The McCartney’s signed a letter to the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, to urge that they revise the current guidelines and incorporate more vegan friendly meals and make meat and dairy more of a choice based on school caterer’s preference. This movement aims to improve the impact of climate change by cutting down on meat consumption and is spearheaded by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA).

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“No one needs to eat meat, so it shouldn’t be mandatory to serve it in schools. It’s time to revise the school food standards to help the planet, spare the animals and promote healthy eating.” – @paulmccartney, @marymccartney and @stellamccartney. • Find out more at the link in our bio.

A post shared by Meat Free Monday (@meatfreemonday) on Jun 22, 2020 at 5:43am PDT

In the statement, the McCartney trio have said; “No one needs to eat meat, so it shouldn’t be mandatory to serve it in schools. It’s time to revise the school food standards to help the planet, spare animals and promote healthy eating.”

This letter which is backed by various organisations and MPs, states that; “So long as nutritional needs are met, individual school caterers should have the freedom to decide whether they wish to include meat and dairy in their menus.” It also highlights that a fifth of children become obese by the time they leave primary school, they believe this will help.

The current rules ensure that children must be served a portion of meat or poultry three times a week, oily fish at least once every three weeks and dairy every day. However, a poll conducted by PETA in 2019 showed that 70% of British children want more vegan meals on menus, so this letter does have grounds to be considered.

Public sector caterers in the UK have previously pledged to cut down on meat from their menus by 20% throughout hospitals, care homes, schools and university. This is a part of an initiative called #20percentlessmeat.

Spokesperson from the British Nutrition Foundation released a statement saying; “It’s possible, although challenging, to put together menus for children without animal products that provide all the essential nutrients they need to grow to be healthy, and there are many positive aspects of having a more plant-based diet. However, it is important to consider that dairy, meat and fish are bioavailable sources of some key vitamins and minerals, including vitamin B12, calcium, iron and zinc and so guidance would be needed on suitable plant-based alternatives that could provide these in adequate amounts.”

The rock legend, Sir Paul McCartney has been a vegetarian himself since 1975. Meat Free Monday was set up by Paul, Mary and Stella McCartney in 2009. It is a non-profit set up to highlight the impact animal agriculture and industrial fishing has on the environment. It encourages taking meat out of your meal at least once a week to help slow climate change and improve health.

The late Linda McCartney was also a vegetarian and set up her own food company, Linda McCartney Food, which makes chilled and frozen vegetarian and vegan meals. The McCartney family still remains involved in the company.

Thom Yorke is marching and dancing with us! Come join us! #ClimateMarch #PeoplesMarch pic.twitter.com/tb2VH9U1Ll

— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) November 29, 2015

RT if you stand with @thomyorke for tough action on climate change at #COP21 (it's fake snow) #ClimateMarch pic.twitter.com/FqcosRUrCe

— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) November 29, 2015

Yorke was amongst numerous other high profile artists to sign an open letter to world leaders asking for, amongst other measures, “an ambitious commitment to climate action, starting now, that will limit future global warming to below 2.0°C (3.6 °F) relative to pre-industrial levels”. Other Musicians to sign the petition include Björk, David Bowie, Courtney Barnett, Damon Albarn, Guy Garvey and David Gilmore among many other musicians, artists and authors.

“We are deeply concerned that our global economic and industrial systems are accelerating rates of extinction, desertification and soil depletion, degrading ecosystems, acidifying and littering our rivers and oceans, and resulting in a relentless rise in greenhouse gas emissions driving irreversible climate change,” the letter states. “The outcomes of COP21 and the political decisions taken over the next months will determine many of the long-term conditions that will affect us today and for many generations to come.”

With the recent Paris Attacks threatening the cancellation of many of the COP21 protest events in Paris, Thom Yorke took to Twitter to confirm he would still be performing at the Pathway to Paris gig on the 4th and 5th of December: “Will be in Paris as planned on 4th & 5th December to put pressure on our glorious leaders at #COP21 -now or never!”