McCartney Unhappy with French Vegetarian Ban

A government order in France requires all meals served in school canteens to contain animal products, with meat and fish served with regularity. French students also reportedly can’t bring packed lunches to school, so the government orders apparently are intended to make balanced vegetarian or vegan meals in schools impossible, or nearly so. What would a school child eat if he or she has a meat-free diet? Not french fries very often, as even those have been ordered to be served only four out of twenty meals.

Long-time animal rights supporter and meatless musician Sir Paul McCartney released this statement on his website, “The French Government’s recent decree effectively enforcing the consumption of animal products in public institutions is a backward step for France. It goes against the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union by prohibiting individuals’ right to express their beliefs. No one needs to eat animals – and we can combat climate change and lessen the risk of suffering from heart disease and other ailments by reducing the amount of meat we eat.” (Source: The Independent)

Teaching children they don’t have a choice, or much of one, in their own school settings, for their own food and health doesn’t seem fair, balanced or open-minded in the modern era. It almost seems like something that would have happened in medieval times under a monarchy.

Insisting on such a narrow range of food types in schools seems somewhat contradictory for a culture known for a love affair with food – one that would appear to be rather open ended and tolerant of difference.

Perhaps some understanding of how such decrees could be made lies in a brief summary:

…in 1881, when free schooling was made compulsory, the French government, by legacy of its centralist tradition, created a big national and state funded schools network instead of opting for several regional or local entities. This education system has always been built on a very centralized “top-down” model, where official programs that will be taught to pupils are created in a few offices in the ministry of education, and where teachers are constantly
submitted to a very tough set of rules designed in Paris. (Source: Objectifliberte.fr)

Image Credit: Taxiarchos228

Read more: Children, Health, Healthy Schools, Vegetarian

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Eternal G.

5:05PM PST on Jan 4, 2012

Ta.

send a green star

Karen F.

10:57AM PST on Jan 4, 2012

Rock on Paul and keep up the message to the OH so dumb French.

Aoife O.

1:51PM PST on Dec 30, 2011

thanks

Sheri P.

5:03PM PST on Dec 26, 2011

Yay for McCartney for speaking out against this ridiculous law!! People should be able to eat what they want. I wonder why packed lunches aren't allowed?

Salena G.

3:48PM PST on Dec 23, 2011

lol well it sounds like there options are at least healthier than the united states who go and make pizza a vegetable and I am vegetarian so I understand the stupidity of only allowing them meat I always packed my lunch at school but I see that they aren't allowed too

but in the same way it isn't a good idea to not give kids options they have to learn to make healthy choices

Samantha J.

9:20AM PST on Dec 21, 2011

support them.

5:49AM PST on Dec 21, 2011

I didn't read the whole article, but WTHeck?!?!?!?!?
Why force people, kids for that matter to follow a certain diet? I'm a vegetarian, I have been a vegetarian for about 5 years now. I started off as a pecto-vegetarian then I became a lacto-ovo-vegetarian and that's what I am now. I don't like the taste of meats, there are kids who are like this too. Also, I don't like to think about the innocent animal that was killed in the process of getting those meat products.
I don't eat at my current school because:
1. I don't like the taste and smell of the food there
2. Meats are served with meals 4 out of 5 times a week.

At my school, people know I'm a vegetarian so at least, they don't force me to eat.

Also, my parent's just thought I was being difficult, looking for attention...when I went vegetarian. The thing is, I have an eating disorder known as SED. They finally accepted the idea of me being vegetarian after attempting to feed me meat products often. I don't get hungry so I'm willing not to eat if for example, my mum does what she does some time ago and hid bacon in my food or served just meats.

If they're worried about the health of the children, they should enlighten them about vegetarianism. The pros and the cons. A negative thing about vegetarianism is that you risk getting anaemia if you don't have an alternative iron source (I don't really have one, so, I ended up being anaemic).
Let children know about this then make their decision and then, you have to

Alicia N.

1:21PM PST on Dec 19, 2011

noted-thanks

MarilynBusy F.

1:12PM PST on Dec 19, 2011

Hi Nicole B:
"there are healthy NON-allergic substitutes if they are willing to look"

That's kind of a strange statement.
What is non-allergic to one person may not be to another person.
Soy is unhealthy for children, especially boys.
Personally, I can't have any of the substitutes due to my own allergies and sensitivities. I tried and got sick as a vegan. I can manage a mostly vegetarian diet, but not totally.

If animal protein wasn't necessary, it wouldn't be a food group that nutritionists recommend.

As I previously said, not all protein substitutes can be fully assimilated by the body, and deficiencies in children have much more serious consequences.

Nicole B.

12:47PM PST on Dec 19, 2011

@Marilyn NOfwds D. Quinoa has as much protein as a steak does, if not more, plus it is gluten-free, there are other protein substitutes then nuts, they can even serve soy (AS LONG AS IT IS CLEARLY MARK for those who are allergic to soy(preferably made with different pots and spoons)) all they have to do is look. Plus there are those who are allergic to cow (most common red meat that is served) due to being allergic to the milk, which is passed on and held in the muscles and fat of the animal from feeding (lucky I am allergic to milk but not the meat).
I am not vegan/vegetarian but I don't agree with what they are doing, there are healthy NON-allergic substitutes if they are willing to look