Etienne Blanc, during the 2020 municipal campaign in Lyon.

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Bony / SIPA

The Lyon administrative court on Friday rejected the requests of parents of students, an agricultural union and right-wing municipal elected officials who challenged the decision of the ecological town hall of Lyon to impose meatless menus in canteens because of the health crisis.

"The only temporary simplification of the composition of meals decided by the city of Lyon [...] does not create a health risk for children which would be likely to exceed the serious risk of contamination which would result from congestion of the dedicated premises, nor the detrimental consequences that the need to close the service or greatly reduce access would have ”, writes the summary judge in his decision.

The emergency appeal to administrative justice was based on a 2011 decree 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, meat not minced beef, veal, lamb or meat offal ”.

"The decision rejects the appeal only on the issue of urgency, considering that the measure will only apply until April 9," said the cabinet Admys, which defends the FDSEA and parents from the nine districts of Lyon.

The right judges the decision contradictory

Served since February 22 and at least until the Easter holidays, the unique menu without meat - but including eggs and fish - has created controversy even within the government.

The town hall of Lyon, headed by the ecologist Grégory Doucet, had explained that at the request of the National Education, it had to respect two meters of distance between the children in the canteen, which amounted to eating fewer students at the same time.

The temporary use of the single meatless menu, presented as “the lowest common denominator” between children's tastes, habits or dietary restrictions, was intended to simplify service.

“Finally, the meatless menu is preferred because it is the one that best respects religious, philosophical and ideological convictions.

It is a violation of the principle of neutrality of the public service and secularism ”, estimates the cabinet Admys.

"We will be very vigilant that this situation does not last beyond April 9" (date of the Easter holidays in the Lyon academy), continues the same source.

"The decision rendered is difficult to understand," said Etienne Blanc, head of the right-wing municipal opposition, and one of the applicants.

"On the one hand, the judge says that there is no urgency in rejecting our summary and on the other, he says that the city of Lyon will have to reassess the situation as soon as possible".

Regarding the request filed by the FDSEA, the administrative court considers that "the measure does not appear likely to create serious consequences for the agricultural livestock sectors".

On February 22, several dozen farmers came in tractors with a few cows to protest near the Town Hall.

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  • Lyon

  • Meat

  • Gregory Doucet

  • Court

  • Fnsea

  • Vegetarianism