Is The National Trust Going Vegan?

Next time you visit a National Trust cafe for a bite to eat, the menu may look a little different. That’s because the charity is giving its food outlets a vegan overhaul in a bid to support its efforts to reach net zero, following a controversial members’ vote this weekend.

National Trust To Make Half Its Menu Plant-Based

The National Trust – which looks after over 500 protected sites across the country – first announced plans to make half of the food in its cafes vegan earlier this autumn. Its menus are already 40 percent plant-based, but members were invited to vote on whether to increase this figure to 50 percent over the next couple of years. 

In a vote on Saturday 2 November, more than 57,490 trust members voted in favour of the proposal, with 20,111 voting against, meaning the plans will go ahead. While the majority agreed a move towards a more plant-based diet is a crucial step in tackling climate change, others accused the trust’s leadership of an ‘anti-meat agenda’, and argued livestock tenant farmers needed better support.

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The charity’s board of trustees announced a statement saying: ‘We already have numerous plant-based options, and will keep dairy, egg and meat on the menu as well. We’ll continue working closely with livestock farmers and encourage grazing practices that benefit nature and the climate.

‘We know from research we’ve carried out that a range of vegan/vegetarian options is a consideration for families and younger people in particular. Serving a wider range of plant-based options can help us appeal to more potential visitors, which will ultimately generate funds towards looking after the places and collections in our care.’

This isn’t the first time the National Trust has been caught up in a veganism debate. Earlier this year, the charity was forced to respond to claims that its famous scones had been secretly turned vegan. A spokesperson confirmed the scones served in its tearooms have been dairy-free for years, saying: ‘National Trust cafes serve millions of customers a year and we work hard to accommodate dietary needs and allergies. Our scones are made with vegetable-based spread. This means our iconic plain and fruit scones can be enjoyed by those with dairy allergies, and vegans.

‘However, all scones can be enjoyed with butter or cream. Every purchase in our cafes supports the work of the National Trust.’