P-06-1401  Ensure that publicly procured foods in Wales are never exclusively vegan or vegetarian - Petitioner to the Committee, 26 February 2024

I think your letter is concentrating on the social responsibility of food procurement rather than actually replying to my petition and you seem to have ignored the worryingly dictatorial stance the Chair of the National Infrastructure of Wales had taken which prompted me to write my petition to start with. 

People in positions of power should not be able to abuse that power. 

In regards to the social responsibility of food production it’s imperative that it focuses on a well balanced diet without processed foods rather than an exclusively vegan or vegetarian diet. 

Not only can an exclusively vegan diet result in vitamin deficiency and is discriminatory against all those with soy and nut allergies. But it has a much worse carbon footprint than a meat eating diet, particularly with the beef and lamb farmers we have right here within Wales. The primary staples of a vegan diet are grown in countries where agriculture is exploited with child labour, unsafe working conditions and appalling pay. 

Public sector food procurement should aim to be local and seasonal and not processed. However public sector food buyers should be given advice. The leisure centre in Brecon for example could really do with having healthy options.  Before you even enter the building you are hit by advertising for ice-creams full of sugar and processed hot dogs. As soon as you walk inside there’s fizzy drinks for sale, a vending machine with crisps and sweets and a basket of cakes and biscuits.  No basket of fruit despite being requested on a number of occasions.  This is all before you have even entered the cafe which sells processed hot dogs, chips, cheap nasty sausages and chicken nuggets rather than chicken fillets. This is all food high in fat, salt and sugar and not good for anyone.  The food procurers need educating about diet which I believe must be balanced and locally produced in order to fulfil social responsibilities. 

I hope you will take my thoughts into consideration. 

I look forward to hearing from you