Local Government Initiatives
Carbon Labels
Cities can implement carbon label policies that require restaurants, government institutions, and other venues to use labels indicating the carbon footprint of food items. A new study concludes that using “carbon labels” to indicate the sustainability level of foods would help nudge consumers toward choosing more environmentally friendly options.
“Most people do not recognize the environmental impact of their food choices. Our research, published in Nature Climate Change, shows that even when consumers do stop to think about the greenhouse gas emissions associated with their food, they tend to underestimate it,” according to the authors of the study. The authors also note that “food production contributes 19-29% of global greenhouse emissions. The biggest contributor is meat, particularly red meat. Cattle raised for beef and dairy products are major sources of methane, a potent greenhouse gas.”
Plant-based and Meat Reduction Requirements in Government-Funded Institutions
Governments can change the food procured and served at hospitals, schools, prisons, government offices, and other institutions.
Schools: The Los Angeles Unified School District – which serves 650,000 meals each day – is part of the Good Food Purchasing Program. This program, discussed below, helps institutions procure more humane, local, and sustainable options.
Prisons and health facilities: California enacted a law in 2018 that requires a vegan option on the menu at hospitals, health facilities and state prisons. The bill passed with unanimous support and is estimated that it will at least be cost neutral and could cost less than the existing food provided.
Vegan Food Options in Large Entertainment Venues
Local governments can play a big role in implementing natural solutions to fight climate change. A recent proposal by LA City Councilmember Paul Koretz aims to require large entertainment venues in LA to provide a vegan protein option, and Los Angeles Airport terminals to have a vegan dining option, in order to combat climate change.
This type of policy is low-risk and is supported by public demand. There is broad, rapidly growing public support for plant-based foods (a Nielson survey showed that 39% of Americans are intending to incorporate more plant-based foods in 2019). The plant-based protein options available are taste-tested and approved by consumers, with products from Beyond Meat and Impossible Foods popping up in stadiums, restaurant chains, and large venues like Disney World.
Food service providers can implement this requirement smoothly without disruption to their business. There is a large market of exceptional plant-based food options available for institutional purchasing, including those already sold in Dodgers Stadium and other large venues. The plant-based food market is expansive and rapidly growing, with sales up 20% to $3.3 billion in 2018, and investment increases of 30%.
Plant-based Hospital Programs
City governments can implement plant-based treatment programs in government-funded hospitals. Brooklyn Borough President, Eric Adams, supported a new hospital pilot program at Bellevue Hospital that uses vegan diets to help patients with chronic health issues. "We are introducing in a real way, in the oldest hospital in America, a concept that is called disease reversal," said Adams. This type of program can help citizens reverse chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease by promoting plant-based diets as part of medical treatment plans. In addition to improving health outcomes, the preventative benefits of these plans can reduce healthcare spending.
Government Investment in Plant-Based Foods
There are a variety of ways for governments to monetarily invest in plant-based food systems. They can create subsidy programs that shift subsidies from animal products, corn and soy to plant-based whole foods (including a wider variety of crops). This provides more health benefits by reducing the price of healthy foods and shrinking the market of cheap, unhealthy animal products.
Governments can also invest in research and development of foods, specifically plant-based and clean meat. The Canadian government has invested $150 million in plant-based protein development. These investments can shift consumer demand and create larger supplies of healthy, sustainable options. This will spur innovation, drive competition, and provide more plant-based options.
Good Food Purchasing Program
This program began in Los Angeles, first proposed by Councilmember Koretz, and provides standards for institutional food purchasing address access to healthy food for all communities. There are five key value categories:
1) local economies, 2) environmental sustainability, 3) valued workforce, 4) animal welfare, and 5) nutrition.
The GFPP is a national program that cities can adopt and implement with assistance from the Center for Good Food Purchasing, which provides a comprehensive set of tools, technical support, and verification system for institutions. To learn more about the GFPP, click here.