Basics
What is the difference between veganism and a plant-based diet?
Short answer
A plant-based diet is only about the plate – eating without animal products. Veganism is broader: a way of living that avoids using animals, as far as possible, also in clothes, cosmetics and entertainment. You can eat 100% plant-based and not be vegan.
In practice many people use the words interchangeably. On a label, “plant-based” is often marketing and does not always mean zero animal ingredients (honey or casein still sneak in).
For shopping certainty, look for a vegan certification or read the ingredient list. For veganism, the question is whether a product requires animal use.