This article presents a historical overview of the vegetarian movement in Britain between 1909 and 1944, the year in which the word “vegan” was coined and the Vegan Society formed.

Historical evidence suggests that between 1909 and 1912, individuals existed in Britain who believed that abstention from eating animal flesh was not going far enough. Consequently, they refrained from the consumption of dairy products and eggs as well. The Vegetarian Society’s journal documented such controversy, and further, in 1910 a cook book titled No Animal Food was published.

The debate about the acceptability of animal by-products continued well after World War I, centering on issues of cruelty and health as well as consistency. The Vegetarian Society believed its objective was to get as many people as possible to give up animal products (including dairy). Thus, the word “vegan” was coined in 1944, and the breakaway Vegan Society was formed.