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?

Also, how much time do you spend on French and Spanish fora derxa? Are you trilingual? 🤔

Given that Knepp has a partner farm in Asturias, I would imagine that a fair bit of rewilding discussion happens in Spain, too.

Or are you referring to the vegetarian debate? Well yes, it's difficult for vegetarians in both the above countries. It doesn't make that right.

On the other hand, were you to be on an Indian forum, the debate would probably have more of an anti meat slant than it currently does here, so 🤷‍♀️

I don't see it as a gotcha. I was making the point that yes reducing the environmental impact is important so they should look at every ingredient of the buffet. Don't just single out animal protein. Yes that will reduce the impact but they can do more.

Indeed. Whataboutery in its purest form. If you can't be perfect, why bother trying.

MN is generally a white middle class English site. I couldn’t care less what people eat and I can eat pretty much anything. I just think it’s ludicrous to suggest that meat free work lunches will’save the planet’.

People seem to be focusing the conversation on this food being optional and a bonus. My experience is that if we are getting a fed, it is because we are in all day meetings and they are bringing in catering so we don’t need to leave. They don’t even want us popping out to get a cup of tea. So it’s actually quite important that there be food for everyone.

I don't think anyone's saying don't bother trying. I'm personally saying good idea, while you're at it look at the impact of ALL the food

Unless they focus on having their own allotment, and only use what they grow, there will always be the possibility of doing more.

And you don't know that they will even be including avocados or soya anyway!!

Meat production and consumption is pretty much rising all over the world. Especially in countries like China.

my organisation has a similar policy - but its part of our ethos, so not really an issue

You don't know they would have been including meat anyway. I'm on the side of the organisers just think they could take it a step further

Or just take one simple action that vastly reduces the carbon footprint. Also valid.

I'd much rather they supported local farmers and suppliers rather than bought stuff in from further afield. Its very very possible in many cases to significantly reduce the food-miles by going for local sources which I can see is quite planet friendly.

They could do this yes. I'm not saying they can't. I'd prefer it if they looked at the impact of ALL the food. Rice paddies contribute a lot towards methane in the atmosphere. It's not all meat.

🤣

I mean, it's right there in the very first post.... it's fairly obvious that op wouldn't have posted anything if the food orders had gone from vegetarian and vegan to.. vegetarian and vegan...

Do you think the people ordering the food should be given a very specific list of vegetarian and vegan food that is acceptable to order? You can have pears, but not avocado pears? You can have green peas but not chickpeas? 🤔😆

Bloody hell! You get FREE scran at work events and you're whinging?! I've worked in local government for yonks. We get a jug of water. Not that I expect I should be catered for, but still. Check your privilege eh.

Why not? Why not say we've found these local suppliers and we'd like you to use one of these for your event and order these items. Once they've done it once it won't need redoing. I don't get why its such a ludicrous idea to consider the impact of the food

But they are considering the impact of the food - that's the whole point 😆

I dread to think what the menu would be if you were catering. Grass from the local park served three ways? 🤤

I would be annoyed about this if the vegan/vegetarian food was just lots of ultra processed rubbish. If it's good quality whole food vegan/vegetarian then I'd have no issue.

Wild meat such as venison means animals lead a free, natural life. In the absence of other predators such as wolves, culling is also essential whether the animals were eaten or not.

I think, in a work situation, just suck it up. Who cares? Personally, I always found work social life a bit of a PITA and something to put up with.
Your real social life is what counts. Eating vegan/ vegetarian will harm no one and offend no one.

I'd bring my own meat! 😉

Unreasonable. Catering for the minority and not the majority and probably a box ticking exercise. I’d take a packed lunch full of dairy and meat just to be an insufferable arsehole. More inclusive for the minority that are usually whinging grass eaters and complain about everything.

Unreasonable. Catering for the minority and not the majority

Arguably it is catering for the majority though. (Barring allergies and intolerances), everyone can eat something that's vegan.

I eat very little meat and love vegetables and salads. However I notice that a lot of vegan ready meals and supermarket products are full of additives and are highly processed. I think the meat substitute vegan products are disgusting, unhealthy and a big con.

A lot of people seem to have missed that they are ordering for their own department - so they presumably have some autonomy over what is ordered and so can avoid upf if that's what they'd prefer, and can ensure they cater for any relevant allergies.