P-05-865 Guarantee fully plant-based options on every public sector menu to protect the rights of vegans and for our health, the environment and animals
This petition was submitted by Louise Davies having collected 1,109 signatures.
Text of Petition
More people of all ages are
making the decision to live vegan, with the number in the UK
doubling twice in the last 4 years. More people are also choosing
plant-based food for health, environmental and ethical
reasons.
Vegans have the same legal protections as people with religious
beliefs, because our moral conviction that it is wrong to use and
kill non-human animals unnecessarily is protected under law.
Service providers have an obligation to provide for vegans and to
avoid any discrimination on the grounds of veganism. Sadly, despite
this, provision for vegans in the public sector is often lacking,
with hospital patients, prisoners and school children often going
hungry. The Welsh Government is responsible for ensuring that the
Welsh public sector provides for vegans and the proposed
legislation would assist in fulfilling that obligation.
Plant-based food can be enjoyed by everyone. The British Dietetic
Association recognises that well-planned totally plant-based diets
are suitable for every age and life stage. A substantial body of
research has linked plant-based diets with lower blood pressure,
lower cholesterol, lower rates of heart disease, type 2 diabetes
and some types of cancer.
Plant-based diets are better for the environment and can reduce our
food related carbon emissions by up to 50%. The UN has urged a
global move towards a meat and dairy free diet for the benefit of
our planet, and Wales has the opportunity to lead the way.
We would like to see all Welsh public sector institutions providing
at least one plant-based food option on every daily menu to ensure
vegans’ rights are met and to maximise the ethical,
environmental and health benefits of vegan diets.
Additional Information
Veganism is defined as a way
of living which seeks to exclude, as far as is possible and
practicable, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals
for food, clothing or any other purpose.
The Vegan Society’s ‘Catering For Everyone’
campaign has been encouraging public sector institutions (schools,
hospitals, councils and prisons), to increase their plant-based
options.
The campaign has been well received with many public sector
institutions recognising that improvements can be made and agreeing
to increase their provision for vegans.
An English county council, universities in Manchester and London,
and a Welsh health board are among the many public sector
institutions making positive changes to their menus due to this
campaign.
Both the British Dietetic Association and the American Academy of
Nutrition and Dietetics recognise that totally plant-based diets
are suitable for every age and life stage.
To get the most out of a plant-based diet, it should include plenty
of whole grains, fruit, nuts, seeds and vegetables, which are
packed full of beneficial fibre, vitamins and minerals.
It’s easy to produce tasty options that include these foods,
which are rich in fibre and low in saturated fat. The Vegan Society
have lots of resources and recipes on their website, which can help
organisations ensure they are offering healthy, balanced and tasty
plant-based food.
https://www.vegansociety.com/resources/nutrition-and-health
Portugal have introduced legislation compelling all public sector
canteens to provide a strict vegetarian (vegan) option on their
daily menus. This followed a campaign and petition promoted by the
Portuguese Vegetarian Society, see:
https://www.vegansociety.com/whats-new/news/new-law-makes-vegan-option-compulsory-portuguese-public-canteens-%E2%80%93-britain-next
Senedd Constituency and Region
· Brecon and Radnorshire
· Mid and West Wales