The Vegan Society and Go Vegan Scotland are targeting the Scottish Government with a petition calling on public sector institutions to provide at least one vegan food option on every menu every day.
The move comes as Rural Economy Secretary Fergus Ewing recently confirmed the government’s commitment to introducing the Good Food Nation Bill during the current session.
Campaigners say there is potential for Scotland to become the first country in Europe to enshrine a right to good quality, affordable, plant-based food in law.
Veganism is a protected belief under the Equality Act 2010 in England, Scotland and Wales but many hospitals, schools, councils and prisons fail to offer vegan food.
Plant-based food provision is also in line with a number of government objectives highlighted in relation to the Good Food Nation Bill, including health, sustainability, the environment, affordability, local production and food security.
Louise Davies, Head of Campaigns, Policy and Research at The Vegan Society, said: “The Scottish Government is responsible for ensuring that our public sector provides for vegans in Scotland and the proposed legislation would assist in fulfilling that obligation.
“Provision for vegans in the public sector is lacking, with hospital patients and school children often going hungry.
“We hope that vegans and non-vegans alike will agree on the importance of our petition and join us in urging institutions to provide healthy and environmentally-friendly vegan food.”
The Vegan Society and Go Vegan Scotland will also promote the petition at the Scottish National Party Conference next month in Glasgow, where they will have a stand.
Go Vegan Scotland, a volunteer vegan advocacy group, has been pressing the government to ensure that all local authorities in Scotland provide for vegans in every public institution.
Barbara Bolton of Go Vegan Scotland said: “The Scottish Government has recognised that veganism is a protected moral conviction under European and international law, but has not taken any steps to ensure that vegans are provided for in our state institutions.
“The result is that many people, including children, are missing out on free meals and are being denied access to suitable food when they’re dependent on the state to provide for them.
“This is not a matter of people being ‘picky’; for vegans, avoiding participation in animal use and killing is a fundamental moral conviction, protected under law.”
Research carried out by the group found instances of vegans not eating for days in hospital and children missing out on free meals due to lack of vegan options.
The Catering for Everyone campaign encourages public sector institutions – such as hospitals, schools, councils and prisons – to increase their plant-based options.
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.
The number of vegans in Great Britain has quadrupled in the last four years. The British Dietetic Association says that well-planned vegan diets are suitable for every age and life stage and the United Nations has urged a move towards a meat and dairy free diet for the benefit of our planet.
As well as the Scottish petition, Scottish citizens can also sign the Vegan Society petition for Westminster.
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