Hospital Food Can Help in the Climate Crisis

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine today praised the American Medical Association for adopting a new policy on June 11, 2024, at the Annual Meeting of the AMA House of Delegates that “recognizes that animal-based agriculture is a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions and supports efforts to increase and promote plant-based menu options in hospital food services, for both health and environmental reasons.”

Meat and dairy products not only have harmful effects on health. The destruction of rainforests to produce feed grains for livestock and methane production by ruminants are major drivers of climate change. Plant-based foods help solve these problems, in addition to their many health benefits. In many communities, hospitals are the largest employers and businesses. To the extent they model and promote healthful plant-based menu options for patients, staff, and visitors, they help combat a major environmental threat.  

“Plant-based diets are just what the doctor ordered,” said Neal Barnard, MD, FACC, President of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. “We are grateful to the AMA for taking this important step for the environment.”  

The AMA already supports the availability of plant-based meals in health care facilities for their health benefits. The new policy extends the reasons for plant-based foods to include their environmental benefits.  

The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine’s Healthy Hospital Program offers free resources that support institutions in adopting plant-based options.