Bill > S09645

This bill requires all public schools in New York to offer plant-based food options as an alternative to every meal or snack served in their food service, upon request from a student or their parent or guardian. A "plant-based food option" is defined as food or beverages free of animal products, which include meat, poultry, seafood, dairy, eggs, and honey, and for the protein component of a meal, it must be recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a meat alternate for the national school lunch program. These plant-based options must be offered at no extra cost compared to non-plant-based alternatives, and schools must include information about their availability in all written materials describing food offerings. Schools are expected to respond to requests in a reasonable and timely manner, and this provision does not prevent schools from offering plant-based options to all students or prevent students who requested a plant-based option from choosing a non-plant-based one. The bill also mandates that schools consult with their school district nutrition advisory committee, where applicable, when implementing these changes, and it will take effect immediately, applying to food service beginning with the school year that starts one year after the law is enacted.