Call this healthy? parents share photos of children’s vegan school dinners including nuggets and sausage and mash – as canteens scrap meat and dairy from menus and force ‘plant-based’ options on kids
- Is YOUR child eating vegan school dinners? Send your photos to [email protected] or [email protected]
Parents are sharing photos of their children’s vegan school dinners as council’s look to scrap meat and dairy from menus.
While Britain’s furious farmers have begun the fightback against ‘plant-based’ options being forced onto kids and called for more support of their industry.
At least nine councils serve only plant-based meals at their events and actively promote vegan lifestyles within their communities.
Exeter City Council has set itself a target to have fully vegan catering by the end of May and Labour-controlled Lewisham council has expanded food options in schools to ensure there is a meat free day every week. Meanwhile, authorities including Norwich City Council and Edinburgh City Council have already voted to back the Plant-Based Treaty.
Critics have accused councillors of pursuing ‘anti-livestock farming’ policies, as the international treaty promotes meat taxes and plant-based meals in schools.
Adults have shared photos of vegan meals being served at schools, as farmers fightback against ‘plant-based’ options being forced onto kids (pictured Vegan chicken nuggets, beans and chips served at a school)
The Countryside Alliance warned a new plant-based international treaty signed by several councils in the UK is a threat to British agriculture
A vegan option that could be served up at a UK school under the new meat free schemes
The Countryside Alliance warned that a new plant-based international treaty signed by several councils in the UK that promotes taxes on meat and bans the expansion of farms is a threat to British agriculture.
READ MORE: Farmers’ fury as Labour-run Oxford City Council goes vegan
Blasting the initiative, Sir Robert Goodwill, chairman of the environment, food and rural affairs select committee, called the measure a ‘slap in the face for British farmers’ who ‘face the toughest time producing the best lamb and beef in the world’.
The Tory MP told the Times: ‘There’s nothing wrong with vegetarian food but we need a balanced diet which does include meat and dairy.
‘Meat is high in iron; milk, dairy products are high in vitamins. And we don’t want children, some of them from poorer backgrounds who don’t get a decent meal at home, not getting a decent meal at school either.’
The storm involving vegan councils has been brewing for a while with Oxford City Council’s decision to ban all meat products from meetings and provide ‘plant based options’ for town hall events branded a ‘kneejerk reaction’ and a kick in the teeth for farmers’ earlier this year.
The motion was proposed by Labour Party councillor Paula Dunne, following in the footsteps of of Oxfordshire County Council, which became the first authority to do so in December 2021.
At the time, there was a fierce backlash from Oxfordshire farmers and Jeremy Clarkson branded the policy ‘utter, utter madness’.
And at a full Oxford City Council meeting in March, the council unanimously voted in favour of ‘following Oxfordshire County Council’s lead by ensuring that food provided for internal councillor events are entirely plant based’.
Prior to the decision, councilors enjoyed a plush menu of seasonal British favorites put on by local supplier Elegant Cuisine.
Farmers have blasted the new trend which will see children served vegan school meals like these
Two pupils tuck into vegan sausage rolls in a new initiative that has been blasted by farmers
Under some council edicts, schools will have one meat-free day a week
A move towards vegan school meals has been described as ‘a slap in the face for British farmers’
An example of the vegan fare that children will be expected to eat at schools under the changes
Sir Robert Goodwill, chairman of the environment, food and rural affairs select committee has blasted the moves made by councils
Events at Oxford Town Hall will now have plant based options alongside meat options
The catering company, which told MailOnline it still has the contract to cater for events put on in Oxford Town Hall, promises clients they are ‘committed to locally and sustainably sourcing their ingredients and materials and {..} are dedicated to becoming as green as possible.’
Included on their prospective menus are local favourites such as Oxfordshire pork tenderloin and corn-fed chicken.
This is in stark contrast to what the new meals may look like after a similar scheme introduced by Oxfordshire County Council caused eco-embarrassment after Green Cllr Ian Middleton shared a picture of a buffet including exported kiwi fruit and mangoes last year – to the ire of some locals.
Proposing the motion, Labour Cllr Paula Dunne argued that the city council should follow in the footsteps of Oxford County Council as the overconsumption of meat and dairy was ‘the leading cause of modern species extinctions’.
Other green fingered authorities looking to move towards vegan food options include Haywards Heath Town Council, Oxfordshire County Council, Oxford City Council and Faversham Town Council.
A spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said: ‘Rural communities and livestock farmers are increasingly on edge due to attempts by animal rightists to restrict and even eradicate their way of life. We are urging the rural electorate to scrutinise local election candidates and to reserve support for those who will stand up for rural Britain.’
Speaking in support of the move, Cammy Day, the leader of Edinburgh city council, said: ‘By endorsing the Plant-Based Treaty the council is expressing support for a treaty to be negotiated at a global level as a companion to the Paris Agreement on climate. The Plant-Based Treaty is not legally binding.’
The ‘Plant-Based Treaty’ is an international movement that claims to act as a companion to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Paris Agreement.
It includes radical promises like bans on converting land for animal feed production and a meat and fish tax.
Is YOUR child eating vegan school dinners? Send your photos to [email protected] or [email protected]
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