Meat Free Monday’s founders Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney are joining the call to make meals in English schools more vegan and planet friendly, rather the current guidelines which make it mandatory to serve meat and dairy to the students.
The McCartney’s signed a letter to the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, to urge that they revise the current guidelines and incorporate more vegan friendly meals and make meat and dairy more of a choice based on school caterer’s preference. This movement aims to improve the impact of climate change by cutting down on meat consumption and is spearheaded by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).
In the statement, the McCartney trio have said; “No one needs to eat meat, so it shouldn’t be mandatory to serve it in schools. It’s time to revise the school food standards to help the planet, spare animals and promote healthy eating.”
This letter which is backed by various organisations and MPs, states that; “So long as nutritional needs are met, individual school caterers should have the freedom to decide whether they wish to include meat and dairy in their menus.” It also highlights that a fifth of children become obese by the time they leave primary school, they believe this will help.
The current rules ensure that children must be served a portion of meat or poultry three times a week, oily fish at least once every three weeks and dairy every day. However, a poll conducted by PETA in 2019 showed that 70% of British children want more vegan meals on menus, so this letter does have grounds to be considered.
Public sector caterers in the UK have previously pledged to cut down on meat from their menus by 20% throughout hospitals, care homes, schools and university. This is a part of an initiative called #20percentlessmeat.
Spokesperson from the British Nutrition Foundation released a statement saying; “It’s possible, although challenging, to put together menus for children without animal products that provide all the essential nutrients they need to grow to be healthy, and there are many positive aspects of having a more plant-based diet. However, it is important to consider that dairy, meat and fish are bioavailable sources of some key vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B12, calcium, iron and zinc and so guidance would be needed on suitable plant-based alternatives that could provide these in adequate amounts.”
The rock legend, Sir Paul McCartney has been a vegetarian himself since 1975. Meat Free Monday was set up by Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney in 2009. It is a non-profit set up to highlight the impact animal agriculture and industrial fishing has on the environment. It encourages taking meat out of your meal at least once a week to help slow climate change and improve health.
The late Linda McCartney was also a vegetarian and set up her own food company, Linda McCartney Food, which makes chilled and frozen vegetarian and vegan meals. The McCartney family still remains involved in the company.
