County moves to prioritize plant‑forward food in contracts to cut greenhouse gases

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday voted unanimously to direct county departments to prioritize plant‑forward foods in procurement, adopt new evaluation criteria for food service solicitations and create public tracking of county food‑related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, who brought the motion with Supervisor Hilda Solis, said the county — one of the region’s largest employers — has a responsibility to reduce the environmental and health harms linked to animal‑based food production. “Plant based foods such as fruits, vegetables, and beans generally use less energy, land, and water, and have lower greenhouse gas intensities compared to animal based foods,” Horvath said during debate.

The motion directs the Department of Public Health (DPH) to amend existing contracts when feasible to align with the department’s recently updated nutrition standards and to require new and renewing contracts to do the same. The chief sustainability office will develop a baseline GHG inventory for county food purchases, set emission‑reduction targets for the next decade, and track progress via an online public portal. Horvath noted the county manages “over 110 food service contracts.”

Public commenters representing environmental and food‑policy groups supported the measure. Mercy For Animals and the Center for Biological Diversity, among others, urged the supervisors to pass the motion and to prioritize plant‑based options in county facilities and contracted services.

The board approved the motion on a 5–0 vote. The motion was moved by Supervisor Horvath and seconded by Supervisor Solis. Supervisors Hilda Solis, Holly Mitchell, Lindsey Horvath, Janice Hahn and Kathryn Barger recorded aye votes.

Supporters said the policy aims to cut the county’s food‑sector contribution to GHGs, improve public health and increase purchasing from local growers and small businesses. Opposition and questions from the public and at least one speaker raised concerns about administrative burden and the complexity of requiring annual detailed purchasing data from all departments and vendors.

The county will report publicly on the new baseline and on progress toward the food‑based emissions targets, and the chief sustainability office will provide quarterly updates to community cluster meetings through 2025, per an amendment recorded on the supplemental agenda.

The board’s action follows a 2024 request to study the county’s food footprint and to identify ways to reduce food‑procurement emissions. The county previously instructed DPH to update nutrition standards; the motion takes the next step of integrating those standards into procurement.

Votes at a glance - Item 3 (expand county action to reduce GHGs through food procurement): Moved by Supervisor Lindsey Horvath; seconded by Supervisor Hilda Solis; outcome: approved, 5–0 (Solis, Mitchell, Horvath, Hahn, Barger — aye).