Four major Lisbon hospitals will offer more plant-based options under ProVeg Portugal’s Sustainable Meals program
Hospitals in Portugal are to provide more plant-based meals in their cafeterias in a ground-breaking national program that follows in the footsteps of New York.
Four major public hospitals in the country’s capital, Lisbon, are the first to increase their plant-based offerings under an agreement between ProVeg Portugal and leading caterer, ITAU.
The agreement between ProVeg and ITAU will also enable training for catering teams. This will raise awareness among cafeteria managers, doctors and other clinical staff, as well as cafeteria customers, on the environmental and health impacts of food choices and fund the development of tailored recipes by nutrition experts.
The hospitals program is an extension of ProVeg Portugal’s Sustainable Meals program which was implemented in 2022. This year, in just three months, the Sustainable Meals program has served over 58,000 meals in more than 90 schools.
According to ProVeg Portugal, each plant-based meal significantly reduces carbon emissions compared to a meal containing animal protein, showcasing the programme’s critical role in combating climate change.
“By introducing plant-based meals in hospitals and other institutions, we are showing how food and public procurement can be a powerful lever for climate action while promoting healthier lifestyles,” said Joana Oliveira, Country Director of ProVeg Portugal.
New York saved money, UK urged to go the same way
New York has already led the way, having allowed 11 of its public hospitals to offer plant-based meals by default in 2022.
When the hospitals in New York switched to offering plant-based meals as the default option, average savings of 59 cents per plant-based meal were achieved in 2023, with plant-based meals resulting in consistent savings compared to meat dishes.
A policy briefing published in March in the UK and backed by 25 health and sustainability organizations, estimates that shifting UK public hospitals towards plant-based whole foods like vegetables, pulses, and legumes could also save costs.
The policy briefing, called Serving Up, says the country’s National Health Service (NHS) serves approximately 199 million meals per year. Assuming 55% of patients choose a plant-based option, in line with New York’s experience, this would equate to about 119.4 million meals. This would translate into savings of 46p per meal and would result in approximately £54.9 million in potential savings to the NHS per year, the Serving Up report calculates.
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Notes to Editors
For media inquiries, email Peter Rixon at [email protected].
For scientific data about the benefits of plant-based eating, see our Food System Data website.
About ProVeg International
ProVeg International is a food awareness organization with the mission to replace 50% of animal products globally with plant-based and cultivated foods by 2040. Our vision is a world where everyone chooses delicious and healthy food that is good for all humans, animals, and our planet.
