enough, organic lemons tend to cost a lot more.
At most UK supermarkets unwaxed lemons cost twice as much as the waxed varieties. We took a sample of online lemon prices from five of the biggest UK supermarkets:
Lemons
Waxed
Unwaxed
Organic
Waxed vs unwaxed %
Tesco
£0.30
N/A
£0.60
100%
Sainsbury’s
£0.30
£0.30
£0.58
93%
Asda
£0.13
£0.33
£0.60
164%
Morrisons
N/A
£0.25
N/A
0%
Ocado
£0.33
£0.33
£0.58
2%
Many of the above where in bags of multiple lemons so we averaged this all down price per lemon.
Identifying unwaxed fruit at a market or greengrocer can be harder. If the stallholder isn’t sure then check to see if the oranges and lemons have a tell-tale shine.
Unwaxed lemons don’t shine under light, they will absorb it and look more matt. On the other hand, citrus that has been coated in beeswax or shellac will reflect light more and appear shinier.
If you have already bought waxed lemons you can either give them to a non-vegan friend or try and get as much of the wax off as possible. Do this by scrubbing the fruit under a running tap with a clean sponge or cloth.
Do not use soap or other cleaning products as these contain chemicals that remain on the skin of the fruit and make you sick when you eat them.
Why are beeswax and shellac added to oranges and lemons?
There are two main reasons why citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, grapefruit and limes are coated in non-vegan beeswax or shellac. The first is quite understandable – it helps keep the fruit from spoiling as quickly when being transported or waiting to be bought on shelves.
Coating fruit in wax slows down water loss and helps them survive shipping.
The second is much less necessary. The wax provides the shine and gleam that consumers tend to prefer. While the shine might look nice it, unfortunately, means that those oranges and lemons are likely not appropriate for a vegan diet so choose duller-looking fruit.
The punch of bold flavours in this dish from toasted nuts and roasted red pepper and molasses spread, lend plenty of Mediterranean flavour
SERVES: 4
In this recipe from the Eat Plants Every Day cookbook, roasting cauliflower imparts a light, golden brown crispness that helps it stand up to the saucy, mild peppery Syrian muhammara. You can find this savoury dip made with roasted red peppers, walnuts, and olive oil at most major grocery stores—it pairs beautifully with crusty bread and roasted vegetables.
What you need:
1 head cauliflower, cut into florets ¼ cup olive oil 2 tablespoons Madras curry powder ½ teaspoon salt 1 cup fresh cilantro, chopped ¼ cup muhammara ¼ cup pomegranate seeds ½ cup walnut halves, toasted and broken in half
Photo credit: Erin Scott
What you do:
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Line a sheet pan with aluminium foil.
2. Into a large bowl, place cauliflower and oil, and toss to coat evenly. Add curry powder and salt and toss again.
3. On prepared pan, spread cauliflower. Place in oven on top rack and roast until light brown, about 30 minutes. Remove from oven.
4. In the centre of a serving plate, spread muhammara, leaving a couple of inches of plate rim uncovered.
5. In a large bowl, toss cauliflower with cilantro, pomegranate seeds, and walnuts. Spoon cauliflower mixture onto muhammara and serve.
Claire Roper, Industry Expert and Plant Based World Expo Advisor, explores the latest trends that will be on display at the show and looks ahead at the future of the plant-based sector.
The Current Landscape
With more than a quarter of Brits aiming to reduce their meat intake, the plant-based food market has grown rapidly over the last five years. In fact, sales of meat and dairy-free alternatives have doubled, making plant-based one of the fastest growing categories in retail.
Whilst this trend isn’t new, the pandemic undoubtedly accelerated the move towards plant-based eating. COVID-19 prompted people to re-evaluate their priorities, with many taking steps to improve their health and live more sustainably. Reducing the intake of animal products offered a simple way to achieve both, with many households introducing meat-free days or cutting out certain meat and dairy products altogether.
Now that we’re emerging from the pandemic, the demand for plant-based foods is beginning to shift from retailers to the out-of-home market, where consumers are increasingly looking for delicious, nutritious, and varied plant-based meal options. As a result, the plant-based market is continuing to thrive, with new and innovative products launching every single day.
Product Innovations
For those looking to discover the latest plant-based products all under one roof, Plant Based World Expo Europe returns to London Olympia on 30th November–1st December. The show will play host to over 150 exhibitors, from household names through to cutting-edge start-ups, which will display their latest innovations and tried and tested favourites.
For those looking for meat alternatives that don’t compromise on flavour, The Raging Pig Company will join the line-up with its pig-less bacon, Raging Bacon. The company is on a mission to remove pigs from our food system and, after years of development, it has finally cracked the code for pig-less bacon that looks, cooks, and tastes like bacon from the past. Currently only available in Germany and Sweden, Raging Bacon will launch to the rest of the European market at the show.
Also showcasing the latest in meat alternatives, Miami Foods will present its healthy take on plant-based products. The professional health-hackers take old favourites and redesign them to drastically reduce saturated fats and calories, without compromising on taste. Miami Foods will use the show to present its smoked streaky bacon rashers, classic burgers, and Louisiana Chick’n, as well as unveil some brand-new products for the very first time.
Plus, Barcelona based ‘meat successor’ brand Heura Foods will be revealing its new meat-free, centre-plate products, including its new gluten-free chick’n fillet burger, which is ideal for those with multiple dietary requirements.
The show will also welcome the latest in dairy-free innovation. For example, Hlthpunk will showcase its line of sustainable, organic, vegan mayos, featuring super clean ingredients. The product line-up includes Hlthpunk’s vegan oat-based mayo, Bionnaise Plant-Based Mayo, which has been dubbed ‘the best tasting mayo on the planet’.
Honestly Tasty will present its game-changing, plant-based alternatives to cheese, including its camembert alternative, the Shamembert. A finalist for the 2022 Plant-Based Taste Awards at Plant Based World Expo New York, the Shamembert is cultured so that it develops an authentic white rind aesthetic as well as a real depth of flavour.
Also showcasing cutting-edge cheese alternatives, Purezza, the UK’s first vegan pizzeria, will make its trade event debut at the show. The company will showcase its vegan mozzarella, which features on its award-winning pizzas and is now available for retail and food service professionals looking to create plant-based alternatives fit for pizza aficionados.
The quality and breadth of plant-based meat and dairy alternatives on display at the show is a fantastic representation of the incredible innovation taking place in this area of the industry right now. This is reflective of consumer demand, with plant-based eaters and those who are reducing their meat intake expecting choice and variety when it comes to plant-based options.
Manufacturers are also placing a firmer focus than ever on the taste of products. Just like the plant-based innovators on display at the show, we are seeing a trend across the board for plant-based foods that truly replicate the experience of meat-eaters so that those opting to avoid animal products don’t feel as though they’re missing out. For example, those making a burger at home, or ordering one in a restaurant now expect to have a choice of patty and for it to include cheese and a range of sauces. As a result, the mayo and wider sauce category is one of the biggest growth areas in the market right now, with dozens of cutting-edge, delicious plant-based options bursting onto the scene.
Creating plant-based restaurant experiences to cater for all foodies, including plant-based eaters and flexitarians, without compromising on flavour or choice is another growing trend in the market. Purezza is a perfect example of the incredible plant-based eateries that are providing great-tasting foods that happen to be vegan. Plus, with brands like Heura creating plant-based foods that also cater for other allergens, such as gluten, we are seeing a shift towards a more inclusive approach to food. Brands are increasingly creating great-tasting products that are suitable for everyone to enjoy without compromise, both in and out of the home.
Looking Ahead
Clearly, it’s an incredibly exciting time for the plant-based industry. Caterers are no longer championing the bland, mushy, veggie burgers that we might have once expected to see on menus. Instead, they are working with manufacturers who are pushing boundaries to create taste-first, innovative meat and dairy alternatives that meat-eaters and non-meat eaters alike will enjoy eating. Moving forward, I expect to see other categories, such as the snack and fine-dining markets, following suit as brands find new ways to delight customers.
A new study shows pea milk to be closest in nutritional value to cow's which is the healthiest of all vegan alternatives
Oat and soy milk have become ubiquitous as people swap dairy for a plant-based diet.
But new research suggests that pea milk is the only vegan option that will give you anything close to as many nutrients as cow's milk.
According to analysis from the US Food and Drink Administration (FDA), pea milk is the only vegan-friendly milk option which has comparable nutrient levels to that of cow’s milk.
Scientists looked at the level of phosphorus, magnesium, zinc and selenium in cow milk — all vital nutrients — as well as 85 samples of pea, soy, almond, cashew, coconut, hemp, oat and rice milk to see which were the most nutritional.
Cow milk comes from the animal’s udder before being pasteurised, whereas plant milks are produced when a crop is ground down and soaked in water with emulsifiers and stabilisers.
While it was once a niche corner of the supermarket aisles, vegan milks are now a mainstream option, often found in cafes and work fridges alongside blue-top and semi-skimmed traditional milk.
But the new data shows that people opting for the more environmentally friendly plant milks may be compromising on their health. Previous studies have shown animal milk to be higher in calories, but there has never before been a consensus on how alternatives stack up for a wider range of compounds.
“The minerals we measured in these products are known to play a role in many functions in the body, including normal immune system function, proper regulation of blood pressure/glucose, and bone health,'' study author Dr Benjamin Rean at the FDA told ZME Science.
Pea milk had the highest levels of phosphorus, zinc and selenium, while soy topped the plant milk list for magnesium. However, all plant milks were inferior to cow’s milk across the board in this experiment.
“Those who consume plant-based milk alternatives lower in these target minerals should seek to obtain these nutrients through other foods or beverages,” Dr Redan told the New Scientist.
Nuts, seeds and lentils are a good source of nutrients for vegans, and can help provide a well-rounded diet when cutting out meat.
The findings are not yet peer-reviewed but were presented at the American Chemical Society meeting in Chicago this week.
Vegan diets are becoming increasingly common, with recent data from Oxford University showing that the number of people eating vegan-friendly foods has doubled in the last decade.
Between the years 2008 and 2011, just 6.7 per cent of Britons reported eating plant-based alternatives to traditional foods, such as oat milk, vegan sausages and Quorn mince.
Twice this proportion of people (13.1 per cent) ate these foods between 2017 and 2019 and, as a result, the total amount of plant-based foods consumed has more than doubled.
I’ve been vegan since 2004. Airline food has come a long way since then, but still, some airlines are better than others in terms of the food options they offer (and whether they even load your meal on the plane in the first place).
Over the past 18 years, I’ve realized some airlines are more reliable than others when it comes to actually delivering the vegan meal I requested and confirmed in advance. Let’s look at what your options for vegan meals are on flights, how to request them and which airlines are the most reliable for following through.
Vegan meal options on flights
Most airlines require you to request a meal at least 24 hours — though sometimes 48 hours — before takeoff. It’s also advisable to double-check upon your arrival at the airport to make sure your special meal request went through properly. That way, you can eat in the airport or buy something to bring on the flight if the airline doesn’t have the meal you requested.
Sounds simple enough, right? Well, airlines also have different meal codes, which can add to the confusion about what you’re actually ordering:
VGML — Vegetarian Vegan Meal. This meal will be completely free from all animal products including meat, dairy, eggs and honey. However, this will typically come with the same bread as everyone else, which is often not vegan, as well as butter and a standard cow’s milk for your tea or coffee.
VLML — Vegetarian Lacto-Ovo Meal. A traditional vegetarian dish with no fish or meat, but it may contain other animal products such as eggs, dairy and honey.
VOML — Vegetarian Oriental Meal. These are typically found on Asian airlines. They are almost always vegan and prepared in an Oriental style, such as vegetables with rice. This option also tends to be gluten-free.
AVML — Asian Vegetarian Meal. This is most likely not vegan, as it typically includes spiced vegetables (which may contain ghee), as well as dairy products, such as paneer cheese.
VJML — Vegetarian Jain Meal. This is a very safe option for vegans as this meal will be in accordance with the Jainism religious principles. This means it will only contain fruit and vegetables that grow above the ground, and no animal products.
RVML — Raw Vegetable Meal. If you’re looking for a vegan dish, you can’t go wrong with this option, as it will exclusively be a selection of raw fruits and vegetables. Unfortunately, that often means it’s the blandest option.
FPML — Fruit Platter. For any fruitarians out there, this is the one for you.
These codes are the basic principles, though you may see some airlines simply offering a “vegetarian meal” as their only vegetarian option. In many instances, these are vegan and designed to cover every type of vegetarian meal request.
But what’s the real-life experience here? How consistent are airlines in delivering these vegan meals? Are they any good?
How airlines handle vegan meal requests
Aeromexico
Aeromexico passengers can request a special meal up to 48 hours before takeoff, and vegan meals are available on flights beyond Mexico that are at least three hours in length — though not always. Some flights less than five hours in length may have preset meal boxes without the ability to request special meals. Make sure to understand what’s being served on your particular flight.
Aeromexico offers a Vegetarian Meal that should be vegan, distinguished from the Lacto-Ovo-Vegetarian meal that isn’t. The details are here.
Air Canada
Vegans can choose the Western VGML or Indian-style VJML when flying on Air Canada. Special meals are available on all flights departing North America, as well as for passengers in business class or premium economy when flying within North America. These requests are handled reliably, minus occasional non-vegan butter packets on your tray.
If you’re a vegan flying in the economy cabin within North America, you’ll need to bring your own food. This is because the meal boxes aren’t vegan and special meal requests aren’t possible.
Air France
Air France offers a wide range of special meals, all of which can be requested online or even through a private message to their Twitter team. The website says you must request special meals at least 24 hours in advance, except 48 hours for Kosher meals.
In my experience, the airline struggles with providing vegan meals. I have never received an appropriate, vegan meal in economy class, despite confirming it in advance of every flight.
In business class, I received a vegan main dish on two occasions (out of four flights), though both included numerous non-vegan items on the tray. On other occasions, I received macaroni and cheese as a main dish, which was a big disappointment after confirming a vegan meal in advance.
The airline also has a bad habit with breakfast. They will serve something non-vegan, even if they tell you in advance it’s vegan. You can expect copious amounts of dairy, eggs or both — such as this meal below and another time where they served me an omelette.
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
Air New Zealand
The vegetarian meal is VGML and suitable for vegans on Air New Zealand flights. Travelers can request this online at least 24 hours in advance.
This airline is reliable in providing special meals — both in terms of meeting the dietary requirements and delivering them. Details are available here.
Alaska Airlines
Alaska Airlines promises to always have vegetarian options on board. The options can change, though, meaning it’s impossible to know whether it will be vegan. The airline handles food service on board differently depending on the length of a flight, but it is possible to request special meals in advance (with at least 24 hours’ notice) if your trip will include meal service.
If your flight doesn’t include a free meal service, you can still pre-order items to enjoy on board. These must be reserved at least 20 hours before take-off. The Soy Meets World Salad and Mediterranean Tapas Picnic Pack are both vegan. Details are available here.
American Airlines
American Airlines is inconsistent in its handling of vegan meal requests. When seated in economy, my vegan meals tend to be delivered with a thick covering of cheese, despite having a VGML sticker on top. When seated in business class, the airline fares better, typically delivering a vegan main dish at dinner time; however, it’s always accompanied by packets of dairy butter and usually a dessert that isn’t vegan.
(Photo by Ryan Smith / The Points Guy)
American Airlines doesn’t tend to do well with breakfast, in my experience. The meal usually includes yogurt, dairy and croissants as a base of the meal.
Colombia’s Avianca recently made some large cutbacks as it goes through bankruptcy. At present, the airline’s website says special meals are only available on select routes to Europe lasting seven hours or more. You must request these at least 24 hours in advance. You’ll need to call to request a special meal.
Before these cutbacks, Avianca was not reliable with special meals. I never managed to have the airline fulfil my request for a vegan meal, despite confirming it in advance on three occasions.
Azul
Brazil-based Azul offers a growing network of flights within South America, as well as connections between Brazil and Florida or Portgual. I have flown on long-haul flights with Azul three times and can say the airline has consistently failed to provide vegan meals.
Whether the airline simply forgets your meal or gives you something that isn’t close to being vegan, the end result is the same: vegans should bring their own meals when flying with Azul.
The airline does advertise a “Vegetarian Meal (VGML) — Meals prepared from plant foods, free of animal products or their derivatives” on its website. You must call at least 48 hours in advance to request it.
British Airways
British Airways’ website states that the airline “cannot offer every special meal type on all flights, and there may be flights where we cannot supply your chosen meal.” Social media reports suggest that BA’s vegan and veggie options aren’t the best. Plus, the airline has consistent issues with adding non-vegan sides to its vegan main courses — plus yogurt-based breakfasts, even when passengers have confirmed a VGML in advance.
This could be extremely distressing for most vegans and even potentially dangerous for those with intolerances and allergies. As such, it might be necessary to err on the side of caution when flying with BA as a vegan.
You must request special meals at least 24 hours before departure. Meals vary, so it’s difficult to know in advance what your vegan meal may contain. You can view the carrier’s full special meals terms here.
Copa Airlines
Copa Airlines is a member of Star Alliance, and as of 2020, it no longer offers special meals. However, this changes nothing in practice. The airline never once provided a special meal to me or my wife, though we flew countless segments with the airline while living in Brazil and traveling throughout South and Central America.
Despite requesting the meals in advance and having both check-in agents and boarding gate agents promise the meals were on board, they never were. The airline ended this charade two years ago, and now they advise you to bring your own food.
Delta Air Lines
With much fanfare, Delta announced five new vegetarian meal options on flights that will come as standard options — no special requests in advance needed. Unfortunately, all of these include dairy. Vegans will still need to request a special meal in advance.
While the airline consistently delivers vegan meals that are actually vegan, don’t expect to be impressed with flavour. You’ll encounter plain tofu or plain rice cakes in many dishes. However, you’ll at least have a full belly.
Israel’s El Al offers a “pure vegetarian (vegan) meal” that you can request online. Details are available here, but there is no specific cut-off time listed for when your requests must be made. Err on the side of safety and submit your request at least 48 hours in advance.
Emirates
Emirates has ranked as the best option for vegan travellers for several years now, according to a Veg News poll. Even non-vegan passengers are known to get food envy about the airline’s vegan dishes. In January of 2019, Emirates reported that requests for vegan meals increased by more than 40% — an indication of the demand for the alternative.
Emirates’ VGML options range from vegetable curry with rice to vegan lasagne and even vegan pancakes. Since the carrier noticed an increased demand for vegan options, it also added a nut-based vegan cheese to some flights. Be cautious though, as some passengers have reported that the roll and butter served as sides are not always vegan.
With Emirates, all special meal requests must be booked at least 24 hours in advance of your flight. In addition, the airline says that some special meals may be unavailable in economy on shorter flights. You can view the carrier’s full special meals terms here.
Ethiopian Airlines
Ethiopian Airlines allows you to request special meals online in advance (here), though the website is prone to errors during this process. Previously, the airline also offered a chat that you could use for special meal requests, but this has ended. I’ve found the best way to request vegan meals is through its Twitter team, using a private message.
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
The airline consistently delivers main dishes that are vegan, as long as you request at least 24 hours in advance. These may be Western-style meals or traditional Ethiopian food, and I’ve had success on every flight, whether in economy or business class. However, the Western-style meal usually comes with a non-vegan dessert, which you can see in the photo above.
Etihad Airways
Famous for its onboard chefs, Etihad Airways offers multiple types of vegetarian meals. However, only the “vegetarian meal VGML” is guaranteed to be vegan. You can request these online, and details are available here.
On both short-haul and long-haul flights, I’ve had great experiences with Etihad delivering my requested meals and providing something that was vegan — even down to the side dishes.
Finnair
I consider Finnair the example of what every other airline should strive to be when it comes to vegan meals on flights. Finnair’s website lists a “Vegetarian diet (VGML),” which you can request online. Requests must be submitted at least 24 hours in advance.
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
Finnair has delivered not only some of the best vegan meals I’ve ever had on flights, but it’s also the only airline to offer me a curated vegan dessert. Rather than just a fruit cup, I’ve had raspberry mousse and even miniature cupcakes.
Kenya Airways
Despite the fact Kenya Airways has had a typo in its special meals section for several years now, there actually is a vegan meal option. You’ll see “Vegetarian meals (AVML)” on the website, but this is actually a vegan meal and should say VGML. When requesting meals from the airline (which you can do online), you’ll see VGML in your confirmation, so don’t fret.
I’ve had great success with this airline delivering on special meal requests. Aside from a salad dressing here or a butter packet there, most of what you will receive should be vegan, including the main dish and side dishes. Just be sure to read the ingredients on condiments with Kenya Airways.
KLM
There are some positives and negatives with vegan meals on KLM. First, the airline says it has vegetarian meals preloaded onto all flights, though there is a limited number of these. If you want to guarantee one — or want to ensure it’s vegan — then you should request in advance, which you can do online at least 24 hours in advance.
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
While the airline consistently delivers vegan dinners and main courses for breakfast, it also consistently includes non-vegan items like yogurt and butter on the breakfast tray. Also, don’t plan to be impressed by the vegan meals; they will include things like a pile of lettuce passed off as a salad, but you’ll at least have something to eat when flying with KLM.
LATAM
I lived in Brazil for the last six years, and I’ve lost count of how many times I flew on LATAM — South America’s largest airline. However, the airline only delivered my special meal once.
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
Dinner on the one flight where LATAM actually honoured my vegan meal request included a super-salty meatless meatloaf. Breakfast was slices of plain, silken tofu with slices of fruit — nothing creative and honestly the type of food most people mock vegans for. However, they provided something appropriate to eat, which was an improvement for a change.
Vegan meals (and special meals in general) are not available in economy class for most flights within South America. However, you can request a special meal when flying long-haul between South America and other continents (or when flying in premium economy or business class within South America). You must request your special meal at least 24 hours in advance and will need to call to do so. Details are here.
Lufthansa
I lived in Germany for two and a half years and Lufthansa consistently honoured my vegan meal requests. These included medium-haul and long-haul flights, in both economy and business class. Even the butter packets are typically vegan with this airline. Plus, the basket of warm bread rolls is fantastic.
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
Unfortunately, special meals aren’t available in economy for flights less than 185 minutes (three hours and five minutes) in length. You can see details and request your VGML here.
Qantas
My first-ever business class flight was on Qantas, and I remember being wowed when I received soy milk to go with my coffee during breakfast.
Qantas flights are said to have exceptional vegan food available on both intercontinental and domestic flights. Special meal options have been known to include pasta with tomato sauce, stir-fried vegetables with noodles, white bean and pumpkin curry, rye rolls and fresh cakes.
Qantas says that special meals must be requested at least 24 hours prior to departure (or 36 hours for Kosher meals). Additionally, the carrier says that special meals are not available on domestic economy flights of three and a half hours or less; the carrier only serves refreshments on those shorter flights. You can view the carrier’s full special meals terms here.
When I flew Qatar’s Qsuite product, I received a delicious dish of noodles with General Tso’s tofu. On shorter flights or when flying in economy, the airline has consistently delivered vegan meals every time I’ve requested one in advance.
The airline’s website says you must request special meals at least 24 hours before departure, and you can do this online.
Royal Air Maroc
Morocco-based Royal Air Maroc offers vegan meals and other special meals available for request online. The only vegetarian option is the VGML, which is a vegan meal. The website states that all requests must be occur at least 48 hours in advance.
Unfortunately, vegan meals are a bit hit-or-miss on this airline.
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
While dinner is consistently vegan, minus packets of dairy butter on the side, it won’t come with much flavour. However, that is an improvement over the airline’s breakfast, which consistently includes numerous non-vegan items (croissants, yogurt and butter). This is because you will receive the standard tray of items served to all customers, though with a substituted main dish.
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
Royal Jordanian
Unfortunately, Royal Jordanian has removed all details about special meals from its website. Instead, it simply advises travellers that special meals are available and says they must request them at least 24 hours before departure.
In practice, the airline has multiple special meal types available, including vegan meals. The airline has never let me down on the delivery of a special meal request. Request these on the website when managing your reservation.
Ryanair
It’s likely not the first airline you think of for meals during a flight — especially since you have to pay for them — but Ryanair consistently has great vegan meal options on its flights. You can pre-order meals online in advance. If not, there are options on the in-flight menu with green indicators for what’s vegan. Note that they don’t have an unlimited supply of these items, though, and it’s not guaranteed that your preferred items will be available if you don’t order in advance.
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
That being said, the airline has a vegan sausage roll for 5.50 euros ($5.48) and a vegan lasagne for 6.50 euros ($6.48). I highly recommend this lasagne. It’s much better than the vegan snack options on many other airlines.
SAS
Special meals are available on SAS‘ intercontinental flights or when travelling in premium cabins on flights more than 80 minutes within Europe. There are three vegetarian meals available, including a clearly-indicated vegan meal. The website says you need to request special meals at least 24 hours in advance.
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
The airline performs well, consistently delivering vegan meals that are actually vegan — including the margarine packets. However, decline the box of chocolates when the flight attendants offer it, as these won’t be vegan. If you get lucky enough to have the vegan gnocchi on one of your flights, you won’t be disappointed.
South African Airways
You’ll need to request your meal at least 48 hours in advance when flying with South African Airways (or 72 hours for Kosher meals). There are no details about what’s in the meals listed on the website, but SAA promises the availability of vegan meals if requested in advance. These are only available on long-haul flights, however.
From personal experience, SAA will deliver a vegan main dish and appropriate sides during lunch or dinner, though you should be wary of condiment packages. For breakfast, it’s a toss-up on whether you’ll get something vegan. The airline tends to deliver yogurt or egg dishes, though you may also get stuck with another plate of exactly what you had for dinner.
SWISS
Switzerland-based SWISS consistently delivers well on its vegan meals. You’ll get a tray full of items that are actually vegan. However, don’t expect to be overwhelmed with taste. The fact you’ll get vegan food as requested is more than other airlines can claim, though.
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
(Photo by Ryan Smith/The Points Guy)
You can request special meals up to 24 hours prior to departure, and the website says these are available on all long-haul flights, as well as flights within Europe for passengers traveling in business class. There are four types of vegetarian meals available, though only one is vegan.
Turkish Airlines
Turkish Airlines offers a “strict vegan meal (VGML),” which you can request online, via the app or from their Twitter team, as long as you do so at least 24 hours in advance. The airline has multiple types of vegetarian meals available, and its Jain meal (VJML) should also be vegan; choose this if you like Indian food. The VGML option tends to match the culinary traditions of your departure point (such as Chinese food in China or Italian food in Italy).
Turkish Airlines consistently delivers vegan meals without non-vegan items.
United Airlines
United’s website says it offers special meals, including VGML vegan meals, on flights more than 2,000 miles in North America as well as premium transcontinental flights, flights from the U.S. mainland to Hawaii and all international routes beyond North America. You need to request a special meal at least 24 hours in advance.
United has finally returned to offering special meals after refusing to offer any during much of the coronavirus pandemic. During this time, the airline often had vegetarian options that tended to be vegan, such as Thai curry, which is nice to know in case you forget to request your vegan meal in advance.
Virgin Atlantic
With high ratings for both vegan food and healthy dishes, Virgin seems to be a great choice for inflight meals. Through its partnership with the Sustainable Restaurant Association, the airline looks for alternatives to — or sustainably-sourced versions of — beef, seafood, soy and palm olive products.
You must book your meal at least 24 hours before your flight departs (48 hours if you’re requesting a Kosher meal). Additionally, Virgin says that special meal requests only apply to your main meal and do not include snacks and condiments. You can view the carrier’s full special meals terms here. It says vegan meals are available on all flights.
Bottom line
Flying as a vegan can still be a challenge, but it is improving. Some airlines are leaders in the space when compared to others. The best advice for vegan travellers is to be well-prepared before a flight by researching the airline’s policy for requesting meals and the likeliness of actually receiving it.
It shouldn’t take this much effort, but my wife and I make sure to request our vegan meals more than once, and confirm the selection at the check-in desk (asking if there’s a special meal but not telling the agent which type we requested, so we can understand the reality of our meal situation). We also still bring a small snack on board just in case. Some easy travel options include bananas, nuts, dried fruits, protein bars, vegetable sticks or even oatmeal cups that require just hot water.
