5 things: BYU brings caffeinated soda to campus

Each Friday I compile a list that highlights five things you probably missed in the news that week and why you should care about them.

Here’s your list for the week of Sept. 25:

1. BYU brings caffeinated soda to campus

Students at Brigham Young University (BYU) can now buy caffeinated soda on campus. Two years ago at the FM Live roundtable, director Dean Wright said students had been asking for the products but he was unable to sell them due to restrictions by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Now, it seems the university is listening to the students and brought in the caffeinated soda as “consumer preferences change over time.” BYU Dining has now added Coca-Cola products to its lineup. 

Read more: BYU will now sell caffeinated soda on campus

2. District fires director following theft

The child nutrition director at Danville District 118 schools in Illinois was fired following charges of theft of government property, a Class 1 felony. The director, Gregory Lazell, has also been charged with one count of official misconduct and five counts of intimidation. The district declined to comment to the local newspaper regarding the charges. There have been several legal charges this year among child nutrition directors, including August’s high-profile case against former LA Unified director David Binkle.

Read more: Danville school board unanimously approves firing food-service director

3. Study finds benefits in sending meals home after hospital discharge

Many in the industry are looking into the concept of food as medicine, particularly in the hospital setting, and some are starting to deliver healthy meals for patients following discharge. One small study recently found that the concept does have some merit, even though the results were not statistically significant. The trial sent home low-sodium, high-potassium food to patients and found that the intervention did help to reduce the risk of rehospitalization.

Read more: 'Food as Medicine' Feasible in Pilot Heart-Failure Trial

4. University cuts guest passes

Guest passes will no longer be given to students at Northern Illinois University who hold meal plans. Students were given 10 guest passes each semester, but administrators said few people took advantage of them and they were an expensive cost to the dining program. If students want to bring family to the dining hall they can; they just need to fill out a form 24 hours in advance. This and other changes to the dining program are expected to save $500,000.

Read more: Officials cut dining guest passes

5. Northeastern dining workers readying for strike
Unionized dining services workers are planning to strike at Northeastern. The workers, employed by Chartwells and the university, are asking for health benefits and a $35,000 wage. The union says the average dining employee earned $22,000 last year. Negotiations have been ongoing since April, but the union says the majority of its members are ready to strike, something that could happen early in October. 

Read more: Northeastern Dining Workers Say They’re Ready to Strike

Bonus: Hospital offers free healthy meals to cancer patients

Contact Becky Schilling at [email protected].
Follow her on Twitter: @bschilling_FM