Many people who have made the switch to a plant-based diet say that the hardest part isn’t giving up animal products – it’s knowing which foods are vegan-friendly and which are not.
The vegan movement has many symbols and logos, some of which are more well-known than others.
Looking out for some of these symbols on packaging at the store can help you to identify vegan products.
However, not all vegan symbols are related to food. Some are designed to represent the movement as a whole and its core values.
This is the ultimate guide to vegan symbols, logos, and signs. By the end of this guide, you’ll be an expert in vegan symbology!
The Two Types of Vegan Logos
Before we get started, a reminder: there are two types of vegan logos and symbols.
Well, technically, there are many more classes of vegan symbols, but all vegan logos can roughly be divided into two types:
- Symbols that indicate that a product is suitable for vegans.
- Symbols showing solidarity with the vegan movement.
The former type of symbol is found on the packaging. The exact symbol you see to represent vegan-friendly products may vary depending on where you are in the world and which brands you’re buying.
On the other hand, logos representing the vegan movement are more likely to be found on flags, shirts, and other apparel.
These symbols are often designed to show that the person wearing the symbol is vegan. You may also see them at vegan events or protests.
Although some of the vegan symbols and logos we’re going to be talking about in today’s guide look quite different from one another, there are some elements that are shared by many vegan symbols. These include:
- Variations of the Letter V
A lot of the vegan symbols you’ll see, whether on food packaging or at vegan events, will display some version of the letter ‘V.’
Sometimes, the letter ‘V’ will appear on its own, surrounded by a circle, or with some embellishments. However, you may also see the letter combinations ‘VG,’ ‘VE,’ or ‘VGN.’
Bear in mind that while the letter ‘V’ by itself can mean ‘vegan’ in some places, it can also stand for ‘vegetarian’ at times. Many restaurants have now decided to use ‘V’ as the vegetarian symbol, with ‘VE,’ ‘VG,’ or ‘VGN’ as the vegan symbol.
So, it may be worth checking for a symbol key on the menu if you’re eating out, as the letter ‘V’ can cause some confusion.
- Leaves
Many vegan symbols and logos include leaves or other plants. This makes sense since vegan food is, of course, plant-based.
Often, the leaf will be attached to another element of the vegan symbol, with the most well-known example being the ‘V’ with a leaf coming off it.
- Green Color Themes
Although not all vegan symbols use the color green, it’s safe to say that about 50% of them do. Green branding is a huge part of vegan product marketing, as the color green is associated with the earth, nature, and the health benefits of veganism.
Vegan Symbols and Logos You Should Know About
- Encircled ‘V’
Probably the most well-known vegan symbol is the letter ‘V’ inside a circle. This is usually printed in a sans-serif font, but it can vary depending on where you are. There’s also a Unicode character version of the symbol, which has been around since the 1980s.
The letter ‘V’ in a circle is not to be confused with the letter ‘E’ in a circle or the encircled letter ‘A’. The encircled letter ‘E’ stands for egalitarianism, whereas the letter ‘A’ in a circle represents anarchism.
While you might see the encircled ‘V’ on food packaging, its meaning goes far beyond the basics of the plant-based diet. There is a strong connotation of ethical veganism (a vegan lifestyle entered into for the sake of human and non-human animals, as well as the planet) associated with the encircled ‘V.’
- ‘V’ with Leaf Attached
As we mentioned earlier, another very popular vegan symbol is the letter ‘V’ with a leaf or some kind of plant symbol attached to it.
However, be aware that in Europe, the letter ‘V’ with a leaf coming off one side is used to indicate that food is vegetarian – not necessarily vegan.
There are several variations of this symbol. One that makes it very clear that a food or cosmetic product is vegan is the word ‘Vegan,’ with a leaf branching off one side of the first letter. In other variations of the symbol, the letter ‘V’ appears by itself with a leaf coming off both sides of the letter.
- Heart Containing a ‘V’
If you’re in the United States, you’re likely to come across a black heart symbol containing the white letter ‘V.’ The heart and the letter are contained inside a circle, and around them are the words ‘Certified Vegan’ and ‘Vegan.org.’
This symbol is a mark of Vegan.org certification. When you see this on cosmetic packaging, it means that a product doesn’t contain any products derived from animals and also hasn’t been tested on animals.
The latter criteria for the certification is important from the standpoint of ethical veganism. That’s because many vegans will not consider a product to be vegan-friendly if it has been tested on animals, even if it doesn’t contain animal-derived ingredients, as animals have still been exploited in its production.
A product has to be approved by the Vegan Awareness Foundation before this logo can be printed on the packaging. It’s also a trademark symbol, so if you’re selling products that you want to brand with the Vegan.org certification, you’ll need to apply for approval before you can legally do so.
- Paw and Hand
One of the most poignant symbols of the vegan movement is the paw and hand symbol, otherwise referred to as the paw and fist. The logo is surrounded by the words ‘Animal Liberation. Human Liberation.’
The human fist in the symbol has been used throughout history to indicate resistance and rebellion. Some examples include the socialist and communist movements, as well as the labor party movement. The fist is intended to represent human liberation.
Next to the fist is an animal’s paw, raised in much the same way. As the fist and paw are raised side by side, the symbol supports the idea that animal and human liberation go hand in hand.
Studies have shown that meat and dairy farming (including the farming of animal feed) significantly contributes to global warming, which impacts some human communities disproportionately.
Additionally, research has been conducted into the impact of employment in slaughterhouses on workers’ mental health, indicating that slaughterhouse employees have lower levels of mental well-being.
The point behind this logo is that going vegan and thus liberating animals also has benefits for human liberation.
- The Vegan Flag
Did you know that the vegan movement has its own flag? If you didn’t, you do now!
The vegan flag, as you might expect, contains the letter ‘V,’ which is represented by a white ‘V’ shape in the middle of the flag. Inside the ‘V’ is a green triangle, and the rest of the flag is blue around the outside of the letter.
This flag was created in Israel in 2017 by members of the Animal Liberation Front. The blue area of the flag is supposed to represent animals that live in the ocean, whereas land animals are represented by the green triangle inside the ‘V.’
Of course, the white ‘V’ symbolizes veganism, but it’s also a pyramid (upside down). The meaning behind this is accomplishing a seemingly impossible feat: making the entire world vegan.
- Vegan Fork Wristband
The vegan fork wristband, or bracelet, is a symbol created by the Liberation Pledge. The Liberation Pledge is a vow that some vegans choose to make.
Forks are popular symbols in the vegan movement, and not just because of the popular documentary Forks Over Knives. Many vegan companies include the fork symbol in their logo as a powerful reminder of the impact each individual food choice can have on animals and the planet.
When you make the pledge, you are not just committing to avoiding all animal products and animal testing, but you’re also pledging not to sit at tables where animal products are being served.
This is a very strict pledge, and the seriousness of the promise is reinforced by the fact that many pledgers wear real metal forks bent around their wrists as bracelets. However, rubber wristbands are often worn as an alternative, and some vegans choose to get the symbol as a tattoo instead.
- ‘A.L.F.’
The A.L.F, or Animal Liberation Front logo, is largely based on the symbol for the anarchist movement. It’s a large ‘A’ inside a circle, with the letter ‘L’ inside the upper triangle and the letter ‘F’ in the lower half.
The reason for the similarities between the anarchist logo and the Animal Liberation Front logo is down to the fact that the Animal Liberation Front is known for employing radical strategies to liberate animals. These tactics include freeing animals from testing facilities and factory farms by breaking and entering.
- ‘V’ and ‘A’
Another vegan symbol that is very similar to the Animal Liberation Front’s logo is the ‘V and A’ symbol, which stands for ‘Veganarchy’.
The symbol consists of a circle with the letter ‘A’ and the letter ‘V’ overlapping one another. This logo shows support for the vegan movement and the anarchism movement, because many (though not all) vegans support the ideology behind the anarchist movement.
Anarchism shares a lot of beliefs with the ethical veganism movement beyond the fact that both have a sizable presence in punk music. Both movements believe in abolishing aspects of society’s hierarchical systems while promoting individualism and nonviolence.
However, because both veganism and anarchism remain quite misunderstood in many parts of the world, this symbol is nowhere near as popular as some of the others we’ve talked about today.
- Green Square and Dot
This particular symbol is mostly seen in India, and it’s used to show that food is vegetarian. It’s a white square with a green outline, with a green dot in the middle.
Interestingly, vegetarian food in India is legally required to carry this symbol. While not all Indian food bearing this symbol will be vegan (the logo is used for vegetarian food as a whole), it’s an easy way to see which foods do not contain meat or seafood.
- Coat of Arms for Veganism
You might be surprised to hear that the vegan movement has its very own coat of arms, but here it is!
This symbol is not as popular compared to some of the other vegan logos in this guide, it’s not trademarked, which means that, unlike many vegan symbols, it’s available for public use.
The logo was designed by Maria Tiqwah, who is a Dutch artist. The coat of arms features a cow standing proudly on its hind legs alongside a pig, holding the vegan flag, which we talked about earlier.
A rooster perches on the top of the flag, and at the bottom of the coat of arms, the words ‘Have Courage ~ Be Kind ~ Go Vegan’ are displayed on a scroll.
- Leaping Bunny
The leaping bunny symbol is not strictly a vegan symbol, but for many vegans, its presence on cosmetic products can be the difference between buying that product and leaving it on the shelf.
The leaping bunny logo is a trademarked symbol depicting the outline of a jumping rabbit. This symbol means that a product is ‘cruelty-free’ in the sense that it has not been tested on animals.
It’s important to note, however, that just because a product has not been animal tested doesn’t mean it’s vegan. Often, products that have not been tested on animals can still contain animal-derived ingredients, so be sure to read labels carefully even if you see this logo on the packaging.
We should also mention that a few different companies have adopted the leaping bunny logo, and depending on the company that has bestowed the logo, its significance may differ.
For example, PETA’s cruelty-free program has its own criteria, which is not exactly the same as the Choose Cruelty-Free standards.
- Seedling Emoji
Looking to show your support for the vegan movement on social media? One of the easiest ways to do this is by putting the seeding emoji in your posts or on your profile.
Usually, the seedling emoji is an indicator that the poster follows a plant-based diet. This could refer to either vegetarianism or veganism.
Bear in mind that the seedling emoji is in no way an official symbol for veganism or vegetarianism. Because of this, you may also see the emoji posted online for other reasons.
For example, it can be used to symbolize gardening, seasonal changes, or even personal growth.
The emoji may also look slightly different depending on what kind of device you’re using and what platform you’re posting on.
Distinguishing Between Vegan and Vegetarian Symbols
As you might have noticed from our descriptions of the different vegan symbols and logos, there is a fair amount of overlap between the symbols used to indicate vegan products and those used on vegetarian foods.
It can be difficult to know what a ‘V’ means when you see it on a menu or food packaging, for example, since this is used to signify both vegan and vegetarian, depending on the restaurant or store.
Depending on the type of product you’re purchasing or ordering, a ‘V’ symbol may be more likely to mean ‘vegan’ than ‘vegetarian.’
For example, if you see any variation of the ‘V’ symbol on cosmetic packaging, it probably means that it’s vegan. This is because most vegetarians don’t avoid animal-derived ingredients in makeup, skincare, or hair care products, as it’s mostly a dietary choice.
On the other hand, vegans usually check everything for animal products because veganism is more of a lifestyle choice than a diet.
With that being said, if you’ve checked the labels for symbols, words, and ingredients and still aren’t sure if a product is vegan, it’s best to check by asking a server or store employee, googling the product, or directly contacting the manufacturer if necessary.
Remember that when it comes to cosmetics, just because a product doesn’t contain animal ingredients doesn’t mean it hasn’t been tested on animals. This is where you’ll need to look for the cruelty-free or leaping bunny logo to make sure it aligns with your beliefs if you’re against animal testing.
Final Thoughts
Going vegan is a commendable choice that signifies your commitment to animal rights, the health of the planet, and equality between all human beings.
However, in order to navigate the world as a vegan, knowing all the different vegan and vegetarian symbols is important. This will help you to identify vegan and non-vegan foods, products, and organizations.
There are so many symbols and logos connected to the vegan movement, from the standard ‘V’ symbol variations used on food and cosmetic packaging to logos belonging to animal rights groups such as the A.L.F. Some logos represent belief systems or ideologies, like the ‘Veganarchy’ symbol.
Still, more symbols, such as the leaping bunny, indicate the absence of animal testing, which is very important to most vegans.
Remember that some symbols, especially versions of the ‘V’ in a circle, can also mean vegetarian. Therefore, if there’s no other indication of whether a product or dish is vegan, you should still check to make sure.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the Difference Between the Vegan ‘V’ and the Kosher ‘V’?
The letter ‘V’ inside a circle is the most common symbol for veganism. However, it is very similar to the ‘V’ symbol for kosher food.
The main difference between these two symbols is that the kosher ‘V’ is usually in a serif font, whereas the vegan ‘V’ is typically in sans serif.
It is very important to understand the difference between these two symbols because there are a lot of kosher foods that are not vegan, although all vegan food is kosher.
Are Vegan Symbols Copyrighted?
Among the wide variety of vegan symbols, some are copyrighted, whereas others can be used by anyone without needing a license.
For example, the standard ‘V’ in a circle, especially when expressed as a Unicode character, is free for use by anyone. The same is true for many other vegan symbols.
With that being said, some vegan logos, especially trademarks denoting vegan certification, are protected by copyright laws. This means that if you want to use the symbol for anything other than private, personal use, you will need to apply and be approved to do so.
A good rule of thumb is that symbols and logos intended to represent the vegan movement are usually okay to use. However, product and packaging logos designed to indicate that a food or cosmetic product is vegan are usually trademarked, so you won’t be able to use them commercially until your request has been approved.
What if a Food Product Has No Vegan Symbol?
If you’re buying food from the grocery store and can’t see a clear vegan symbol on the packaging, that doesn’t automatically mean the food isn’t vegan. While most brands are making an effort to label vegan food more clearly, there is still a lot of vegan food that doesn’t carry the vegan or vegetarian symbol.
In case you can’t see a symbol representing veganism on the packaging, look for the words ‘vegan’ or ‘suitable for vegans’ instead. If these are not printed anywhere, you will need to read the ingredients label carefully.
The main ingredients you should look out for when checking if food is vegan include any meat or fish products, dairy products such as milk or cheese, and eggs. Things like milk and eggs will be in bold because they are potential allergens, but other non-vegan ingredients, such as honey or gelatin, may be more difficult to spot because they aren’t common allergens and so don’t legally need to be written in bold.
Bear in mind that you might see a warning along the lines of ‘this product has been processed in a factory that handles eggs’ or ‘may contain traces of milk’. This doesn’t mean that these ingredients are used to make the product, but that there might have been cross-contamination. It’s mostly a warning for people who have allergies or intolerances, although some vegans may wish to boycott any company or factory that handles animal products.
