We urge Darden to adopt greener menus that support the well-being of its customers, its workers, farmers, animals and our environment. Specifically, we urge Darden to ensure at least 20% of its food purchases adhere to the Good Food Purchasing Principles by 2020*.
These include supporting:
1. Local Economies: by purchasing food at fair prices from local and regional small and medium-sized food producers;
2. Environmental Sustainability: by reducing meat and dairy purchases by 20 percent, including serving smaller portion sizes and adding meat/dairy-free entree options; sourcing from organically certified food producers (including, no factory farms/CAFOs) and purchasing 100 percent of meat raised without the routine use of antibiotics;
3. Animal Welfare: by sourcing meat from producers that adhere to verifiable high-welfare standards: Animal Welfare Approved, Global Animal Partnership (at least step 2) and/or Certified Humane Raised and Handled;
4. Good Nutrition: by including generous portions of fruits and vegetables, legumes, whole grains; and by reducing salt, added sugar, fat, and red and processed meat; and
5. A Valued Workforce: by ensuring fair compensation and sustainable working conditions, both in your supply chain and for all the employees in your restaurants.
*These principles, which were approved by the LA Food Policy Council in and LA Unified School District in 2012 govern those entities purchasing (including 127 million meals at LAUSD).
