vegan vs vegetarian

[yellowbikini]

I am currently putting together a menu for a vegan dinner (first time I have attempted this). I am trying to be meticulous and making sure everything I use is vegan. I am a bit confused though, some items, eg a jar of olives, are labelled as suitable for vegetarians, I can't see anything unsuitable for vegans in the ingredients. Am I missing something?

It can sometimes be due to cross contamination. So if it’s processed in a factory that also handles milk it might not be able to say vegan IFKWIM

So short answer probably not

A lot of things don't say suitable for vegans. Many things are "accidentally vegan." You need to check the ingredients.

Lots of things aren’t labelled vegan that are.
Luckily, eggs and milk have to be highlighted in bold so it’s only honey and a few rarer ingredients like certain E numbers you have to watch closely for.

Also don't get anything with gelatine in (it comes from pigs).

Thank you. I know about honey, also seen potential 'cross contamination' while I was shopping but had no idea about E numbers.

I’m just here to say how lovely of you to take so much care over this.

Yeah cross contamination is fine for vegans - it’s a warning for people with serious allergies that their may be a trace from being in the same factory.
You are a fab friend - enjoy your vegan dinner.

Some vegans won’t eat olives because the industrial harvesting method can cause inure and kill a lot of wildlife: www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/songbirds-death-toll-millions-mediterranean-olive-harvesting-winter-a8916471.html

It’s often useful to ask your vegan guests quite how vegan they are. Some wouldn’t know or be bothered about the olive situation, others very much would.

vegsoc.org/info-hub/veggie-need-to-know/e-numbers/
Is the info on E numbers.

Olives are absolutely vegan as they literally grow on a plant and don’t contain any animal products. Even palm oil is actually vegan (although most is arguably not ethical) and is a widely contested and often banned topic on most vegan forums (unlike olives which are never mentioned as a problem!). I’ve never come across a single vegan who refuses to eat olives on ethical grounds FWIW.

I am lucky that my friends know this is my first time trying to make a vegan meal. I also know they are not overly strict, just do their best, so if I slip up on an E number, I don't think they will mind too much. Last time we all went out to eat together I had beef carpaccio!

Thanks for the tips. All went well, apart from the fact they asked if they could take the leftovers with them!!!