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

[ValerieVomit]

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?

If I don't like it I can't eat it. If this is what is always going to be on offer it is discrimination.

I think it's great, better than having a load of dead animals & no vegan options.

It's not going to kill the carnists having to go without meat now & then.

It's not one meal though is it. OP clearly said all meals in future as they are banning meat for all meals.

Thanks, telling people hadn't even crossed my mind. That's such helpful advice. If only someone had suggested it before. Christ alive, it's such a simple answer too! Now I know that I can simply tell people I can be sure that nothing bad regarding food allergies will ever, ever happen again! It's such a relief.

This is sarcasm by the way.

Then don't eat it?

There must be some non animal products you eat surely.

And it's not discrimination!

Loads of amazing vegan cakes out there!
Obviously won't be vegan if they have dairy milk or eggs in, but so easy to make delicious cakes without those now.
Google vegan chocolate cake and get baking ♥️

Taking away people's choice and excluding those who don't like vegetarian or vegan food could be seen as blying. Mixed buffet is more inclusive.

Depressing to see how many people don't realise how much better it is for the environment it is to avoid eating meat.

Ok, so I only skim read the thread and on closer reading I see that several people have already covered (and far more clearly than me) what I was trying to say about allergies/intolerances being more problematic with vegetarian/vegan food.

excluding those who don't like vegetarian or vegan food
See, this just doesn't make sense to me
You don't like crisps? Margarita pizza? Cheese and onion rolls? Salad? Bread sticks? Salsa, guacamole, sour cream dips? Veggie samosas, onion bhajis?
Etc etc etc

OP said vegetarian and vegan food not vegan only

It's just a lot easier and probably cheaper for the company, it's free food, so why all the moaning?

Vegan and vegetarian buffets mean everyone without an allergy can eat something - omnivores, pescatarians, halal diets, kosher diets, vegetarian by religion, vegetarian by other choice, vegan...

Absolutely everyone. No special labels, no hassle when the nice vegetarian thing is scoffed by all the carnivores before the veggies get there, no disrespecting people's religious practices.

Those with allergies who trust corporate catering... well, I guess I salute your misplaced faith courage, as cross contamination is rife. There are just as likely to be allergens in an omnivorous buffet as a vegetarian one.

If you are too distressed by the concept of food without meat for one lunchtime, by all means hoover up the potato wedges/baked potatoes/spring rolls/samosas and fantasise about the half a cow you'll treat yourself to for dinner.

FWIW I'd be perfectly happy eating vegetarian - would be quite happy with cheese/egg sandwiches, quiches etc but would struggle with vegan - 'sheeze' is an abomination, can't stand mushrooms & nuts, and pulses and beans do funny things to my insides. Not sure what I'd eat, tbh...

i have been vegan for a long time. For decades I did without corporate lunches when everyone else was eating because there were no vegan options. More recently I find the meat eaters eat all the vegan options they profess to hate and i rarely get much to eat at supposedly mixed catered events either. I didn't die, (though i tried very hard to avoid people eating fish or egg salad cos of the 'deadly' cat food/sulphur stink 😂 ). No one will starve and it may reduce costs and wastage, so I think its fine. You can't cater for every single individual preference, but this decision provides reasonable options for most people.

I eat some fruit and plain bread with no spread or butter on it. I'd eat a normal cheddar cheese sandwich with no spread, butter, mayonnaise or mustard, but every buffet I have been to adds spread of some type, butter, mayonnaise, mustard or some other mush I don't like. Sometimes they poke in lettuce or tomatoes I don't like either. I don't eat cakes or crisps or crap. If vegans were left out they'd soon be claiming discrimination. It's just the same I don't like processed food it makes me feel ill.

For all corporate catered events, the OP said.

Not the canteen. Not what you can bring in for lunch. Not what you pop to Pret for.

The occasional catered (free) food at a work meeting.

I think it's a fine idea!

What is this weird obsession with vegan cheese? Most long term vegans eat little to none of the stuff.

Flora is vegan, loads of people eat it.

Having one out of 28 meals without flesh is not going to hurt anyone inside three standard deviations of the norm.

I find it much harder to find allergy safe food from a vegetarian menu. They are setting themselves up for difficulty catering for the entire staff

But can't you see it's avoiding discrimination against vegetarians and vegans at expense of meat eaters. Having a mixed buffet so all 3 groups have something they can eat is best.

It’s more inclusive for people with dietary/religious restrictions.

Not really, no.

It's excluding meat eaters and making judgements on them for eating meat. I think that constitutes bullying. No need to exclude anyone in the workplace.

It sounds like a good idea. I'm a meat eater but I don't need or want it at every meal, especially not lunch.

@caringcarer
It's excluding meat eaters and making judgements on them for eating meat
How is it judging you just by not having meat at their buffet?

Your own username is also very well suited to this thread!