AVA Certified Vegan
Free of any animal-sourced ingredients and processing. No animal-derived genes.
AVA Vegan Certification is the strictest of our five audited seals. Where a single all-purpose vegan mark stops at the ingredient list, our Vegan standard also rules out animal-derived genes and animal-sourced processing aids, so the AVA Certified Vegan logo on a package is a clear shelf signal that every stage of the product has been reviewed.
Ingredient requirements
A vegan certified product contains no animal-sourced ingredients of any kind. No meat, fowl, fish, insects, dairy, eggs, honey, wool, or animal-derived genetic material may appear in the formula. The ingredients that most often disqualify a product are the ones brands do not expect. We watch for gelatin and collagen, carmine and cochineal (red colorings made from insects), shellac and confectioner's glaze, casein and whey, lactose, isinglass, lanolin-derived vitamin D3, L-cysteine, and honey or other bee products such as beeswax and propolis. Each of these is animal-sourced, so each one keeps a product from earning the AVA Certified Vegan seal.
Processing requirements
Vegan goes beyond what is printed on the ingredient panel. We review how the product is made. Processing aids and filtration agents are the common blind spots: bone-char-filtered cane sugar, isinglass or gelatin used to clarify liquids, and animal-derived enzymes, flavors, or colorings are all reviewed even when they do not appear on the label. We also assess shared-equipment contamination, where a line that also runs animal-based products can introduce animal residue. AVA reviews each step from ingredient sourcing to the finished label before any seal is issued.
The AVA Certified Vegan logo and symbol
The AVA Certified Vegan logo is the round seal brands display on packaging, websites, and marketing once a product passes review. It reads "AVA Certified Vegan" and tells a shopper, at a glance, that an independent body has verified the product against our strictest standard. On a food package the vegan symbol does the work that an ingredient panel cannot: it confirms not just the listed ingredients but the processing behind them. The logo and symbol may only be used on products we have approved, and only for as long as the certification is current. We issue the artwork together with your Certificate after review, so a brand cannot place the seal on a product before approval. Certifications are reviewed annually and renewable, provided there is no formula or ingredient change. If you reformulate, the product is reviewed again before the logo can continue.
Simple + Efficient Process
Complete the application. Submit your ingredient list, label, and sample. Review takes 5 to 7 business days. We then issue your Certificate and the AVA Vegan Certification logo and symbol for use on your vegan certified foods and products.
Apply for AVA Vegan Certification
Ready to certify your product? Complete the AVA application and a reviewer will respond with a quote, documentation requirements, and the next steps. AVA Certified Vegan reviews take 5 to 7 business days from the moment we receive your payment, ingredient list, label, and product sample. Approved products receive a Certificate and the AVA Certification Logo for packaging, marketing, and shelf use. Certifications are valid for one year with a simple renewal path. Visit the Get Certified page to begin, or compare alternatives on the Certifications hub.
Frequently asked questions
What does certified vegan mean?
Certified vegan (also phrased as 'what does vegan certified mean') means an independent third party - in this case the American Vegetarian Association - has verified that a product contains no animal-sourced ingredients, no animal-derived genes, and no animal-sourced processing aids or shared-equipment contamination at any stage of production. The AVA Certified Vegan symbol on the package is the shopper's signal that this audit has been completed.
How is Vegan different from Plant-Based?
Vegan products contain no animal-sourced ingredients or processing of any kind. Plant-Based products contain a majority of plant ingredients and are also free of animal-sourced ingredients and processing, but the standard is framed around plant-forward formulation.
Are animal-derived genes allowed?
No. AVA Vegan Certification disallows animal-derived genes. If a product is fermentation-derived from animal genes, it would qualify for our Animal-Free Certification instead.
What does it mean for a food to be certified vegan?
When a food is AVA Certified Vegan, it means an independent body, the American Vegetarian Association, has reviewed the product and confirmed it contains no animal-sourced ingredients, no animal-derived genes, and no animal-sourced processing aids or shared-equipment contamination at any stage. The vegan symbol on the package is the shopper's signal that this audit is complete and the standard has been met, rather than a self-declared claim.
How do I get my products certified vegan?
Complete the application, then submit your ingredient list, product label, and a sample. We review the full formula and the processing behind it, and our review takes 5 to 7 business days after we have everything we need. If the product meets the standard, we issue your Certificate and the AVA Certified Vegan logo and symbol for use on your foods and products. The logo may only be used after approval, and certifications are reviewed annually and renewable as long as the formula and ingredients do not change.