Vegetarian & Vegan Certification, Done Right

The American Vegetarian Association® certifies food and consumer products against five clear standards: Vegetarian, Vegan, Plant-Based, Animal-Free, and Recommended. One trusted seal program — backed by nearly three decades of ingredient assurance — gives shoppers a quick, reliable way to identify products that meet a clear, audited standard.

Five seals. One trusted standard.

Reading an ingredient panel shouldn't require a chemistry degree. The AVA Certification Logo helps consumers choose with confidence and helps brands communicate verified ingredient claims at a glance. Each of our five seals targets a specific consumer story — from traditional vegetarian formulations to next-generation animal-free biotechnology produced through precision fermentation.

• AVA Vegetarian — products free of animal-sourced ingredients where the animal is killed or harmed (milk, eggs, honey, and wool are allowed).
• AVA Vegan — free of any animal-sourced ingredients or processing, with no animal-derived genes.
• AVA Plant-Based (also known as certified plant based) — majority plant-based ingredients, free of animal-sourced ingredients and processing.
• AVA Animal-Free — free of animal-sourced ingredients and processing; ingredients may be derived from animal genes via fermentation.
• AVA Recommended — an umbrella seal certifying a product line meets one or more AVA standards.

How AVA certification works

Our process is intentionally simple. Brands complete an online application; an AVA team member confirms a quote and requests payment plus the product's ingredient list, label, and a sample. Certification review takes 5 to 7 business days from the moment we receive everything we need. On approval, you receive a Certificate and the appropriate AVA Certification Logo for use on packaging, marketing, and shelf signage. Certifications are valid for one year, with a straightforward renewal path.

Trusted by major brands

Since 1996, AVA has worked with brands of every size — from emerging startups to multinational manufacturers including Taco Bell, Nordic Naturals, Hungry Planet, and Schreiber Foods. As the marketplace has matured around vegetarian, vegan, and plant-based eating, our standards and visual marks have evolved to keep pace. The AVA seal remains a clear, recognizable trust signal that protects both shoppers making everyday choices and brands investing in transparent labeling.