A Labor backbencher has said a Greens proposal requiring Canberra's schools and hospitals to provide more vegan options "would kill me", during debate in the ACT Legislative Assembly.

Key points: The Greens motion for ACT Government to require plant-based food options has been voted down

The Greens motion for ACT Government to require plant-based food options has been voted down Labor MLA Bec Cody has claimed the motion, as written, would kill her

Labor MLA Bec Cody has claimed the motion, as written, would kill her The Greens have accused Labor of "wilfully misinterpreting" the motion, saying nobody would have been forced to eat vegan meals

Greens MLA Caroline Le Couteur's motion, which called on the Government to support a shift to more plant-based food options, was overwhelmingly voted against in the Assembly on Wednesday afternoon.

But speaking before the vote, Labor MLA Bec Cody claimed the push had dangerous consequences for those like her who were allergic to fruit and vegetables.

"Ms Le Couteur's motion, as written, would kill me," she said.

"I'm sure that's not her intention … but this motion as written would not allow many other people like me with food allergies any options.

"I can't eat vegetables, I can't eat fruit, I can't eat nuts and I can't eat other plant-based food products. They literally will harm me."

Ms Le Couteur's proposal would, among other things, change the default meal in hospitals to be plant-based, unless patients requested a specific meal.

Ms Cody said she carried an EpiPen at all times, and was absent from the Assembly earlier this week after suffering a reaction.

"The Greens got some lovely virtue-signalling yesterday in the media with this motion. Its deadly content isn't virtuous at all," she said.

"I'm not opposing this motion for selfish reasons of wanting to stay alive. I am also opposed to the implications of the motion."

Ms Le Couteur said her proposal had been wilfully misinterpreted by Labor.

"Of course I was not intending to kill [Ms Cody] with this motion," she said.

"There was nothing that I wrote which would suggest that anybody anywhere was going to be forced to eat a plant-based meal or that would be the only alternative available to them.

"My motion is talking about options."

Recent report noted need to reduce meat consumption

The Greens MLA pointed to a recent report by the International Panel on Climate Change which emphasised the importance of shifting towards plant-based diets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

The motion called on the ACT Education Directorate to require "all school canteens to provide plant-based food options for students", and update health promotion programs to better support plant-based foods.

All events catered by the ACT Government would be required to "include plant-based food options in sufficient quantity to adequately cater for vegetarians and vegans".

Ms Cody noted the need to respect all views in a diverse and tolerant community.

"[Greens Leader Shane Rattenbury] had some interesting comments on Ms Le Couteur's motion, and I do respect that Ms Le Couteur's comments today were very different to how the motion is read and written," she said.

"Our Canberra community that we all love, support, and work to make a better place should have all the choices that they believe possible — vegetarian, vegans, or in my case, carnivore options.

"By limiting our choices, it does not make us a stronger community, it makes us a weaker community."