It all depends on what is actually trying to be communicated. With your definition most meals would be plant based so why even bother to say it. With definition where plant based means no animal products it communicates that it is fine for vegans and it’s likely less offensive for people allergic to word “vegan”.
No it isn’t. Plant-based means based on plants, which a beer is and a burger isn’t.
Movies and TV shows can be based on a true story without being documentaries,. It’s the same thing with plant-based food that isn’t 100% vegan.
Language is interesting in this way. Same words in different contexts mean different things.
“Based on true events” = “Contains traces of what actually happened”
“Plant based” = “Does not contain animal products but can contain mushrooms even though they are not plants”
Well that’s just stupid and counter-intuitive, not to mention surrendering clarity to appease absolutists 🤦
It all depends on what is actually trying to be communicated. With your definition most meals would be plant based so why even bother to say it. With definition where plant based means no animal products it communicates that it is fine for vegans and it’s likely less offensive for people allergic to word “vegan”.