How We Verify

Is This Vegan? helps you answer one question: is this vegan? Our methodology is designed to give you clear, honest answers backed by evidence — not guesses.

Evidence hierarchy

Official manufacturer information — ingredient lists and statements from the brand
Certification — verified vegan certification marks
Official ingredient list — product packaging or official databases
Reliable database information — established reference sources
Expert/reputable reference — recognized vegan organizations and publications
Preliminary interpretation — used only when database evidence is insufficient, always marked as unverified

Vegan status types

We never force uncertain information into yes/no. Our status types include:

Vegan — no animal-derived ingredients based on available evidence
Not Vegan — contains confirmed animal-derived ingredients
May Be Vegan — likely vegan but with sourcing uncertainty
Depends on Brand — varies between manufacturers
Depends on Country — formulations differ by region
Not Enough Information — insufficient evidence to determine

Confidence scores

Confidence reflects how strongly available evidence supports a status. It is not scientific certainty. We consider ingredient evidence, manufacturer information, certifications, database reliability, and known variations.

What we never do

Invent certifications or sources
Claim manufacturer confirmation without evidence
Hide uncertainty behind false confidence
Make medical or health claims