I left the National Health Service in 1976 as an Assistant Catering Manager at a new general hospital in Surrey, England where I lived. I was also a vegan. I would not eat anything in the hospital that I was responsible for producing. I could not believe we fed such unhealthy food to sick and convalescing patients. Hospital food has always been a bit of a joke in Britain. I suppose hospital food is really not that much different from standard British cuisine. OK. Yes, British food – and teeth – are sources of mirth throughout the world. Nevertheless, this is a serious issue for a variety of reasons.
So, it’s encouraging and intriguing to read today’s report in The Guardian. According to Hospitals will take meat off menus in bid to cut
Meat-free menus are to be promoted in hospitals as part of a strategy to cut global warming emissions across the National Health Service. The plan to offer patients menus that would have no meat option is part of a strategy to be published tomorrow that will cover proposals ranging from more phone-in GP surgeries to closing outpatient departments and instead asking surgeons to visit people at their local doctor’s surgery.[…] The plans cover all aspects of patients’ care, from building design to transport, waste, food, water and energy use.
The Grumpy Vegan doesn’t expect the ethical argument in support of vegetarianism to be included in a press report of this kind but no mention whatsoever of the health benefits of meat-free diets is truly surprising. Nonetheless, powerful arguments such as these could be made stronger if all the issues were brought to bear.
Among the most talked-about is likely to be the suggestion that hospitals could cut carbon emissions from food and drink by offering fewer meat and dairy products. Last year, the United Nations climate chief, Rajendra Pachauri, provoked a global debate when he said having a meat-free day every week was the biggest single contribution people could make to curbing climate change in their personal lives, because of the chemicals sprayed on feed crops and the methane emitted by cattle and sheep. Last week, the German federal environment agency went further, advising people to eat meat only on special occasions. Pencheon said the move would cut the relatively high carbon emissions from rearing animals and poultry, and improve health. Last year the NHS served 129m main meals, costing £312m, according to Department of Health figures. “We should not expect to see meat on every menu,” said Pencheon. “We’d like higher levels of fresh food, and probably higher levels of fresh fruit and veg, and more investment in a local economy.”
