[4][5] Watson coined the term vegan to describe a vegetarian diet devoid of all animal-derived ingredients such as dairy and eggs.

[9] In November 1944 a meeting on the formation of The Vegan Society was held at the Attic Club, 144 High Holborn in London.

[2] Those who attended were Donald Watson, Elsie Shrigley, Fay K. Henderson, Alfred Hy Haffenden, Paul Spencer and Bernard Drake, with Barbara Moore observing.

To advocate that man's food should be derived from fruits, nuts, vegetables, grains and other wholesome non-animal products and that it should exclude flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, honey, and animal's milk, butter, and cheese.

[11] In 1957, president John Heron lectured on veganism at a meeting in Colwyn Bay sponsored by the North Wales Vegetarian Society.

The day was established in 1994 by Louise Wallis, the then chairperson;[18] however, the actual date of founding is thought to have been either 5 or 12 November 1944.

[21] The guide includes a pictorial representation of a balanced vegan diet emphasising the consumption of fruits, legumes, vegetables and whole grains.

It is therefore interesting to realise that in the first instance it was an attempt to get beyond the rather negative phrase "non-dairy vegetarian" which was originally applied to the founders of The Vegan Society.

[35] Ling stated that ALF had published leaflets about him and spread rumours that he had been sacked as president of the Society for killing mice in his factory.

[35] During this time, the only elected council member involved with ALF was Robin Webb, their press officer who denied all allegations.

Richard Farhall general secretary of the Society confirmed that anonymous letters had been sent to members but there was no reference to ALF.

In 1992, Ling stated "at a time when higher proportion of the British public is turning to vegetarianism and veganism, the Society cannot afford to be seen as an ALF front".

Zuri, who describes themself as disabled and non-gendered, argued that although veganism was coined by a white man it had been built on indigenous and non-western ancestral traditions in Africa and Asia.