Urge the Government to Stop Forcing Schools to Serve Meat

The meat mandate legally requires school caterers in England to serve meat (including fish) and dairy. Caterers have no choice but to include portions of animal flesh in their menus, resulting in the deaths of millions of pigs, cows, chickens, and other animals. Change is needed to allow school caterers to offer kinder, greener, healthier options centred around plant proteins, fruit and vegetables. Please urge the education minister to drop the meat mandate now.

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Outdated Health Standards

The school food regulations are incongruous with the government’s nutritional advice to the public, the Eatwell Guide, which recommends that people eat less red and processed meat, and more animal-free protein sources such as beans, peas, and lentils.

Mandatory servings of meat (including fish) and dairy foods high in cholesterol and saturated fat can contribute to obesity and other health problems. In contrast, a balanced diet of vegetables, fruit, whole grains, pulses, and sources of unsaturated vegetable fats can help children stay healthy.

Children Need Us to Protect the Climate

We all need a planet to live on. Because animal agriculture emits significantly more greenhouse gasses than the production of plant-based equivalents, requiring the inclusion of animal-derived foods in school meals directly exacerbates the climate crisis. The United Nations, scientists worldwide, and the government’s climate advisors call for reducing meat and dairy consumption, so why are these damaging foods still mandatory on school menus?

Major Public Support

PETA’s campaign to drop the meat mandate has been backed by Sir Paul McCartney and his family, award-winning teen vegan chef Omari McQueen, MPs including Caroline Lucas and Dame Diana Johnson DBE, over 40 English councillors, Greenpeace UK, Meat Free Monday, Upfield, Caterlink, Quorn, and others. It’s time the education secretary backed the campaign, too.

Help Give Children Healthier Meals

Urge the Department for Education to immediately change the outdated School Food Standards to remove obligatory servings of meat (including fish) and dairy.

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The Rt Hon

Bridget

Phillipson MP

Department for Education

Dear {contact_data~title} {contact_data~firstName} {contact_data~lastName}:

I was shocked to discover that school caterers must legally serve meat, fish, and dairy.

The School Food Standards in England state that schools must serve a portion of dairy daily, a portion of meat at least three times a week, and a portion of fish every three weeks.

This misguided requirement impedes efforts to increase the consumption of fibre, fruit, and vegetables, which is vital in tackling childhood obesity. The latest research shows that most school children fall far short of eating the recommended five daily portions of fruit and vegetables.

Children need a planet to live on, but meat and dairy damage the environment. More than half of the greenhouse gas emissions from UK school meals are attributed to meat. The Climate Change Committee has again advised the government of the urgent need to slash meat and dairy consumption to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The Department for Education has promised to revise the School Food Standards for years, but has been slow to act. This inaction is unacceptable at a time of climate and childhood health crises.

Replacing the school food guidelines that mandate meat (including fish) and dairy with flexible nutritional standards would empower schools and caterers to offer sustainable, healthy and ethical choices.
 
I look forward to your response.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely,

{user_data~First Name} {user_data~Last Name}
{user_data~Email Address}

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