On the 14th September, the UK government released their response to the School Food Standards consultation. They confirmed the end to the mandatory meat requirements by diversifying the protein definition to include pulses and legumes.

Nearly half of the respondents, 2,273 of our supporters, filled out the consultation and the Plant-Based Schools campaign was officially cited in the government's documentation to have provided significant input in the updated standards to prioritise plant-based food provision. However, meat and fish will still be prioritised in school food.

Therefore, they have not gone far enough. Continuing to make meat a central part of what we feed our children means continuing to support a food system that is driving climate breakdown, destroying habitats and placing growing pressure on the ecosystems we all depend on to live. If we are serious about protecting children’s health and preserving a livable planet, whole plant-based food must become the norm in our schools, not the alternative.

That’s why we need you to take action and all come together, like for the consultation, to sign our Open Letter, calling on the Government to make plant-based food the primary provision in schools with at least one plant-based meal available to every child, everyday in every school.

Right now the government are listening to us. As parents, school staff and people who care about our collective future, we need to call on the UK Government to update the guidance to prioritise plant-based meals in schools.