Spain passes legislation requiring schools to serve plant-based meals
The changes were enacted by the Spanish Council of Ministers in late April under the Royal Decree on Healthy and Sustainable School Cafeterias, an initiative that promises to ‘transform’ school food throughout the country. The law also requires more fruit, vegetables and legumes to be served to schoolchildren.
If the school cannot provide this, the legislation requires that the school offers the necessary means to refrigerate and heat plant-based meals that students bring from home. It aims to ensure that all students have access to a nutritious, varied diet aligned with official health recommendations.
Verónica Larco, senior communications manager at ProVeg Spain, said: "We welcome the passing of this Royal Decree, which finally recognises the right of families to have a 100% plant-based menu in school canteens or at least measures to solve its absence. We will be watching closely how its adoption is managed at the regional level and the way in which each school applies it.”
ProVeg International is a food awareness organisation with the mission to replace 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040. Their vision is a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals and the planet.