5 things: California health system adopts vegan meal program

In this edition of 5 Things, Food Management highlights five things you may have missed recently about developments affecting onsite dining.

Here’s your list for today:

 1.    California health system adopts vegan meal program

The Santa Clara Valley Healthcare (SCVH) system in California has become the first in the US to introduce the Universal Meals plant-based food program, which enables employees and visitors to eat meals free from animal products and the top nine allergens at hospital cafeterias. These will be offered at no additional cost at St. Louise Regional Hospital and O’Connor Hospital, and will also soon be available at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center. Universal Meals is part of SCVH’s climate pledge, which aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

Read more: Hospitals In California Adopt ‘Inclusive’ Vegan Meal Program In US First

 2.    House committee votes to return whole and 2% milk to schools

A bill approved June 6 by the House Education and Workforce Committee in a 26-13 vote would allow schools to offer whole and 2% milk. Supporters, including the dairy industry and more than 100 lawmakers, say that children are more likely to drink milk when it tastes better to them.

Read more: School Cafeterias Might Serve Whole Milk Again

Related:5 tech things: In-seat ordering and delivery expands in minor league ballparks

 3.    Guckenheimer commits to gestation crate-free pork

ISS has announced that its North America food business, FM Top 50 firm ISS Guckenheimer, has adopted a new policy to source gestation crate-free pork across the majority of its locations. The new policy went into effect on May 1. The company’s new provider is Clemens Food Group, one of the largest gestation crate-free pork producers in the U.S.

Read more: ISS Guckenheimer Further Improves Animal Welfare Standards with New Pork Supply Policy

 4.    Compass wins major food safety honor

Compass Group North America has won the Black Pearl Award, the highest honor for food safety, from the International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) in recognition of the company’s achievements in advancing food safety and quality through consumer programs, employee relations, educational activities, and adherence to standards. IAFP represents more than 4,500 food safety professionals such as educators, government officials, microbiologists, food industry executives and quality control professionals who are involved in all aspects of growing, storing, transporting, processing and preparing all types of foods. Compass will be presented with the Award at IAFP’s Annual Meeting in Toronto in July.

Related:5 things: Why Medicare should try medically tailored meals

Read more: Compass Group North America Wins Prestigious IAFP Black Pearl Award for Food Safety

 5.    Gen Z’s sobriety is reducing concert venue revenues

Get Z (those born between 1997 and 2012) is not consuming alcohol in the same quantity as previous generations, which is impacting the revenues generated at live entertainment venues catering to younger crowds, according to members of a recent panel at the Music Biz conference in Nashville. “They’re either eating edibles before they come or there’s more of a sober, mental health [focus]," remarked Dayna Frank, president/CEO of First Avenue Productions, a concert venue and promotion business in Minneapolis. "Most of the ticket price goes on to the band, so really what [venues] subsist on is beverages. That’s not going to be a sustainable revenue stream.”

Read more: Gen Z Is Drinking Less and Clubs Aren’t Thrilled

Bonus: Morrison Healthcare’s Jeff Quasha on menu economics and sustainability

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]