Glossary
What is whole food plant-based?
Whole food plant-based, often shortened to WFPB, is a diet of plants in their least processed form. It avoids animal products and also minimises oil, added sugar and refined flour. It is defined by the degree of processing rather than by ethics.
Where the term comes from
It grew out of nutritional research from the 1980s onward, particularly the work of T. Colin Campbell and Caldwell Esselstyn. It was formalised as a clinical dietary approach rather than as a movement.
Is WFPB the same as vegan?
No. Veganism is a philosophy concerned with animal exploitation across all of life. WFPB is a dietary pattern defined by processing.
Many highly processed foods are vegan but not WFPB. WFPB, meanwhile, says nothing about non-food items such as leather or wool. Plenty of people are both.