A US Senator has sponsored the plant-powered school meals pilot act
U.S. Senator Adam Schiff supports the act proposing plant-based food options for schools.
Photo: VegKit
U.S. Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has introduced the Plant-Powered School Meals Pilot Act, which would provide 100% animal-free meal and milk options in participating schools across the United States.
The federally funded program proposed under S. 3669, the Senate version of the bill, defines plant-based food options as meals that exclude all animal-based products such as meat, fish, dairy, poultry, eggs, and honey.
“Providing additional resources to school districts so that they can provide more plant-based food options brings us a step closer to ensuring that all students can have access to healthy, sustainable meals,” said Senator Schiff. “As a member of the Senate Agriculture Committee, I’m proud to introduce this legislation.”
The bill was first reintroduced in late 2025 by representatives Alma Adams (D-NC) and Nydia M. Velásquez (D-NY). Alongside Schiff, the act is co-sponsored by Angela Alsobrooks, junior senator for Maryland; Alex Padilla, senior senator for California; and Cory Booker, senior senator for New Jersey who is vegan and known for his support of animal rights issues.
Seeking to support children who are eligible for free or discounted meals, the program will aim to collaborate with NGOs and community partners as well as local agricultural contributors. The goal is for the meals to be nutritious and culturally appropriate, and to incorporate organic foods where possible.
There will also be a focus on agricultural education relating to plant-based ingredients. Culinary training would also be provided, alongside taste tests and other forms of student engagement. Furthermore, the funding would assist with the additional labor costs connected to preparing plant-based options.
Late last year, the U.S. Senate passed a bill granting school children access to plant-based milks in public school lunches. Current federal law only guarantees an alternative to cow's milk if a parent provides a doctor's note confirming a medical need.
Schools aren't allowed to proactively offer plant-based milks, which places a disproportionate burden on families of color, who have a higher rate of lactose intolerance.
A 2025 study by Morning Consult and Physicians' Committee for Responsible Medicine found that nearly 70 percent of U.S. adults believe that plant-based foods and dairy-free milk alternatives should be available in schools.
“We need to raise awareness that most Americans think that school lunch lines should include healthier options including plant-based meals and nondairy milk alternatives that can help keep students healthy,” says Stephanie McBurnett, RDN, parent and nutrition educator for PCRM. “Serving plant-based meals, which are higher in fiber and lower in fat than typical school lunches, can help students fight obesity, type 2 diabetes, and even early signs of heart disease and set them up for a lifetime of good health. It also introduces children to healthier meals that they might not be seeing at home.”
A case study conducted by the Physicians Committee at a K-8 school in Washington, D.C. found that plant-based meals contained triple the amount of fiber found in standard school lunch entrees.
The vegan entrees also had less fat (including saturated fat), no cholesterol at all (compared with an average of 54 milligrams in the standard entrees), and superior volumes of iron and calcium, as well as vitamins A and C.
Choosing a plant-based lifestyle is one of the most impactful choices you can make for animals, the environment, and your own well-being. Take Species Unite’s 30-Day Plant-Powered Challenge and become part of a movement that's changing the world for the better.
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