Justice: Prisoners not guaranteed right to vegan menus

A higher regional court in Munich has ruled that prisons in Germany are not legally obliged to provide prisoners with vegan menus, rejecting a prisoner's claim that his fundamental rights had been violated, DPA reports. The case was brought by a prisoner who claimed that his human rights had been violated after the prison administration only offered him vegetarian and lactose-free meals, with the option of purchasing vegan products for a fee. The plaintiff argued that the vegan option should be provided free of charge, as his food choice is based on ethical reasons, such as animal protection and sustainability. In its reasoning for the decision, the court stressed that prisons cannot guarantee that all dietary preferences of prisoners are met, given the ideological, cultural and religious diversity among prisoners. "The wishes of each prisoner cannot always be fulfilled,” the judges argued, stressing that institutions must nevertheless offer a reasonable range of food options, allowing each person to eat according to their own principles. In the case under review, the court found that there were no medical or religious reasons justifying the rejection of the vegetarian and lactose-free menu made available by the prison. The court confirmed that the food option provided by the prison administration complied with the legal framework and standards imposed in the German prison system. A spokeswoman for the institution stated that the food offer - a lactose-free vegetarian menu, plus the possibility of purchasing vegan products separately - did not violate either fundamental rights or the legislation on the treatment of prisoners. The applicant invoked a violation of fundamental rights, claiming that his ethical principles relating to animal rights and environmental protection should be fully respected by the prison administration. The court, however, found that his rights had not been violated, as he had been offered a food alternative compatible with his stated needs and no form of discrimination had been demonstrated.