{"id":20412,"date":"2022-12-16T10:00:20","date_gmt":"2022-12-16T15:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/?p=20412"},"modified":"2022-12-01T10:49:58","modified_gmt":"2022-12-01T15:49:58","slug":"guidelines-for-food-service-in-federal-facilities-call-for-increased-use-of-plant-foods-and-environmentally-responsible-practices","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vrg.org\/blog\/2022\/12\/16\/guidelines-for-food-service-in-federal-facilities-call-for-increased-use-of-plant-foods-and-environmentally-responsible-practices\/","title":{"rendered":"Guidelines for Food Service in Federal Facilities Call for Increased Use of Plant Foods and Environmentally Responsible Practices"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>By Reed Mangels, PhD, RD<\/p>\n

Five years ago, a workgroup with representatives from nine federal departments and agencies including the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Defense created a document, Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities. <\/em>This document was designed to \u201censure that healthier foods and beverages are available and encouraged at federal facilities, that environmentally responsible practices are conducted in federal food service venues, \u2026 communities are economically supported through local food sourcing, [and] that food safety practices are followed to minimize the risk of foodbourne illnesses.\u201d An updated version of this document has not been published as of November, 2022.<\/p>\n

This document promotes greater use of plant foods and potentially could result in more vegan-friendly items being available in federal facilities. Federal facilities include federal prisons, national parks, Veteran\u2019s Administration (VA) hospitals, museums, and government buildings. Foods can be purchased in these facilities in various places ranging from cafeterias and snack bars to concession stands and vending machines. There are also locations where food is served such as federal prisons, military dining facilities, and federal hospitals. The food safety guidelines in the document apply to venues where food is available for purchase and where food is served. The other guidelines were created for venues where food is sold although they could be adapted for venues where food is served.<\/p>\n

The guidelines for food service\u00a0 are classified as either standard (what is expected) or innovative (food services are encouraged to do these). All guidelines are considered to be voluntary.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the guidelines that are most relevant to vegans:<\/p>\n