Key Update 

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has introduced a standardised vegan logo that will become mandatory on all approved vegan food packages from July 1, 2027. The initiative aims to create a uniform national identity for vegan products and help consumers easily distinguish them from conventional foods that contain ingredients of animal origin.

Under the amended Food Safety and Standards (Vegan Foods) Regulations, all approved vegan food products must display the prescribed green “Vegan” logo on their packaging. The logo features a stylised green “V” with a sprouting leaf enclosed within a green square, signifying that the product is certified vegan and free from animal-derived ingredients.

Helping Consumers Make Informed Choices

FSSAI notified the amendment on May 21, 2026, laying down specifications for the use of the logo and making its display mandatory from July 2027. According to Monita Gahlot, Dietitian at AIIMS Delhi, the dedicated vegan logo will provide consumers with a clear, government-recognised identification mark and reduce confusion in the marketplace.

“Consumers following a vegan lifestyle often spend considerable time checking ingredient lists to determine whether a product is completely free from animal-derived ingredients. The new logo will help them instantly identify products that comply with FSSAI’s vegan standards and make informed purchasing decisions with greater confidence,” she said.

What Qualifies as Vegan Food?

Vegan foods do not contain any ingredients, additives, or processing aids derived from animals. Unlike vegetarian foods, which may include milk, dairy products, ghee, paneer, and honey, vegan foods exclude all animal-derived ingredients. Instead, they rely entirely on plant-based sources such as fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, nuts, seeds, and plant-based milk alternatives. “All vegan foods are vegetarian, but not all vegetarian foods are vegan,” experts point out.

Growing Demand for Plant-Based Foods

The vegan food category continues to gain popularity among health-conscious consumers, individuals concerned about animal welfare, and those seeking environmentally sustainable dietary choices. The introduction of a standardised vegan logo comes alongside another recent FSSAI reform aimed at supporting the plant-based food sector. In a separate notification, the regulator removed restrictions on the use of sal-seed fat—an edible vegetable fat derived from the sal tree—beyond bakery and confectionery products. Industry observers believe the move could encourage product innovation and support the continued growth of India’s vegan and plant-based food market.

Source: The Times of India