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New York State Assembly has passed a ‘landmark’ bill that would guarantee plant-based meal options in all NY hospitals.
The bill, which will now move to the New York State Senate, requires hospitals in the state to offer patients plant-based options for every meal, and for them to be featured in all written materials and menus.
Fighting disease
The Physicians Committee, a non-profit organization with around 12,000 doctor members, ‘applauds’ the recent passing of the bill.
Susan Levin, the director of nutrition education for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, said: “Thanks to New York State Assembly Member Richard N. Gottfried for bringing New York a step closer to ensuring that hospital patients have access to healthy, plant-based meals that will help them fight heart disease, diabetes, and obesity.”
Financial benefits
Non-profit organization, Food Forward, promotes hospitals providing plant-based options, instead of meals containing animal products, and suggest the transition will financially benefit them.
St. Joseph Health System in Sonoma County, California, where a similar bill was passed last year, said: “Vegetarian entrées cost about 50 percent less than meat entrées,” reportedly saving an estimated $5,000 a year by increasing its meat-free meals.
