A Glasgow Mum has managed to persuade a Council in Scotland to provide vegan food in all its schools and nurseries.

Alexis Kasravi challenged West Dunbartonshire Council to provide vegan options for her daughter Mia when she was in nursery last year. The mother had been told that the nursery was unable to cater for her child, and that she was unable to bring in food for her daughter due to health and cross contamination concerns.

The move to challenge the decision came after the Glasgow mother spoke to charity The Vegan Society who helped support her with her case.

Alexis Kasravi won the case which resulted in the Council rolling out vegan options to all other nurseries in the area, along with primary and secondary schools too.

Alexis Kasravi said:

I am very happy that my daughter can enjoy the meals she deserves and that other vegan children will automatically be offered this option.

The Vegan Society specialises in providing support to vegan parents who struggle to get schools to provide plant-based options for their children. Its legal advisor Dr Jeanette Rowley said about the case:

We are delighted to have been able to help Alexis and Mia.

Veganism is protected under human rights and equality law, which means if a child is eligible for a free school meal, the duty is not to discriminate by providing a vegan option.

The number of vegans in the UK has nearly quadrupled since 2014, with almost half (42%) at the time choosing to go vegan in 2018. Campaigners claim that going vegan is one of the biggest ways to reduce our impact on the planet, with a recent report by the United Nations saying that a plant-based diet is important in tackling climate change and world hunger.

Image by The Vegan Society