LA County Introduces Policy to Make Departmental Food Purchases Plant-Based by Default
The most populated county in the United States has passed legislation to lower its greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable food choices.
Los Angeles County has passed a new motion requiring all new food purchases by county-run facilities to be plant-based by default.
Spearheaded by the county’s Board Chair Lindsey Horvath and Supervisor Hilda Solis, the new legislation intends to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve public health, and champion animal welfare.
"Los Angeles County has the opportunity to overhaul outdated food policies so they match best practices today," said Horvath. "This action will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and food waste, and expand healthy food options at county facilities - all meaningful wins as we continue to lead on sustainable practices."
The new law is also a result of the County’s Sustainability Plan, which calls to “promote plant-based menu options through nutrition and food procurement policies in food service settings such as County facilities, hospitals, higher learning institutions, school districts, jails, and other food settings.”
Leah Garcés CEO and president of Mercy For Animals, an NGO that worked closely with Horvath’s office to develop the policy said: “Mercy For Animals calls for enactment and enforcement of animal protection laws and a shift to a plant-based food system. As more Americans choose plant-based food for reasons such as health, environmental protection, and animal welfare, public purchasing must reflect this shift.
“Mercy For Animals greatly appreciates Supervisors Horvath and Solis for sponsoring this policy change and the county’s commitment to providing healthy plant-based options to residents who benefit from county food programs. We look forward to working with LA County in implementing this policy,” she added.
Under the new law, the county will explore ways for county departments to increase plant-based options in its 111 food contracts across hospitals, schools and other county facilities.
Additionally, the county will revise its nutritional standards to adopt best practices for buying, selling, and serving more plant-based foods. The Department of Health Services will also begin collecting data to estimate greenhouse gas emissions caused by departments’ food purchases.
The Los Angeles County Board will receive a report on the motion’s progress within 120 days.
“This action will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and food waste, and expand healthy food options at county facilities - all meaningful wins as we continue to lead on sustainable practices.”
Why Plant-Based?
The global food system is responsible for 30 percent of human-induced greenhouse gas emissions, and animal products produce 90 percent more greenhouse gases than plant-based alternatives, as the motion highlights.
As the most populated county in the United States and a population of nearly ten million people, the environmental implications of the new legislation will be vast.
“Los Angeles County is one of the largest contracting entities in Southern California,” said Solis. “To that end, it is critical that we look at our food contracting processes and how we can incorporate alternatives that can lower our carbon footprint and reduce our contribution to global warming.
“Addressing greenhouse gas emissions requires both comprehensive sweeping action on a large scale, as well as collective actions locally. I’m proud that we’re in this fight and encourage others to follow suit.”
The motion comes as county facilities across the country are implementing increasing plant-based policies, citing health, environmental, and animal benefits.
New York City passed legislation last year to transition their city’s public hospital system to plant-based by default, which has reduced both its costs and food-related carbon emissions by 36 percent and increased patient satisfaction of the revamped menu to more than 90 percent. The city also has Plant-Powered Fridays in its public schools, and it plans to reduce absolute carbon emissions from food purchases across its agencies by 33 percent by 2030.
This year, Baltimore became the first-ever US city to declare January as the official month of Veganuary, citing environmental, health, economic, and animal protection reasons, whilst Texas made January 2024 the Plant-Based for the Planet Month.
Elsewhere in Los Angeles County, the city council voted unanimously to endorse the Plant Based Treaty to centre its food systems in the fight against the climate crisis.
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