Therese's son is denied vegan food at preschool: "Very backward-looking"

Therése Jangegård has been vegan for ten years.

When her son was born, it was a matter of course that he too would eat a vegan diet.

But when he was about to start preschool, the family was met by the message that it is not possible to get to preschool.

- I was very surprised and upset, it was not something I expected.

It is a very backward-looking decision, says Therése.

Guidelines from industry organizations

It was at the end of last year that Lund municipality decided not to serve vegan food to children under three years.

The decision was based on the industry organization Diet & Nutrition's national guidelines.

The organization has, among others, Kronfågel, Scan and Skånemejerier as partners.

- I think it is a strange decision to make because they are not based on the National Food Administration's recommendations but a brochure that an industry association has created, that is, there are actors behind this brochure who want to get theirs, says Therése Jangegård.

But according to Jessica Berggren, deputy head of education at Lund municipality, the organization's partners have not had any influence over the decision.

- We looked at how they had worked out the guidelines and then there was a fairly broad competence in the form of reference groups and consultation bodies, where the National Food Administration was one of them, says Jessica Berggren.

"The competence does not exist"

The National Food Administration does not advise children under the age of three on a vegan diet, provided that the preschool has the skills and resources to serve a well-planned vegan menu.

It had therefore apparently not mattered what basis the municipality used.

- We have made the assessment that that competence and resources are not available in all our units, it is part of the decision we made, says Jessica Berggren.

But after several reactions from guardians, the municipality now wants to have a meeting to hear their views and try to find a solution.

In the clip above, Therése Jangegård and Jessica Berggren tell more about the decision not to serve vegan food to children under the age of three at Lund's preschools.