The agreement between ProVeg and caterer ITAU will enable training for catering teams and raise awareness among cafeteria managers, clinical staff, including doctors, and customers on the environmental and health impacts of food choices. Also under the agreement, tailored recipes by nutrition experts will be developed.
The programme is an extension of ProVeg Portugal’s Sustainable Meals programme which was implemented in 2022. So far this year, the programme has served over 58,000 plant-based meals in more than 90 schools in Portugal.
Joana Oliveira, country director of ProVeg Portugal, said: "By introducing plant-based meals in hospitals and other institutions, we are showing how food and public procurement can be a powerful lever for climate action while promoting healthier lifestyles.”
New York has already led the way allowing 11 of its public hospitals to offer plant-based meals by default in 2022. These hospitals saw average savings of 59 cents per plant-based meal in 2023, with plant-based meals resulting in consistent savings compared to meat dishes.