Mayor Grégory Doucet of Lyon, a member of the Green Party, has come under fire from government officials for his decision to offer only meat-free lunches as services are scaled back due to the pandemic.
Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin called it an “unacceptable insult” for French farmers and butchers, adding that it was a “moralising and elitist policy” from the Green mayor.
“Let’s stop putting ideology on our children’s plates,” Agriculture Minister Julien Denormandie wrote on Twitter.
But Doucet defended his decision, saying having a single menu without meat that everyone can eat was only intended to ensure smooth service at mealtimes given the limits and social distancing enforced by the Covid-19 crisis.
Proteins like fish and eggs are included on the menu, he noted.
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