If passed, a groundbreaking new bill would require that all New York hospitals provide patients with at least one plant-based option at every meal. The bill– Bill S1471– was recently introduced by New York Senator Brad Hoylman and Assembly Member Richard Gottfried. The bill demands that hospitals not only provide plant-based meal and snack options, but specifically list out all vegan options on menus and written materials.
On the matter, Susan Levin, MS, RD, Director of Nutrition Education for the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, said, “The New York Senate’s passage of S1471 is an important step that could soon help hospital patients across the state understand the power of a plant-based diet to fight obesity, diabetes, and heart disease”.
The bill follows suit of a recently passed bill in California, which requires for all hospitals, prisons, nursing homes, and other government facilities to offer at least one vegan meal option on their menus. We’ll continue to provide you with more updates on whether or not this bill passes. If passed into legislation, Bill S1471 would be a historical step in the right direction for New York.
