Page 31 | Food orders for work related events are to be vegan and vegetarian only

ValerieVomit · 2024-03-01T12:58:01+00:00

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?

AntonFeckoff · 01/03/2024 14:49

Totally reasonable.

Lassiata · 01/03/2024 14:49

Herdinggoats · 01/03/2024 13:02

Totally unreasonable. I’d rather buy my own. It doesn’t take into consideration other people’s dietary preferences. For me I like high protein diet but try to steer clear of anything hyper processed like a lot of the vegan alternatives.

It’s also quite ignorant as doesn’t take into account the huge water consumption and impact of many vegan foods.

I think I would refuse to be part of these meals and networking sessions.

I also think it’s an inappropriate use of higher-ups power to impose their beliefs on junior staff.

gosh you're boring. You see vegan sausages and ice cream in a store and think that's what we eat. Do you live on bacon? No? Probably healthier meats, right? Like most vegans, who eat beans, lentils, tofu, seitan, nuts, whole grains, veg. I get tired of people like you and your ignorance.

Kalevala · 01/03/2024 14:48

Geebray · 01/03/2024 13:04

Well presumably you are only allowed foodstuffs grown in the UK? To reduce your carbon footprint?

You can't say "no meat cos carbon" and then allow avocadoes, pineapples, oranges, olive oil, peppers, etc...

British grown carlin peas it is then

CormorantStrikesBack · 01/03/2024 14:47

some Universities are meat free campus now. No meat options anywhere. I do happily eat fake meat but Dh who is vegetarian won’t touch it so plenty of actual vegetable vegetarian eating available.

I think it’s a great idea to reduce carbon footprint

AsTheyPulledYouOutOfTheOxygenTent · 01/03/2024 14:46

soupfiend · 01/03/2024 14:43

We've had fake cheese and onion pasties , protein sausage rolls and the like

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Ewwww. You need to change suppliers (unless they're surprisingly tasty).

PansyOatZebra · 01/03/2024 14:44

KnittedCardi · 01/03/2024 13:11

Nobody is going to die from not eating meat/fish at one sitting

No, but if they are going full vegan, I personally don't want to consume pretend milk and butter, no eggs, cheese, etc etc.

Lol you’re just showing your ignorance if you think vegans just eat pretend meat, cheese and milk.

soupfiend · 01/03/2024 14:43

AsTheyPulledYouOutOfTheOxygenTent · 01/03/2024 14:38

I've never been offered artificial meat or cheese as a vegetarian/vegan option for business catering, and I've had loads from loads of different suppliers.

It's humus, roasted vegetables, falafels and veggie samosas if you're lucky. If you're very lucky you get the Pret A Manger VLT sandwich which has fake crispy bacon that's simply made from slow roasted mushrooms, but that's the closest I've ever got to fake meat.

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We've had fake cheese and onion pasties , protein sausage rolls and the like

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 01/03/2024 14:43

It’s sensible if it caters for food allergies as well. My DD is vegetarian but is often forced to eat a fish or meat dish as she is unfortunately seriously allergic to nuts, soya, spinach and celery which seem to be the basis of most vegan and vegetarian processed food.

Taylormiffed · 01/03/2024 14:41

Brilliant idea. For once the veggies will have a choice of food.

7Summers · 01/03/2024 14:38

soupfiend · 01/03/2024 14:02

Oh dear. Im an excellent cook and my own cooking of meat, fish veggie or vegan dishes is excellent. However mass catering events, ready vegan food on the hoof and even some restaurants and the suchlike are unfortunately a real let down when it comes to vegan food ( not veggie) because of the overrealiance on processed products, meat substitutes and vegetable protein. That's why people don't want it in that format. HTH

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Well I did say people would claim that they’re good cooks. And you have. 🤣

AsTheyPulledYouOutOfTheOxygenTent · 01/03/2024 14:38

soupfiend · 01/03/2024 14:28

It will be at a catering event, that's the point people are making, re vegan options

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I've never been offered artificial meat or cheese as a vegetarian/vegan option for business catering, and I've had loads from loads of different suppliers.

It's humus, roasted vegetables, falafels and veggie samosas if you're lucky. If you're very lucky you get the Pret A Manger VLT sandwich which has fake crispy bacon that's simply made from slow roasted mushrooms, but that's the closest I've ever got to fake meat.

SchoolDramas · 01/03/2024 14:30

Very sensible, and will reduce their carbon footprint. Lots of organisations are looking at things like this now. It's food the company is providing - you don't have to take up their offer, but it's incredibly short sighted to not even try it. Not all veggie food is upf...

kitsuneghost · 01/03/2024 14:28

ButWhatAboutTheBees · 01/03/2024 13:21

It's unreasonable

I cannot stand things like humous, chickpeas etc

They make me heave

Why shouldn't I be able to enjoy a basic ham Sandwich or sausage roll?

Yes cause we all know vegans live off houmous 🙄

soupfiend · 01/03/2024 14:28

kitsuneghost · 01/03/2024 14:26

That's not what vegan is
You don't have to eat pretend anything
Most vegans don't eat pretend shit either

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It will be at a catering event, that's the point people are making, re vegan options

TraitorsGate · 01/03/2024 14:28

KnittedCardi · 01/03/2024 13:11

Nobody is going to die from not eating meat/fish at one sitting

No, but if they are going full vegan, I personally don't want to consume pretend milk and butter, no eggs, cheese, etc etc.

It's vegetarian and vegan choices

pastypirate · 01/03/2024 14:26

HarryUnicorn · 01/03/2024 14:23

Sounds like a great move to me. The arguments against on these sorts of threads seem to fall into two categories. Either the ‘I’m a carnivore’ (unlikely) or the most vegan food is ultra processed/shipped halfway across the world / fake meat subs - as if the omnivore buffet alternative would have been high quality, unprocessed meat from an organic farm no more than five miles away.

Fully agree. And I bet if they hadn't announced it lots wouldn't notice.

kitsuneghost · 01/03/2024 14:26

KnittedCardi · 01/03/2024 13:11

Nobody is going to die from not eating meat/fish at one sitting

No, but if they are going full vegan, I personally don't want to consume pretend milk and butter, no eggs, cheese, etc etc.

That's not what vegan is
You don't have to eat pretend anything
Most vegans don't eat pretend shit either

DeedlessIndeed · 01/03/2024 14:25

How often do you have catered meetings that it'd be such a big deal.

I attend max 2-3 training sessions or meetings a month that are catered either internally or externally. It's such a non-thing i dont think its worth much indignation.

If you really dislike the options then I'd just avoid chosing that item and remember to bring your own next time etc. Keep some snacks in your bag.

Usually there is something appetising, even if it's just salad and fruit!

Katemax82 · 01/03/2024 14:24

Sounds really annoying

HarryUnicorn · 01/03/2024 14:23

Sounds like a great move to me. The arguments against on these sorts of threads seem to fall into two categories. Either the ‘I’m a carnivore’ (unlikely) or the most vegan food is ultra processed/shipped halfway across the world / fake meat subs - as if the omnivore buffet alternative would have been high quality, unprocessed meat from an organic farm no more than five miles away.

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.

Coconutter24 · 01/03/2024 14:21

If it’s for work related events I’d just eat the vegan or vegetarian. If the company was to suggest people could have other options but would have to cover the costs themselves I’m very sure most people would just eat the free options offered

SoupDragon · 01/03/2024 14:21

Better to have vegan and low carb food for events, imo.

Covers dairy allergy and gluten free.

low carb vegan doesn't mean gluten free at all.

Treesnbirds · 01/03/2024 14:18

PandaCwtch · 01/03/2024 13:29

For those people saying the reasoning isn't logical due to the impact of food miles to carbon footprints, I suggest reading the book "How bad are bananas?" by Mike Berners Lee. It's a complete fallacy that "all vegan foods have high food miles". It's also a fallacy that shipping food around the world is worse than eating locally sourced meat. Beef and lamb in particular have really high climate change impact because they are ruminants, so produce a lot of methane. 1kg of beef has a footprint of 99.5kg carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). 1kg eggs has a CO2e of 1.6 kg. Chickpeas is 0.4 kg CO2e.

If you aren't flying the food around, the added footprint of transport by boat is relatively small. Bear in mind that it's unlikely that the corporate lunch was previously organically grown meat from a farm literally down the road, so it's not as if the food miles would have been low anyway.

This - thank goodness for people like you who actually look into the facts, (rather than saying locally sourced meat is better than vegetables from abroad because, despite it being wrong it helps to justify their choice.) 👏

EBearhug · 01/03/2024 14:18

And it means you mostly don't have to think about no beef for Hindus, no pork for Jews or Muslims, etc - everyone does eat vegetables, even if they don't like the particular combination being catered.