Los Angeles Meatless Mondays Resolution Passes

For immediate release: November 9, 2012
Contact: media@cok.net

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Today, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously passed a “Meatless Monday” resolution “in support of comprehensive sustainability efforts as well as to further encourage residents to eat a more varied plant-based diet to protect their health and protect animals.” Compassion Over Killing, a national nonprofit organization with an office in Los Angeles, worked with council members on this initiative and applauds the city for encouraging residents to choose meat-free foods at least once a week.

“When dealing with issues as big as global warming, or even as personal as battling diabetes or obesity, it’s easy to feel helpless, like there’s little we can do to make a difference,” said Los Angeles Councilmember Ed P. Reyes, who co-authored the Meatless Monday resolution. “But the small changes we make every day can have a tremendous impact. That’s why this Meatless Monday resolution is important. Together we can better our health, the animals and the environment, one plate at a time.”

Co-author Councilmember Jan Perry continued that “Meatless Monday is about raising awareness. It is not a requirement, but rather a call for all of us to think about our environment, the food we eat, and how we can be a part of making ourselves healthier.”

Los Angeles is now the third city in the United States to adopt a Meatless Monday resolution, following Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, Calif. Similar initiatives promoting healthier and more sustainable food choices have been adopted in other jurisdictions, including Durham, N.C., Aspen, Colo., Kovington, Ky., Takoma Park, Md., and Santa Cruz County, Calif.

School districts and hospitals across the country are also joining the Meatless Monday movement, a campaign launched by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to empower individuals to start their week with healthier food choices. An American Meat Institute study found that 18 percent of Americans are already participating, and the campaign’s supporters include notable names such as Oprah Winfrey, Emily Deschanel, and even Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

“Every time we choose vegetarian foods, we’re helping build a kinder, cleaner, and healthier world,” offered Compassion Over Killing Campaigns Director Jaya Bhumitra. “Los Angeles is a national leader in sustainable food policy and environmental stewardship, and we commend the City Council for reaffirming their commitment to these values with this resolution.”

By going meatless on Mondays you can…

• Do more for the planet than by switching to a totally local diet
• Reduce your carbon footprint by over 8 lbs per day, as much as not driving for two days
• Save 1/2 a gallon of gasoline per day
• Reduce your saturated fat intake by 15% (per meatless meal)
• Reduce your risk of breast, colon, prostate, kidney, and pancreatic cancer
• Decrease your risk of heart disease by up to 19% (per meatless meal)
• Save 28 land animals and 175 aquatic animals per year

Photos: Local residents ask for Meatless Mondays

Video: View a video of Emily Deschanel speaking in support of LA’s Meatless Monday Resolution

Compassion Over Killing (COK) is a nonprofit animal advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC with a second office in Los Angeles. Since 1995, COK has worked to end the abuse of animals in agriculture and promote vegetarian eating through public education, restaurant outreach, corporate campaigns, undercover investigations and litigation. On the web at COK.net.

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