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?

Well you wont die from eating it either

You obviously don't have Coeliac disease! It's not as simple as removing bread I'm afraid.

"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.

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

Depends to be honest. Dairy, egg and shellfish allergies are a thing so depending on what is actually in the non vegan/non vegetarian food then it is possible some people will die if they ate it.

Actual meat allergies are rare but they still do exist and I suppose it is possible some of those could be fatal too 🤔

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.

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

As a cattle farmer, I wouldn't mind this. But like others, once it isn't that awful fake meat/ quorn sort of stuff quorn does awful things to my stomach.

Dhal and rice, with cucumber salad yes please. 'Hot dogs' no thank you

Then there are def a whole host of vegetarian things I'd be very happy with. Egg salad sandwiches. Fresh pasta. Anything with cheese

Any nod to the environment is great, but I think this is probably misguided unless you have a lovely local deli, selling locally produced, minimally processed foods. This isn’t going to happen though is it?

Why are you assuming they are going to serve ‘vegan processed crap’? Even if you do have a specific dietary requirement or preference then it is still only one meal or you can just bring your own food in.

A lot of people don’t like beef or don’t eat it for various reasons so your suggestion to serve local beef might not work for everyone either.

Citation very much needed. Every reputable source agrees that (apart from some very exceptional cases of people reading their own chickens from scraps, or living on fresh fructarian diets exclusively flown in from Costa Rica by private jet) going vegan is the single most effective thing that most people can do to reduce their personal carbon footprint.

And I'm speaking as an omnivore. I just don't feel the need to make shit up to prove that the problematic thing I like doing is actually fine.

Can you order wild venison?

It’s an incredibly short sighted policy that shows the management decision has no idea how agriculture works. Animal agriculture is vital to sustainable production of arable and fresh produce crops in this country and around the world. Without animal agriculture you reduce soil health and biodiversity whilst allowing for more pests and disease.

Predictable over reactions on here at the thought of all vegetarian/ vegan options 🙄😁
I'm not vegetarian or even vegan, but seriously can't see the problem.
It's one free, meal to you during the day.
Baffles me the amount of people who can't get over the thought of a day without a sausage or piece of ham or whatever.
All veggie/vegan sounds more inclusive anyway as allergies such as milk and egg would be included.
Have a steak when you get home.

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.

I would like someone to make allowances for my preferences which is a balanced diet of meat fish and vegetable. It is not for anyone else to decide this for me and I would see this as a rather oppressive and preachy place to work. The next step will be not being allowed to bring in meat based sandwiches or takeaways.

It is. Everyone can eat vegetarian food.

Everyone can eat non-vegetarian food.

So they’re enforcing veganism and vegetarianism on people, not cool 😡 And it’s hardly reducing carbon footprint when the items still have to be manufactured and transported. I’d be fuming.

I'm not saying that at all. But you can bet a catering company sticking to a vegan menu will provide exactly that.

It's still food, isn't it? A lot of meat eaters actually prefer to NOT eat meat at things like this because meat that has been sitting for an indeterminate amount of time can be iffy. I've never gotten food poisoning from a cheese and pickle sandwich. Can't say the same about the chicken one.

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.

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

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

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!

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