Eat Central, one of the main dining areas on the University of Sussex campus
The University of Sussex has been named one of the most vegan-friendly universities in the country by a leading animal rights' charity.
PETA has named Sussex among the top 20 vegan universities in the UK alongside our city neighbours, the University of Brighton.
The charity praised the plant-based offering from the vegan food bar, On the Pulse, which is available from Eat Central, the Attenborough Centre for the Creative Arts, Jubilee café and Doctor's Orders.
On The Pulse has been operating for more than three years and aims to offer at least one vegan option every day for staff and students and for the majority of days. The offer is also gluten free.
It allows student to build their own meal deals and choose from premium salad options, including chargrilled cauliflower, Mediterranean quinoa, and pomegranate seeds.
PETA also highlighted the vegan options of rice or buckwheat noodles with veg and tofu.
Mark Lawrence of Sussex Food, said: "Every day, half of the food that we put out will be vegetarian or vegan and we will always put on a vegan or vegetarian option to any meat choice on the menu.
"There is a growing demand for vegan food on campus and I am a great believer in giving people what they want."
PETA Director Elisa Allen said: "Students in the UK are going vegan in huge numbers, and it's great to see universities joining the revolution.
"PETA commends the Universities of Brighton and Sussex for offering healthy and delicious vegan food options that everyone can enjoy."
Sussex Food has also been recognised for the sustainability of its food having won three stars from the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) – the highest level of the award at the university's first time of applying.
The stringent system challenges each applicant to meet high sustainability standards in 12 categories including efforts to reduce, reuse and recycle waste; source fish responsibly; waste no food and celebrate local produce.
Sussex Food has also put the university on the sustainable food map alongside some of Brighton and Hove's top restaurants including The Salt Room and Purezza as part of the One Planet Plate initiative, which is also run by the SRA.
The recipe for a On The Pulse favourite, Roasted Chickpea Chana Masala with Cumin Spiced Sweet Potato, Roasted Peppers with Brown Rice, is currently available on the One Planet Plate website celebrating menu options that feature more vegetables, reduce food waste, has a low carbon footprint, celebrates local produce, sources fish sustainably and includes better meat.
Alison O'Gorman, deputy general manager at Sussex Food, said: "The SRA is a very rigorous process which requires every claim to be substantiated and evidenced, so we're delighted to have achieved the top-level award at the first time of applying.
"All the of meat served on campus is sourced from Brighton suppliers and all the fruit and vegetables comes from a supplier within Sussex so we will always aim to be local and sustainable. Most of the pastry products are produced in our kitchens in Bramber House as well as the cakes and sweet treats found in the campus cafes.
"The SRA process has given us a lot of feedback and ideas about where we can improve, so we will be looking at all areas of our sustainability."
