Definition
A vegan diet is a plant-based diet that excludes all animal products, including:
- Meat (i.e., beef, pork, lamb)
- Poultry (i.e., chicken, turkey)
- Fish, shellfish and their derivatives (i.e., fish oil)
- Animal milks and animal milk derivatives (i.e., cheese, yogurt)
- Eggs (i.e., chicken, quail, duck, ostrich)
- Bee products (i.e., bee pollen, honey, propolis)
- Animal by-products (i.e., lard, collagen, gelatin)
Standards and Guidelines
In Canada, there are currently no government regulations or standardized guidelines for vegan labelling. However, within our locations, food is labeled vegan when both the ingredients and preparation methods are free from animal-derived products to the best of our ability.
Preparation and Prevention of Cross-Contamination
While our kitchens operate using shared equipment and cooking spaces, staff follow clearly defined protocols to reduce the risk of cross-contact:
- Ingredient verification: All lists are reviewed to ensure no animal-derived ingredients (including hidden ones like rennet, lard, anchovy paste).
- Hand hygiene: Staff wash and dry hands thoroughly before handling.
- Glove protocol: Gloves are always changed between handling animal and non-animal containing food.
- Utensil separation: Separate cooking/serving utensils are used.
- Surface cleaning: Shared surfaces are cleaned and sanitized between uses.
- Cookware use: Separate cooking surfaces are used where possible.