Access to vegan meals in hospitals is a major issue for the vegan community to which I belong. I therefore welcomed with interest the July 20, 2026, ruling of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), G.K. et A.S. c. Suisse. First, it should be noted that the events in question date back to 2018, 2019, and 2021.

In this case, two Swiss citizens who are vegans—one incarcerated and the other hospitalized in a psychiatric facility—complained that they did not have access to a vegan diet that was nutritionally balanced. Their requests had been handled informally. Regarding the first petitioner, the prison administration stated that several measures had been taken to provide him with a diet that was as consistent as possible with his beliefs. As for the second petitioner, the head of the psychiatric department had simply indicated that his complaint had been forwarded to the head of the care unit, who was to contact him to find a solution. Both petitioners had attempted to challenge these responses before the national courts, but the letters sent to them were not considered “decisions” subject to appeal.

It was precisely this point that was challenged before the ECHR.

A request based on vegan beliefs must be examined

In the Court’s view, a request for a vegan diet falls within the scope of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion, as protected by Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights.

"Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief, in worship, teaching, practice and observance."

This does not mean that the government must systematically provide a vegan meal to every person in custody or involuntarily hospitalized who requests one; practices vary from country to country on this point. The judges emphasized, however, that it is standard practice to conduct a thorough review of the request in order to balance the individual’s beliefs against the constraints faced by the institution, whether organizational or financial. Furthermore, the Court noted that the applicants’ requests were based on sincere and consistent vegan beliefs.

La solution est donc importante, mais il faut bien en mesurer la portée : The ruling is therefore significant, but its scope must be carefully assessed: the Convention does not establish an absolute right to vegan meals in prison or in a hospital. It does, however, require the authorities to take such a request seriously and to make a decision that is subject to challenge.