TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Ministry of Education
officials said that elementary and junior high schools should
provide one vegetarian lunch per week to students to promote
healthy lifestyles and help reduce global warming.
Deputy Minister of Education Lin Tsong-ming
said the ministry has issued notice to schools on the proposed
weekly vegetarian meals, but added that the ministry will not force
every school to follow the recommendation.
One person following a vegetarian diet per day can reduce carbon
emissions by 7 kg, said Lin, citing research results.
If every person in the country adopted the habit of having a
meat-free day, emissions could be reduced by 161,000,000 kg, he
added. However, students will still be allowed to bring their own
food to school if they do not want to eat vegetarian meals,
ministry officials said.
Some primary and secondary schools, mostly in southern Taiwan,
have already started their own practice of offering a vegetarian
menu.