Cambridge University says no to meat on the menu, as the University Library will ban lamb and beef

August 16, 2022

Around the world, people are now encouraging plant-based meals and veganism so as to redefine the way the food industry works. The aim is to have sustainable food practices that do not negatively impact the environment. And the renowned Cambridge University has decided to follow suit. The 88-year-old canteen aims to outlaw lamb and beef from the menu of their University Library’s tearoom menu. They will instead, push vegan options on the menu for the teachers as well as pupils as part of its new sustainable food policy.

Menu restrictions and banned items

The rule says that the tearoom shall cut down on use of meat, fish and dairy. Furthermore, items like lamb and beef shall be banned completely. To ensure the enforcement of the announced rules, the kilograms of animal produce used caterers will be verified to ascertain that they continue to be smaller and smaller portions of the total food served. Additionally, they also frown upon tinned tuna apart from fresh meat and the animal products shall only be made available on some days of the week at significantly higher prices to discourage purchase.

Other than the food restrictions in the tearoom, it also has a ban on single use plastic. Lastly, the university is encouraging purchases from local suppliers to mitigate the carbon emissions.

You can look forward to plant-based foods on the tearoom menu

The authorities have attested that vegan food options including plant-based meals will take up a larger section of their tearoom menu. The teachers as well as pupils can look forward to luscious sandwiches next year as well as pastries and snacks as the library tearoom reopens for the upcoming academic year. What’s more is that the regular caterers will receive training on how to initiate sustainable food practices as well as given information on the importance of this policy. Their library spokesperson affirmed, “this has been standard university policy over a number of years now.”

They added that their new sustainable food campaigns aimed to encourage vegan options and “raise awareness of the benefits to the environment and individuals of reducing meat consumption”. Speaking about the decision, the University said that it has a “responsibility to provide healthy and sustainable food” to “minimise the impact of its catering operations on the environment”. The legendary tearoom has always been known for its cheese scones and is considered a “beloved space in the Library, University and Cambridge community”.   

Like this? Read: 10 Indian Foods That Are Exceptional Vegan Sources of Iron

Read More: How to overcome Anemia on a Vegan diet, by Nidhi Mohan Kamal