Los Angeles County to Shift Towards Sustainable, Plant-Based Meals

The most populous county in the United States, Los Angeles County has passed legislation shifting policy towards plant-based options. This shift comes due to concerns over animal welfare, sustainability, and public health. Los Angeles County officials worked closely with the Animal rights organization Mercy For Animals to develop the new policy. 

Lindsey Horvath and Hilda Solis, both Los Angeles County supervisors, spearheaded the policy project. Now, the new law will mandate that the county’s food-service providers shift towards plant-based options. 

Increasing interest in plant-based foods is a driving factor for this policy change. A survey of Los Angeles County residents showed that 79 percent of those surveyed supported policies that would increase the purchasing of plant-based food options with tax dollars. 

The new legislation is multifaceted and will strengthen the growth of plant-based offerings by county food providers in several ways. First, the policy will update nutritional standards so that they incorporate best practice guidelines for purchasing, selling, and serving plant-based foods.

Several governmental departments will also work together to guide how food service providers can increase plant-based options while decreasing animal products.

Lastly, the policy will begin to collect data about food purchases to track greenhouse gas emissions. This data will be used to help reduce the environmental impact of county food programs. 

Switching to predominantly plant-based options can have significant positive environmental impacts. Plant-based options produce far fewer emissions than their animal counterparts. Cities, such as New York City, which have already adopted plant-based policies have seen a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and food service-related costs. 

Since Los Angeles County is home to roughly 10 million people, the implications of this new policy could be profound. Additionally, this new legislation may inspire other counties and municipalities to adopt similar legislation. 

Sign this petition to Advocate for More Plant-Based Options!

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• Youth Advocated Ask for Plant-Based Options During Capitol Hill Visit
• New York Hospitals Go Green with Plant-Based Menus 

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