French University Cafeteria Doubles Meat-Free Options – Sees 96% Spike In Sales 

Increasing the availability of plant-based meal options in university cafeterias has been shown to lead to a significant spike in sales, according to a new study conducted in France. By doubling the meat-free options in a busy university cafeteria in Dijon, researchers saw a 96 percent increase in the number of people choosing these options. Interestingly, only six percent of students actually noticed the change, indicating that increasing meat-free options can have a positive impact on food choices without students even realizing it.

The study suggests that serving an equal proportion of vegetarian and nonvegetarian meals in university cafeterias could help tackle environmental issues, as animal agriculture is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and other environmental concerns. While the study focused on vegetarian meals, other research has shown that fully plant-based diets are even more beneficial for the planet, resulting in significantly fewer emissions, land use, and water pollution. In response to this evidence, some UK university student unions have already voted for fully plant-based catering, and experts are calling for more universities to make the switch for the sake of the planet.