California Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law mandating all healthcare facilities and prisons statewide make plant-based meal options available to patients at every meal.
Senate Bill 1138 will require licensed California health facilities and state prisons to provide patients and inmates with meal options containing no animal products or by-products, including meat, poultry, fish, dairy or eggs.
The bill was authored by state Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, and co-sponsored by the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and Social Compassion in Legislation.
A similar effort was passed by the American Medical Association in June 2017. The Healthy Food Options in Hospitals resolution calls on U.S. hospitals to improve the health of patients, staff and visitors by providing plant-based meals.
"Whether to protect animals, our climate or our health, those of us who choose to eat a vegan diet can celebrate today with Gov. Brown's signing of SB 1138," Ms. Skinner said. "SB 1138 ensures that people in hospitals, healthcare facilities or prison have access to plant-based meals."