According to Helsinki, no meat is served, disposable cutlery is used at the events
CITY The Helsinki resident has been criticized for his decision to remove meat from his events from January 2022.
In Helsinki on Tuesday stated that the menu for its events will consist of seasonal vegetarian food, responsibly produced local fish and fair trade products from next year. In addition, disposable cutlery is not used and oat milk is provided with coffee instead of cow’s milk.
The decision applies to food and refreshments offered at, among other things, city workshops, seminars, public events and invitations.
“Today’s decision is not a comment on the food service for schools or nursing homes [facilities], ” Johanna af Hällström, Director of the City of Helsinki’s Climate Team, clarified To YLE. “This is one way among many to reduce the climate impact of food and reduce the amount of natural resources the city uses.”
He added that the decision is not directly related to the city’s efforts to halve the consumption of meat and dairy products by 2025.
Juha MarttilaThe chairman of the Federation of Agricultural and Forestry Producers (MTK) said on Tuesday that the decision stinks of green washing in the light of the capital’s energy policy.
“Helsinki, of course, has every right to decide what it wants to serve – that’s not a problem,” he said stated Rural Future. “But this smells like green washing, because the city is a real shame in terms of energy policy.”
Riikka PirkkalainenThe party secretary of the Center considers that the decision is an unfortunate and missed opportunity if it also applies to domestic meat.
“There is no willingness to brand the cleanest food in the world in the country’s capital. You could also have turned the regulation into an export commodity, “he complained on Twitter.” However, we need to work together and support food producers – food businesses and producers – together. I want to believe we can do better. “
Increasing the amount of vegetables in the diet is a common goal for all, he assured.
Aleksi Teivainen – HT