'Vegan' Rarely Means 'Animal Product Free'

The term 'vegan' can be dangerous for folk with food allergies. In 2017, a woman died, after eating a 'vegan wrap'. The wrap had been contaminated,in its manufacturing process, by milk protein. Inspectors from Hampshire and Kent's scientific services, recently found that almost 40%, of more than 60 'vegan' products, contained egg or dairy. Ninety percent of these items were classed as 'unsatisfactory' as they contained traces of dairy and/or had inaccuracies in their labelling/nutritional information (https://www.theguardian.com/food/2023/jul/07/one-in-three-uk-vegan-products-found-contain-milk-egg). There's a widespread public belief that, something marketed as 'vegan', must contain no animal-derived ingredients. As there's actually no legal definition of 'vegan', unethical food businesses can give their foods this label when, in fact, they contain animal products. The public obviously needs clarity on what foods should qualify for 'vegan' or 'plant-based' labels. Perhaps we even need to go further, as many new foods are derived from fungi or bacteria?. Neither of these sources are 'plants'. Clear, legal definitions are needed to a) reduce the risk of food allergy emergencies and b) stop committed vegans and vegetarians being ripped off.