Sign our petition to guarantee at least one vegan option on public sector menus every day
We are calling on central and devolved Governments to bring forward legislation to guarantee a vegan option on every menu throughout the UK – as well as for local authorities to lead the way in their own area.
Our recent report found that many vegans across the UK will continue to face challenges with accessing vegan meals within public sector settings, such as hospitals, schools, and universities. This can prove very difficult for vegans who feel that their lifestyle is not catered for by their local authority. Council decisions can have a huge impact, so we are urging them to lead the way on vegan provision. Although some Councils are certainly taking steps in the right direction, we have found that there is still a lot of progress to be made – which is why we have created a petition to call for vegan food options to be incorporated into all public sector menus.
The Vegan Society wants to ensure there are options for vegans as well as anyone who wants to make more sustainable choices.
Reasons to sign our petition:
Raise awareness of veganism as a protected belief
Veganism became a protected belief under the Equality Act 2010, this means that all public sector settings have a duty to provide appropriate options for vegans. While many public sector settings say that they provide options on request, guaranteeing one vegan option every day on the menu would help to ensure vegans can always get the food they need.
Encouraging more people to go choose plant-based options
By having a vegan option easily accessible and readily available, more people may be inclined to try a vegan meal and consider changing their lifestyle. Councils who are not providing sufficient food options are putting barriers in the way, which could potentially hinder someone's ability to make more sustainable choices.
Benefits for the animals
Veganism reduces the demand for animal products, and it is often a key reason why many people choose to follow a vegan lifestyle. Being vegan shows compassion for all sentient beings, as it is a core belief that all animals have a right to life. Providing a vegan option within public sector menus will reduce the need for dishes containing animal products and help to prevent the exploitation of animals.
Benefits for our health
People may choose to go vegan for many different reasons, including for their health. Plant-based foods are often healthier as they usually contain lots of fruit and vegetables and are higher in fibre and low in saturated fat. Well-planned vegan diets contain all the nutrients that our bodies need. You can make a difference by advocating for vegan options in public sector catering, which will allow healthier and more nutritious choices for everyone.
Benefits for the environment
Local authorities across the UK have published their action plans to combat the climate crisis. The National Food Strategy has recommended that local authorities act to promote sustainable diets to reduce emissions. Our report states; “The food we eat is responsible for a third of greenhouse gas emissions globally,1 with research finding that practising a vegan diet can reduce an individual’s food-related emissions by 75%.2”
How many signatures will the petition need?
At 10,000 signatures petitions receive a response from the Government. At 100,000 signatures petitions are considered for debate in Parliament.
Signing our petition is a small but impactful step towards supporting the vegan movement. By taking a stand you will help The Vegan Society to demonstrate to the government that there is a real need for vegan options to be made widely available across all public sector menus.
Search for how your local council was graded and urge your councillors to respond to our new report, or visit our Catering for Everyone webpage for more information.
References
1. Crippa M, Solazzo E, Guizzardi D, Monforti-Ferrario F, Tubiello FN & Leip A. Food systems are responsible for a third of global anthropogenic GHG emissions. Nature Food 2021; 2: 198–209, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-021-00225-9 (accessed 18/08/2023)
2. Scarborough P, Clark M, Cobiac L, Papier K, Knuppel A, Lynch J, Harrington R, Key T & Springmann M. Vegans, Vegetarians, fish-eaters, and meat-eaters in the UK show discrepant environmental impacts. Nature Food 2023; 3: 565–574, https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-023- 00795-w (accessed 18/08/2023)
