Global Forum on Food Security and Nutrition (FSN Forum)

Re: 20th anniversary of the Right to Food Guidelines - Call for inputs on the realization of the Human Right to Adequate Food

1.  Experiences & Good Practices

The Vegan Society’s International Rights Network (https://www.vegansociety.com/get-involved/international-rights-network) is the leading authority on veganism & law. Based on our work with lawyers, academics, & our supporting vegans, we know that the dietary needs & rights of vegans are not well understood by businesses, governments & the general public.

As a Registered Charity, The Vegan Society promotes a Catering for Everyone (https://www.vegansociety.com/get-involved/campaigns/catering-everyone) campaign.  In some places, up to one quarter of people avoid certain things taken from animals for medical, health, religious, philosophical or other reasons, including vegans. Therefore, to help States deliver the right to food, we call for good plant-based, vegan-suitable options on every public sector menu.



The Vegan Society has also produced guidelines setting out some relevant legal obligations:

Vegans have a right to food that accords with their beliefs

Veganism is a philosophical belief that falls within the scope of human rights law (see for example W v UK https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng#{%22fulltext%22:[%2218187/91%22],%22itemid%22:[%22001-1503%22]} ), & the right to manifest a belief includes the observance of dietary rules, including avoiding animal-derived products (Jakobski v Poland https://hudoc.echr.coe.int/fre#{%22itemid%22:[%22002-688%22]} ).

In addition to the general right to freedom of belief, it is clear from the wording & spirit of legislation & guidance that the RTF also applies to vegans. For example, General Comment 12 (GC12: https://www.refworld.org/pdfid/4538838c11.pdf) on the RTF states that the core content of the RTF includes the availability of food which is “acceptable within a given culture”. Cultural acceptability, defined in paragraph 9, takes into account “perceived non-nutrient-based values attached to food & food consumption”.

Is the RTF being met in relation to vegans?

The dietary needs of vegans frequently not met. This is particularly concerning in relation to public institutions, and people in vulnerable situations (such as children, older adults, people in prison, in care settings, refugees, and food bank users).

Examples include:

3.  Lessons & recommendations

There are two issues: (i) whether the RTFGs accurately represent the legal protections, & (ii) whether the RTFGs are being followed. We believe the RTFGs need to better reflect the established legal protections for vegans. Individual States should address the widespread non-adherence to the RTF & RTFGs regarding vegans. So, we focus on (i).

General improvements needed are:

  • Advisory language (such as “may”, “are encouraged” & “are reminded”) to be strengthened, e.g. to “must”, where appropriate. E.g. in Guideline 16.5: “States must recognise their legal obligations to ensure that refugees & internally displaced persons have access at all times to adequate food”.
  • We recommend a clearer definition of “adequate food”, including an explicit definition of food that is “acceptable within a given culture”. In accordance with GC12, this includes non-nutrient-based values attached to food.
  • Given the breadth & depth of failings relating to vegans, we would like to see explicit reference to veganism in the RTFGs. Clarify that the RTF is not the right to ‘any’ food, but appropriate food, e.g. without discrimination on the grounds of philosophical or religious belief.

We recommend changes to specific guidelines:

•    Guideline 1.2 provides that States should promote various freedoms to enhance the progressive realisation of the right to adequate food. The freedom of religion & belief, an important freedom in relation to dietary choices, is not referenced.  The freedom of religion & belief as it applies to food acceptable within the culture of that belief, should be explicitly included in this Guideline.

•    Guidelines 2 & 13 consider poverty & vulnerable groups. These should include explicit reference to respect for dietary needs in relation to freedom of belief.

•    Guideline 5 considers public institutions. Clarify that the obligations of public institutions include providing food not only in sufficient quantity, & nutritional value, but also which is suitable for the individual in accordance with their beliefs.

•    Guideline 7 invites States to consider whether to include the RTF in domestic legislation. The UK has failed to do this, & it is also failing to ensure the spirit of the RTF in relation to vegans. We recommend stronger wording than the current “invitation”, for States to enact the RTF in domestic law.

•    Guideline 10 asks States to recognise food as a vital part of an individual’s “culture” & States are encouraged to take into account individuals’ practices, customs & traditions relating to food. We would like to see explicit reference to the observance of philosophical beliefs in this guideline.



With thanks, on behalf of Claire Ogley (Head of Campaigns, Policy & Research at The Vegan Society).