Sir Paul McCartney is backing a PETA campaign urging the government to remove mandatory meat, fish and dairy from school menus in England.
The former Beatle, 78, and his daughters Stella, 48, and Mary, 50, have co-signed a letter to education secretary Gavin Williamson asking the government to give school-aged children’ more vegan and climate-friendly options.
The McCartneys, who founded the hugely popular Meat Free Monday in 2009, wrote the request as part of a consultation process with the National Food Strategy, a landmark review into Britain’s food system.
Paul McCartney, 78, and his daughters Stella (right), 48, and Mary (left), 50, have co-signed a letter to education secretary Gavin Williamson asking the government to give school-aged children’s more vegan and climate-friendly options
In England, schools are currently required to serve a portion of dairy every day, a portion of meat at least three times a week, and a portion of fish once every three weeks.
The Liverpudlian is asking them to replace it with nutritional guidelines ‘that allow schools to be more flexible’.
PETA says these requirements are out of step with public health advice, are damaging to the environment, as well as causing pain and suffering to animals.
They are calling for the standards to be revised so that each school gets to choose whether or how often it serves dairy, meat, and fish, as long as pupils’ nutritional needs are met.
In a statement, the family said: ‘No one needs to eat meat, so it shouldn’t be mandatory to serve it in schools. It’s time to revise the School Food Standards to help the planet, spare animals, and promote healthy eating.’
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The campaign, by PETA, has also been supported by MPs, and environmental, health, and animal protection groups.
The pop icon is asking the government to replace it with nutritional guidelines ‘that allow schools to be more flexible’
In a statement, the campaign group say that 70 per cent of British children want more vegan meals on their school menus, and 20 per cent of children in the UK are obese by the time they’re in year 6.
PETA claim the School Food Standards are ‘so outdated that they don’t even comply with the government’s own nutritional advice to the public – the Eatwell Guide – which recommends that people eat more pulses and reduce their consumption of red and processed meats.
‘As the world faces dual health and climate crises, going vegan is one of the best things young people can do for animals, the planet, and their own health’.
Sir Paul and his daughters have been long-term animal rights activists and vegetarians.
Linda McCartney, the musician’s late wife, and mother of Stella and Mary, launched a line of frozen vegetarian food in 1991 which has become known as one of the biggest celebrity mass-market brands.
Source: Food Recipes and News
