Petition aims to change the menu in the public sector.

Over the past four years the number of vegans in the UK has doubled and more people are choosing to eat a plant-based diet for health reasons.

Despite veganism given the same status as dietary choices associated with religious faith the public sector has been slow to respond to this change in eating habits.

Humane Society International have launched a parliamentary petition calling for the inclusion of plant-based options on public sector menus as standard practice

The petition refers to advice from the British Dietic Association and the UN that eating a plant-based diet is good for the health of individuals and the environment.

Information produced by the Vegan Society makes the case that avoiding meat and dairy can help to reduce the incidence of high blood-pressure, type2 diabetes and some cancers.

It can also have a positive impact on the environment, reducing the amount of land cultivated for animal feed and reducing food insecurity.

The Green Party supports a food and agriculture policy that is sustainable over the long term. This includes supporting animal welfare, fair-trade and supporting public sector caterers to make healthy and vegan options available.

Signing the petition on behalf of North Staffs Green Party campaign coordinator Adam Colclough said: ' It is vital for the environment that we change the way we put food on our plates', he added that it is also important 'to make healthy food choices easier and more appealing, the public sector has a huge role to play in that'.

The party have written to Stoke-on-Trent City Council calling on them to act on the call made in the petition

Humane Society International are also working with public sector caterers to help them change their menus.

A parliamentary petition that gathers 10,000 signatures will receive a response from the government, one that attracts 100,000 will be considered for debate in parliament

A link to the petition can be accessed here: https://action.hsi.org/page/33008/action/1?utm_medium=email&utm_source=engagingnetworks&utm_campaign=farm&utm_content=110118+UK+action+vegan+day+gg&ea.url.id=1564395&forwarded=true