Traditionally school meals, particularly those served in the United States and Europe, are made with meat and dairy products.
Reasons cited for offering vegan school meals include concerns about nutrition, allergies, cultural diversity and sustainability.
[9] In France, in accordance with the EGalim law, all school catering must offer at least one vegetarian menu per week since November 1, 2019.
[citation needed] In 2020, Paul McCartney signed a letter to education secretary Gavin Williamson, which asked that the government change the requirement and allow schools to serve vegetarian and vegan meals.
The campaign to change the UK School Food Standards is led by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and supporters include Greenpeace and the Royal Society for Public Health.
[13] In 2022, the Oxfordshire County Council voted to provide vegan meals in schools two days a week and farmers protested.
The dining hall has blazed many trails during the past 10 years, including reducing the university’s carbon footprint through Mean Green Acres.
The hydroponic garden was built inside a specially designed, upcycled freight trailer behind the dining hall.
In response to its popularity on campus, plans are underway to expand Mean Greens Café and the on-campus hydroponic garden program.
[35] Those advocating for vegan lunch include Sir Paul McCartney, New York City Mayor Eric Adams,[36] journalist Avery Yale Kamila,[37] environmental advocate Suzy Amis Cameron, the Physician's Committee for Responsible Medicine,[35] The Vegan Society[38] the Humane Society's Forward Food programme,[37] and the U.S.-based New York Coalition for Healthy School Food.