BBC Staff Really Don’t Want Meat-Free Mondays in Their Canteen

We all know that excessive meat consumption is bad for the environment and our health—not to mention those poor wittle baby piglets. So, taking one day off a week from putting bits of animal carcass in your mouth doesn't seem like the most unreasonable idea in the world.

Try telling that to some of the BBC's staff members. The national broadcaster has come under fire from its own employees for attempting to introduce a weekly vegetarian day in one of its canteens.

The BBC's MediaCity studios in Salford, near Manchester announced in an internal memo that as of this week, the Quay House staff restaurant would serve only vegetarian and vegan food on Mondays. Inspired by the Meat Free Monday campaign launched by Paul McCartney in 2009, the intranet message noted that "skipping meat on the menu just for one day a week can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions" and a "plant-based diet often reduces the intake of saturated fat, animal hormones, and cholesterol." It added that the canteen chefs would be "whipping up some delicious meat-free alternatives."

Despite these allowances, and the fact that any employees unable to function without their daily ham sandwich can still bring in non-veggie lunches on Mondays, the meat-free proposals haven't gone down well with some BBC staff members. According to the Manchester Evening News, a petition against the plans—believed to have been signed by 200 employees—has been handed to BBC bosses. One anonymous staff member told the newspaper that there was "collective outrage from staff here," adding: "Where's our choice? For a canteen that boasts about variety and options for all, this completely undermines that. Not happy at all. Was anyone consulted on this idea?"

Other BBC employees have been even more vocal in their complaints. Last week sports presenter Will Perry tweeted: "Any burger companies want to set up outside Media City for Meat Free Mondays which are being forced upon us next week? [sic]" When other Twitter users criticised Perry for being able to go "even one day without meat," he wrote: "This is not about meat or vegetables, it's about choice."

The BBC isn't the first organisation to take the flack for limiting meat offerings. In February, German Environment Minister Barbara Hendricks was accused of "nanny-statism" when she announced a ban on serving fish and meat at official government functions.

Come on guys, Linda McCartney sausages aren't that bad.