CHILDREN are missing out on school meals and hospital patients are “not eating for days” because of a lack of vegan options, a charity has claimed.

The Scottish Government is being urged to bring in a new law that would require all public bodies to serve up meat-free options in their canteens.

The Vegan Society and Go Vegan Scotland want ministers to introduce legislation to “guarantee plant-based options on every public sector menu every day”.

Their petition adds that as well as protecting the rights of vegans, it would also benefit public health, the environment and animals.

A survey suggests that up to 350,000 Scots could now be eating plant-based diets while shunning meat, dairy and egg products.

Barbara Bolton of Go Vegan Scotland said: “The Scottish Government has recognised that veganism is a protected moral conviction under European and international law, but has not taken any steps to ensure that vegans are provided for in our state institutions.

“The result is that many people, including children, are missing out on free meals and are being denied access to suitable food when they’re dependent on the state to provide for them.”