Danish High Court rules hospitals must provide vegan meals

The High Court of Eastern Denmark (Østre Landsret) has issued a ruling regarding the provision of vegan meals in public institutions. The case involved Mette Rasmussen, who reported that during two hospitalizations at Hvidovre Hospital in 2020, she was not provided with adequate vegan meals, receiving only items such as rice, potatoes, and crispbread, or in some instances, no meals at all.

While the court acquitted Region Hovedstaden, the ruling established that hospitals have a positive obligation to provide vegan food based on Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights. The court noted that the region failed to demonstrate specific limitations that would have made providing vegan meals impossible during the patient's stay.

The Danish Vegetarian Association (Dansk Vegetarisk Forening) welcomed the decision, stating it ensures that individuals living a vegan lifestyle are better positioned to receive appropriate food in Danish hospitals. However, the association expressed disappointment that the court did not rule on the nutritional quality of the food provided, only that vegan ingredients were available to some extent.