Dear John,

We have another exciting win to add to the books!

In partnership with Mercy For Animals, this past February Los Angeles County passed a first-of-its-kind policy to promote and increase procurement of plant-based foods.

The new policy tasks the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health with updating its Nutrition Standards for Prepared Foods, Snacks, and Beverages to incorporate more plant-based foods in cafeterias across county institutions.

Over the past several months, the department sought recommendations from Mercy For Animals, Greener by Default, and Balanced on promoting and prioritizing plant-based food purchasing. The department accepted all of our suggestions, including these notables:

• Requirement to serve at least one plant-based entree
• Recommendation to provide two plant-based entrees for every non-plant-based entree
• Requirement to offer plant-based alternatives to dairy products
• Recommendation that plant-based entrees, side items, snacks/desserts, and beverages be priced competitively with comparable options

Several county departments, including the Department of Parks and Recreation, Department of Children and Family Services, and Chief Executive Office, adhere to the nutrition standards, which means that this new policy will significantly impact animals, people's health, and the planet.

We couldn't do this work without your support. Thank you for making a difference for animals and helping create a kinder food system.