Posted on
Might 25, 2026 by
The VRG Weblog Editor
by Reed Mangels, PhD, RD
In 2022, New York Metropolis revised their requirements for meals and snacks served in public faculties, hospitals, and different applications. The revised requirements known as for a decreased use of crimson and processed meat and cheese and larger use of complete or minimally-processed plant protein. The revisions had been completed to advertise higher particular person, neighborhood, and environmental well being (1). A latest research examined the impact of those revised requirements on greenhouse fuel emissions and the nutrient content material of meals (2).
What’s the research?
This research used menu knowledge from 4 businesses (public faculties, NYC Well being + Hospitals, Division of Corrections, and the Administration for Youngsters’s Companies) that serve 77% of all metropolis meals. The researchers in contrast the menus within the interval earlier than the revised requirements had been enacted and the interval when the requirements had been in impact. They evaluated modifications within the “center-of-the-plate protein supply.” They examined nutrient content material and estimated greenhouse fuel emissions primarily based on entrées, facet dishes, and drinks. The estimated greenhouse fuel emissions included manufacturing and processing however didn’t embrace transportation, serving, and waste from served meals that was not eaten. The outcomes replicate the menus that had been served; not essentially what was eaten (2).
What did this research discover?
The primary discovering of this research was that, general, greenhouse fuel emissions decreased by 21% per portion with the revision in requirements to advertise larger use of complete or minimally-processed plant protein instead of crimson and processed meat. There was no statistically important change within the nutrient content material of complete menu choices when the menus from earlier than and after the brand new requirements had been in contrast (2).
The most important discount in beef servings was seen in preK-8 faculties which had a 17% discount in beef. The NYC Well being + Hospitals acute care meal program had the biggest enhance (52%) in vegetarian meals objects. In most businesses there was an elevated use of complete or minimally processed plant proteins (2).
The outcomes of this research counsel that menu modifications that enhance using complete or minimally-processed plant protein may end up in a sizeable discount in greenhouse fuel emissions with little impact on the dietary high quality of the menus. These outcomes can be utilized to make a case to native, state, and federal governments for markedly rising using plant protein and reducing/eliminating animal merchandise in public meals programs.
References:
- NYC Well being. New York Metropolis Meals Requirements. Meals and Snacks Bought and Served. https://www.nyc.gov/belongings/doh/downloads/pdf/cardio/cardio-meals-snacks-standards.pdf. 2022.
- Moore ERH, Moran AJ, Stadler L, et al. Menu modifications underneath NYC’s revised meals requirements had been related to a discount in greenhouse fuel emissions. Well being Aff (Millwood). 2026;45:585-593.
To learn concerning the environmental results of vegan diets see:
To learn extra about meals coverage in New York Metropolis see:
New York Metropolis Faculty Lunch Program Options “Vegan Fridays”
