"Animals" refers to all nonhuman sentient beings:
animals, fowl, fish, insects, reptiles, amphibians, etc.
Plant-sourced nutrition and avoidance of animal products have been practiced by millions of people throughout history.
"Not eating animals is incorporated into religions like Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, which are all prominent in primarily no n-white territories.Veganism, or varieties of plant-based food, also frequently appears in Indian and Rastafarian cultures."
— Aph Ko
Donald and Dorothy Watson from Great Britain created the term ‘vegan’ in 1944. The Watsons co-founded The Vegan Society, a registered charity since 1979. The Society's Memorandum and Articles of Association state the definition of veganism as:
"A philosophy and way of living which seeks to exclude — as far as is possible and practicable — all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food, clothing or any other purpose; and by extension, promotes the development and use of animal-free alternatives In dietary terms it denotes the practice of dispensing with all products derived wholly or partly from animals."
Reference
Definition of Vegan. (2015). The Vegan Society. www.vegansociety.com/try-vegan/definition-veganism
Meaning of Vegan
FOOD
Vegan food consists of only plants and plant-sourced foods: Vegetables, fruits, legumes, beans, grains, nuts, and seeds. This excludes animal, fowl, or fish flesh, animal dairy, or eggs, or anything made using their bodies or using substances produced by their bodies.
PRODUCTS
Products made from plants, metals, plastics, etc.
Nonvegan examples are leather, fur, wool, silk, and down feathers.
ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORT
Any form of entertainment or sport that uses or exploits nonhumans,
for any reason. Examples include, but are not limited to: trophy
hunting, horse- or dog-racing, captive animal exhibits, zoos, circuses,
wildlife tourism, and aquariums.