The decision of the mayor EELV of Lyon, Grégory Doucet, to serve from Monday only a single menu without meat in the canteens has ignited the powders.

A controversy that has been traced to the government, where the Minister of Agriculture Julien Denormandie announced to seize the prefect on the issue.

Europe 1 traces the route of this controversy. 

DECRYPTION

A unique meatless menu for the canteen to streamline service in Lyon schools in the face of Covid-19.

The measure advocated by the mayor EELV of Lyon Grégory Doucet and which is to come into force on Monday has ignited the powder.

A debate which swells to the point of involving the Minister of Agriculture, Julien Denormandie, who announced on Sunday that he was seizing the prefect of the Rhône on the issue.

Europe 1 traces the route of this controversy around a unique menu without meat, but with eggs and fish.

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Coronavirus: follow the evolution of the situation Sunday February 21

Who initiated the controversy? 

If this choice had already been put in place at the end of the first confinement without causing a stir by the former mayor, its second application on the other hand provokes an outcry.

Starting with the local opposition, which fired red balls on the measure.

"This way of making a choice, without any possible alternative, is absolutely inadmissible", indignant its leader Étienne Blanc on Thursday, unsuccessful candidate for mayor last year.

"In the city of gastronomy, the ecological majority is taking advantage of the health crisis to pass ideological measures without any consultation", abounded Béatrice de Montille, elected LR in the 3rd arrondissement.

A pass of arms that reached the ears of the government this weekend, starting with the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin.

"In addition to the unacceptable insult to French farmers and butchers, it is clear that the moralist and elitist policy of the Greens excludes the working classes. Many children often only have the canteen to eat meat", a- he tweeted Saturday night denouncing a "scandalous ideology".

In addition to the unacceptable insult to French farmers and butchers, it is clear that the moralist and elitist policy of the "Greens" excludes the popular classes.

Many children often only have the canteen to eat meat ... Scandalous ideology.

https://t.co/gFGf0JWZKn

- Gérald DARMANIN (@GDarmanin) February 20, 2021

A spike that has not gone unanswered, since Grégory Doucet has added on the same social network.

"We did not hear you say these words to Gérard Collomb, a member of your political family who had taken exactly the same measure during the first wave" of Covid-19.

Continue to be in the posture, you are only masking your lack of substance. "And to add during an interview with franceinfo

: "That the right, which allied itself with my predecessor (Gérard Collomb, NDLR) at the time of the municipal elections, shouts at ideology today makes me smile."

This one-time menu measure is taken for health reasons.



We did not hear you make these comments to Gérard Collomb, a member of your political family and who had taken exactly the same measure during the first wave.



1/4 https://t.co/QLgiuSE7jL

- Grégory Doucet (@Gregorydoucet) February 21, 2021

How is the Lyon town hall defending itself? 

For the town hall, this choice of the single menu without meat is necessary in view of the health measures dictated by the government in schools, in particular the fact of having to respect a distance of two meters for the students in the canteen, mechanically lowering the number. of people who can eat at the same time.

The temporary use of the single menu therefore aims to streamline the service so that all meals - 29,000 per day - can be served during lunch time, spread from 11:30 am to 1:45 pm.

Without meat but with eggs and fish, this menu "remains balanced" and allows "to exclude no child," says Education Assistant Stéphanie Léger, who is not included in any party.

"It is simply good practical sense", justifies the mayor EELV, Grégory Doucet.

But it is clear that not everyone shares this analysis.

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What are the arguments of the detractors of this measure? 

By announcing on Twitter seizing the prefect of the Rhône, the Minister of Agriculture Julien Denormandie highlighted the ideological aspect of the measure, but also its health consequences.

"Let's stop putting ideology on our children's plates! Let's just give them what they need to grow well. Meat is one of them. I grabbed the prefect of the Rhône."

Let's stop putting ideology on our children's plates!



Let's just give them what they need to grow well.

Meat is one of them.



I seized the Prefect of the Rhône.

https://t.co/Kiw0v5ZaNC

- Julien Denormandie (@J_Denormandie) February 21, 2021

This referral is based on a decree of 2011 setting the nutritional rules in school catering, according to which "at least four meals", out of twenty consecutive, must be served "with, as a protein dish, unminced meat of beef, veal, lamb or butcher's offal ".

Asked about the lack of reaction last year, the minister's office spoke of "a real difference in the situation between May and now": "We are no longer in an emergency situation, facing an exceptional situation."

Thursday, in an interview with AFP, Julien Denormandie had called on local elected officials to "bet" on young bovine meat in school menus, in order to support breeders.

His colleague from the Public Accounts, Olivier Dussopt, castigated him "an anti-social and doctrinaire choice".

"I am always in favor of leaving the choice to the students. It should not be an ideological decision", declared for his part the spokesperson for the government, Gabriel Attal, interviewed during the program

Le Grand Jury RTL -Le Figaro-LCI

.

But politicians are not the only ones to oppose this measure, and farmers must demonstrate Monday in front of Lyon City Hall at the call of certain unions.