5 things: Grubhub to purchase Tapingo

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. 23:

1. Grubhub to purchase Tapingo

As delivery becomes more important across all aspects of foodservice, technology is playing a huge role. Consumer-based delivery app Grubub is set to purchase Tapingo, a delivery and pickup app deployed across nearly 150 colleges in the US. It’s an interesting collision between tech in the commercial and onsite foodservice worlds and will be interesting to see how that blurring of lines progresses.

Read more: Grubhub goes to college: Chicago company to buy on-campus food ordering service Tapingo for $150M

2. Celebrated food researcher resigns following scandal

If you’ve attended a food or nutrition conference in the past decade, chances are you’ve either heard Brian Wansink speak or heard of his research. Wansink is a professor and researcher at Cornell and director of the university’s Food and Brand Lab. Wansink’s research on nutrition and eating patterns was touted worldwide, but that research came into question last year, and now Wansink is set to retire next summer. “Cornell and Professor Wansink mutually have decided that Professor Wansink’s research approach and goals differ from the academic expectations of Cornell University, and they have decided to part ways,” a press release announcing the retirement said.

Read more: This Ivy League food scientist was a media darling. He just submitted his resignation, the school says.

3. District cuts processed meats

The Santa Barbara school district is the first in the country to cut processed meats from its menus, according to plantbasednews.com. The move, which was enacted earlier this month, means items like hot dogs, bacon and pepperoni will no longer be served. In a press release announcing the move, Santa Barbara’s child nutrition director said, "It's the right thing to do to ensure that our students are getting the highest-quality food. There's no room for carcinogens on the lunch line."

Read more: Santa Barbara School District First In US To Axe Processed Meat

4. Notre Dame hopes to do own food safety inspections

The University of Notre Dame is hoping to take its food safety inspections in house. The move isn’t unheard of in onsite foodservice; Indiana University currently does inspections for its foodservice locations. If the move is approved, the university would inspect 40 locations on the Indiana campus. Notre Dame and St. Joseph County Health Department are in negotiations over the deal. A recent plan was nixed by the health department over provisions that would prohibit publicly releasing the inspections.

Read more: Notre Dame hopes to follow IU's footsteps by doing own food safety inspections

5. New Orleans cafeteria workers get raise

Foodservice workers for the Orleans Parish School Board have been successful in their campaign to receive pay raises to $15 an hour. The school board unanimously approved the raise.

Read more: VICTORY: OPSB votes to raise cafeteria workers wages

Bonus: 7 food trends on college campuses

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