French mayor receives backlash for taking out all meat options in school meals

The mayor of Lyon, Gregory Doucet, is getting major backlash for what some are saying is a promotion of his political views onto the pupils of the third largest city in France.

Logistics used a way to advance political agenda?

Doucet recently decided to cut out all meat options from cafeterias and push for a more vegetarian-friendly diet as a way to speed up food distribution in light of COVID-19 sanitary protocols. But as a known member of France's Green Party, some are saying his decision to take out meat products from school menus is purely a scheme to try to push his own political beliefs forward.

The Interior Minister, Gerald Darmanin, amongst other french politicians, said the new rules were a disgrace to the country as it was a direct slap to the face to farmers and butchers who work to drive the agricultural economy. Darmanin said:

The moralist and elitist politics of the 'Greens' exclude the working class. Many children often only get to eat meat at the school canteen. Let’s stop putting ideology on our children's plates! Let's just give them what they need to grow well. Meat is part of it.

Measures that have been put into practice before

But the Green party supporter was not one to step down from what he claims are false accusations. On Sunday, Mr. Doucet fired back by saying that his right-wing predecessor had made the same decision during the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

He added that student of Lyon would be receiving balanced diets that will include eggs and fish. The measures are set to only be temporary and should last beyond the Easter holidays.