Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Food orders for work related events are to be vegan and vegetarian only

945 replies

ValerieVomit · 01/03/2024 12:58

We all received an email at work to say that when we order catering in future for work related events we can only order vegetarian and vegan food. The management team has imposed this. It's to reduce our carbon footprint. I don't think that this means there is to be no carnivorous food available for the rest of the organisation but our department won't allow us to order any.

Reasonable or not?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
19
Cattenberg · 01/03/2024 15:32

Soontobe60 · 01/03/2024 15:13

Personally I think it’s pathetic virtue-signalling! If they were really bothered about reducing carbon footprints they’d tell everyone that they wouldn't be providing any catering anymore!

I think if I were the one paying and my efforts to reduce the company’s carbon footprint were met with this much whinging, this would be my preferred option too.

The era of free lunches is now over, you entitled lot. You’ll have to buy your own steak and venison sandwiches.

Jellyx · 01/03/2024 15:30

Is it really for carbon footprint or they just know it's usually cheaper than meat and thus saving costs by dressing it up as being eco friendly.

Almonds come from far away, so do bananas etc so I doubt it's saving carbon footprint.

Suggest buying meat options that have been sourced from local farms...its be more exspensive and I'll bet they'll say no!!

BlueFlint · 01/03/2024 15:26

Excellent! Well done your workplace.

Simonjt · 01/03/2024 15:26

gannett · 01/03/2024 15:20

I must admit every single post expressing horror at the idea of eating processed vegan food made me chuckle. Yes, at a catered work buffet you'd otherwise be eating the finest cuts of venison and fillet steak.

Don’t forget that non-veggie food has never been transported, and animals don’t need feeding!

TimeStop · 01/03/2024 15:25

These threads are always funny.

Suddenly everyone objects to ‘processed crap’ and their body is a temple, yet a lot of people eat a fair amount of this ‘processed crap‘ and aren’t particularly healthy. I don’t think processed meat crap is any better than process vegan crap.

I don’t actually eat much ‘processed crap’ but for the occasional work event, I really wouldn’t worry about it. That’s if they serve only processed vegan/veggie crap anyway, my employer provides quality veggie/vegan food at events.

Hoplolly · 01/03/2024 15:24

gannett · 01/03/2024 15:20

I must admit every single post expressing horror at the idea of eating processed vegan food made me chuckle. Yes, at a catered work buffet you'd otherwise be eating the finest cuts of venison and fillet steak.

Yeah, I have no problem with processed food of any ilk, but vegan cheese has no bloody right being called cheese.

NoMoreFalafelsForYou · 01/03/2024 15:23

gannett · 01/03/2024 15:20

I must admit every single post expressing horror at the idea of eating processed vegan food made me chuckle. Yes, at a catered work buffet you'd otherwise be eating the finest cuts of venison and fillet steak.

Ha, exactly.
Do all the people moaning about processed vegan stuff moan equally at the amount of crap that gets pumped into say some processed ham slices?!

SuePine69 · 01/03/2024 15:22

NerdWhoEatsMedlar · 01/03/2024 15:04

Yes, chickpeas have less than a quarter of the carbon footprint of UK chicken.

Think about what it is that UK chickens eat. They eat animal feed derived mostly from maize and soya. Both of which are imported. Also we are overfishing anchovy and other fish for animal feed.

Although chickens are relatively good at converting plant protein into animal protein - better than pigs and especially beef - when we feed animals grain and pulses most of the calories and most of the protein is wasted.

So that's why it's better for us to eat imported chickpeas than eat UK chicken where the protein derives from twice the quantity of imported soya beans.

Cattle also produce methane which is a big problem. We should stop feeding cattle grain and soya. Beef reared on regenerated land will be available only in small quantities and will be expensive. Meat is also a big problem with food poisoning.

jay55 · 01/03/2024 15:21

I'd be fine with a cheese sandwich, or egg or cucumber and wouldn't really notice there was no ham.

If it was all hummus and vegan 'cheese' I'd avoid the lot but that's due to allergies.

ClaudiaWankleman · 01/03/2024 15:20

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 01/03/2024 13:30

So it's totally fair to expect people to provide their own?

Something which was Unfair when it was for allergies or vegan diets before?

For fairness, options should be available for carnivores, vegetarians and vegans

Yes, it is. You can eat the food that's provided, you would just choose not to. What's hard to understand?

gannett · 01/03/2024 15:20

I must admit every single post expressing horror at the idea of eating processed vegan food made me chuckle. Yes, at a catered work buffet you'd otherwise be eating the finest cuts of venison and fillet steak.

WonderingAboutBabies · 01/03/2024 15:18

It depends on if everyone in the organisation can safely eat the food. A lot of vegan/veggie food contains nuts or pulses, wheat, soya, etc - which a lot of people are allergic to. Some people may also have other conditions that prevents them from eating specific food e.g. ulcerative colitis.

gannett · 01/03/2024 15:18

Sausage1989 · 01/03/2024 15:03

It's SOOOOOOO unreasonable. I HATE this agenda. Its just to save them money but dressed up to be about saving the environment. Which is a load of utter BS anyway. It does not take into consideration dietary requirements as a lot of people can't and won't eat vegan processed crap and actually enjoy eating healthy high protein, high fats in the form of meat. If they were just honest and admitted it's to save money then fair play but dressing it up as a save the planet thing when vegan DOES NOT equal saving the planet (its a massive LIE) is what annoys me. If they want to reduce their carbon footprint then eat local beef that is farmed on regenerative land.

Are you this outraged every time a profit-geared company does something for money?

It's a capitalist business. Everything it does is to make money or save money. If you don't like it, feel free to overthrow the system.

Or is it just vegans you hate.

5128gap · 01/03/2024 15:18

Do you have many carnivores in your work place? Some of my colleagues are omnivores, with some vegetarians and vegans, but no one who can eat only meat. We tend to cater 70/30 vegetarian and vegan. Funnily enough, none of the people who eat meat have expired during the afternoon due to its absence. I imagine its because they eat other things too.

ColourMeBlue · 01/03/2024 15:18

I would say unreasonable.Just my opinion.If there was a email saying meat only,there would be a complaint somewhere it's not inclusive to all.This way,they have covered all bases.They are actually catering for the few,not the many.

Rickrolypoly · 01/03/2024 15:17

ChurchOfSeitan · 01/03/2024 15:12

Again I think it depends to be honest. If a vegetarian or vegan doesn’t agree with eating meat and they don’t want to fund that industry. If someone like this was buying the food then I can understand why they wouldn’t want to give their money to the meat/dairy industry.

And that is fine if you are catering for someone in your own home. I wouldn't accept a dinner invite from a staunch vegan and expect to be eating roast chicken.
In the situation the OP described, it's not appropriate to push a particular agenda. If you are putting on an event for many different people you shouldn't force your personal beliefs onto them. Unless of course it's a vegan specific event.

Chitterlina · 01/03/2024 15:16

Wouldn’t bother me. Work buffets are my idea of hell whatever they put out. You know it’s going to be awkward picking up then balancing stuff on a flimsy paper plate or serviette, and nothing ever looks appetising to me. As if that’s not bad enough, you then have to navigate people making small talk whilst chomping and spraying pastry crumbs everywhere.

Just no no no no no for me. I’m busy that day 😂

NoMoreFalafelsForYou · 01/03/2024 15:15

Hillarious · 01/03/2024 14:22

I get a free three course meal every day I'm in the office. Catering introduced meat free Tuesdays. The fuss was incredible, like suddenly there was nothing on the menu a number of people could eat, ie that a meal without meat just wasn't a meal and they would rather starve.

If it's a free meal, and not your only source of food. Not worth making a fuss about.

I know someone like that - they make me laugh as it's not a "real meal," if it doesn't have meat in it.
The thought of a company having the audacity to order in veggie stuff and no meat would probably bring on a "PC gone mad" rant worthy of this board 😁

Soontobe60 · 01/03/2024 15:15

TheNoonBell · 01/03/2024 14:58

Take a ham hock and a roast chicken, then sell portions to fellow workers.

Haha! Maybe a few pork pies too!

Geebray · 01/03/2024 15:14

CurlewKate · 01/03/2024 14:57

"It's different from eating veggie at a vegetarian's house for example because the workplace should be representing everyone."

It is. Everyone can eat vegetarian food.

Vegans can't. Not all of it.

Soontobe60 · 01/03/2024 15:14

ChurchOfSeitan · 01/03/2024 15:13

A vegetarian couldn’t eat non vegetarian and still be considered a vegetarian.

But they can still eat non vegetarian food though 😂. They just choose not to.

Soontobe60 · 01/03/2024 15:13

Personally I think it’s pathetic virtue-signalling! If they were really bothered about reducing carbon footprints they’d tell everyone that they wouldn't be providing any catering anymore!

ChurchOfSeitan · 01/03/2024 15:13

Hoplolly · 01/03/2024 15:09

It is. Everyone can eat vegetarian food.

Everyone can eat non-vegetarian food.

A vegetarian couldn’t eat non vegetarian and still be considered a vegetarian.

Kalevala · 01/03/2024 15:12

Kalevala · 01/03/2024 15:08

Can you order wild venison?

Just to clarify, I was wondering as it has half the carbon footprint of cheese. So if they allow cheese...

ChurchOfSeitan · 01/03/2024 15:12

Rickrolypoly · 01/03/2024 15:09

Well I was talking about eating meat but was just being tongue in cheek.

The "you wont die from not eating meat" is actually just annoying and so childish. It's not really about being able to abstain from meat for a meal or for a day or whatever. I eat meat but would often not eat it in a day just because my diet is varied. However, what I dislike is other people forcing their agenda onto people. You don't agree with eating meat so nobody should be allowed to eat meat. If you want to be a veggie or vegan then just do it and get on with your life. You don't have to make every event meat free just because you are meat free.
People like choice and should be allowed to have choice.

Again I think it depends to be honest. If a vegetarian or vegan doesn’t agree with eating meat and they don’t want to fund that industry. If someone like this was buying the food then I can understand why they wouldn’t want to give their money to the meat/dairy industry.