Woke Cambridge university students vote to introduce vegan-only menu

Cambridge University students have voted to push for a completely vegan menu across its catering services – after lobbying from a group supported by Animal Rebellion.

The Cambridge Student Union voted on Monday to “initiate talks” with catering services about removing all animal products from its cafes and canteens, creating a “sustainable and 100 per cent plant-based” menu.

Animal Rebellion have repeatedly called for more investment in plant-based food, with protesters on Tuesday blocking a major bridge in London whilst dressed as Rishi Sunak having a Valentine’s Day meal with people representing the animal-farming and fishing industries.

One of the protesters said: “Rishi Sunak could lead the way towards a world where humans and non-humans alike are free from the worst impacts of climate breakdown – in a nation of animal lovers it’s the only sensible choice.”

A number of individuals blocked the road on Westminster Bridge, London, with a theatrical dinner scene, to highlight their plea for the Government to sever ties with animal farming and invest in a plant-based future.
Animal Rebellion

The Metropolitan Police said five protesters were arrested for obstruction of the highway while a sixth person was arrested for allegedly assaulting a protester.

The Cambridge’s Plant Based Universities campaign, supported by the offshoot of activist group Extinction Rebellion, calls for the change in response to “climate and biodiversity crises”, was backed by 72 per cent of non-abstaining student representatives who voted.

However, the student union’s decision does not guarantee that Cambridge’s catering services will go fully vegan, because the power to change food policies lies with the university.

The vote also only applies to the university, and not it’s 31 colleges, although the campaign said that it provided “an extremely strong mandate for colleges to begin transitioning to 100 per cent plant-based menus”.

The Plant-Based Universities Campaign is a nationwide initiative of students who are pushing for their universities and student unions to adopt fully plant-based catering, and has offshoots at more than 40 institutions.

William Smith, 24, from the Cambridge branch of the Plant-Based Universities Campaign, said: “It’s great that Cambridge Students’ Union has passed our motion to work with the university to implement a just and sustainable plant-based catering system.

“By removing animal products from its menus, the university could significantly reduce its environmental impact and showcase to the world its commitment to sustainability.

Students from Cambridge University make their way home after celebrating the end of the academic year at a May Ball in Trinity College. Picture date: Tuesday June 21, 2022.
Joe Giddens

“The University Catering Services has already made important strides, for example in 2016 when it removed beef and lamb from all its menus. We look forward to working with them on the next necessary steps.”

Cambridge University is not the first student's union to vote on such measures.

Oxford’s Student Union voted to ban beef and lamb in 2020, but some of the university’s cafes still appear to serve red meat.

Cambridge University has been approached for comment.