Baltimore City Schools Wins peta2's 'Most Vegetarian-Friendly Cafeteria' Award

District's Offering of Meatless Monday Program Gives It the Edge to Knock Off Stiff Competition From Across the Country

For Immediate Release:
May 3, 2010

Contact:
Marta Holmberg 757-622-7382

Baltimore -- Votes have been tallied, the judges have mulled it over, and Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPS) has been declared the winner of the Most Vegetarian-Friendly Cafeteria contest sponsored by peta2, the world's largest youth animal rights organization. BCPS beat out four other school districts to take the award in the category of U.S. Public Schools. The district will receive a framed certificate and a thank-you card signed by peta2 staffers.

Of the five nominees, BCPS is the only district that takes part in Meatless Mondays, an animal- and Earth-friendly program that offers students a vast array of healthy and delicious vegan and vegetarian foods. Some popular dishes that are available in BCPS cafeterias include spicy vegetarian chili, meatless lasagne, and Tex-Mex style black-bean nachos. In another innovative program, which was initiated by BCPS, local farmers and food distributors partner with the district to provide fresh, locally raised fruits and vegetables to students.

"Baltimore City Public Schools stands as a role model for school districts across the country when it comes to educating students about how their food choices affect not only their own health but also the world around them," says peta2 director Dan Shannon. "More and more young people are learning that the best thing that they can do for animals, the planet, and themselves is to go vegan."

BCPS beat out Georgia's Gwinnett County Public Schools, Virginia's Prince William County Schools, the Los Angeles Unified School District, and the Berkeley Unified School District. Awards were also given in the categories of U.S. Private Schools and Canadian Schools.

The consumption of meat, eggs, and dairy products has been linked to obesity, heart disease, and other health problems. Raising animals for food is a leading cause of water pollution and land degradation and the single leading cause of greenhouse-gas emissions. And, of course, the meat industry causes animal suffering on a massive scale.

For more information, please visit peta2.com.