Appeals court upholds acquittal in vegan hospital meals case

Denmark’s Eastern High Court has upheld the acquittal of the Capital Region in a case over vegan meals at Hvidovre Hospital, DR reports.

The case was brought by the Danish Vegetarian Association on behalf of a woman who was admitted to the hospital twice in 2020 in connection with her pregnancy and childbirth. She is vegan and eats only plant-based food.

The association argued that the hospital discriminated against the woman and violated her human rights by failing to provide a nutritious vegan meal. During her stays, she was offered food including rice, root vegetables and crispbread, which she said was not sufficiently nourishing.

The association cited articles 9 and 14 of the European Convention on Human Rights, concerning freedom of belief and the prohibition of discrimination. The Capital Region runs Hvidovre Hospital.

In 2024, the District Court in Hillerød acquitted the region. The association appealed, but the Eastern High Court has now upheld that decision.

Before the appeal hearing, association secretary-general Rune-Christoffer Dragsdahl said the case sought a principle-based ruling on whether public institutions must provide proper vegan meals. He said food choices at hospitals had generally improved since 2020, but varied between hospitals. He had said the association would appeal to the Supreme Court if the acquittal was upheld.