5 things: Chicago Public School bans home-brought food over marijuana concerns

Each Friday Food Management compiles a list that highlights five things you probably missed in the onsite foodservice news that week and why you should care about them.

Here’s your list for the week of March 2:

1. Pro/Con: Is campus food insecurity real or overblown?

Following up on last week’s 5 Things item regarding the Temple University Hope Center’s survey on college food insecurity, this article offers a competing takes on the issue. Here is a brief sampling from longer arguments from both sides:

PRO: “Research teams from multiple fields (including but not limited to sociology, economics, public health, nutrition, and social work) have assessed campus food insecurity at more than 500 colleges and universities around the country, including the University of California, California State University, City University of New York, the community colleges of California, Maricopa (AZ), Dallas, Chicago, Oregon, New Jersey, and Washington, and many more. Taken as a whole, the research strongly suggests that food insecurity impacts at least one in three undergraduate college students. Moreover, this research has been published in both peer-reviewed journal articles, including two systematic reviews, and publicly vetted and widely distributed online reports, including a recent one covering more than 330,000 students at more than 400 colleges…”

Related:5 things: #RealCollege survey from Temple University’s Hope Center for College, Community and Justice shows significant food and housing insecurity among college students nationwide

CON: “According to the Hope Center, 45 percent of college students were ‘food insecure’ in the prior 30 days based on their survey. The 45 percent figure comes from questionnaires that tap sentiments and opinions, not actual food consumption. If someone fears missing a single meal, they can be categorized as ‘food insecure’ regardless of how much they ate. If someone feels they need organic food but can only afford conventional food, they can be labeled ‘food insecure.’ Many media outlets uncritically took the Hope Center report and converted it into a national emergency…”

Read more: Pro/Con: Is Food Insecurity on Campus a Problem?

2. Chicago school protects kids from cannabis by…banning food from home

Now that marijuana is legal in Illinois, the South Loop Elementary School in Chicago decided to protect its students from possible exposure by instituting a new lunch policy that banned all foods and beverages brought in from outside that was not store-bought and in single-serve packaging.

“This policy will eliminate the risk for any students accidently bringing in cannabis infused food items to school,” the policy notice sent to all parents said.

Related:5 things: Study claims global food waste is way worse than Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations previously thought

Parents used to packing lunches and snacks for their children were understandably upset and a petition soon followed.

Within days, South Loop Elementary school conceded the policy change sparked confusion and concerns and offered an update saying chips, fruit and sandwiches in Ziploc bags would be acceptable.

The Chicago Public Schools press office spokesman said South Loop Elementary acted alone and their rule did not reflect a citywide policy.

Read more: South Loop School Parents Appalled At School Lunch Rule Instituted Over Worries About Marijuana

3. On the other hand, maybe that Chicago school was on to something…

Nearly a month after a THC scare at Oakleaf Junior High School in Jacksonville, Fla., a group of four parents have retained an attorney for possible legal action to force accountability.

What happened was that during a Holocaust Remembrance project on Feb. 7, a student brought in food and shared it with her class. Shortly afterwards, both the teacher and some of the students complained of feeling sick. The parents contemplating the lawsuit say some of the students were so high they failed their math tests and that their children all tested positive for THC, the main psychoactive ingredient in marijuana.

The parents say they are looking for answers and want accountability.

In a position statement, the Clay County School District noted that a police investigation could not establish a causal relationship between the food and the alleged illnesses but added that the incident is an opportunity to review existing policy regarding food that is not prepared in its cafeterias. That policy currently states that "Foods prepared outside the Food and Nutrition Services cafeterias may not be served to the students within the school meals program."

Read more: Parents to sue Clay County schools after student were reportedly given THC-laced food at Oakleaf High School

4. College closes pest-infected cafeteria until new vendor can be found

The College of Southern Maryland (CMS) has announced that it is closing its on-campus cafeteria until further notice as it seeks a new vendor to operate it, following a health department inspection that revealed a pest infestation.

“When we lost confidence in the cafeteria vendor’s ability to meet our high standards, we terminated their contract,” CSM leadership said in the official statement. “We have done our best to be forthcoming with our La Plata campus community and proactive in ensuring there are adequate food options available as we remediate this issue.”

Read more: CSM closes La Plata campus cafeteria due to recurring health violations

5. School district’s peanut butter proposal triggers parent backlash

A proposal that would add peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to schools that previously didn't serve peanut products is no longer moving forward in the Leon County Schools in Florida, according to Superintendent Rocky Hanna.

"It's not worth it, it's not worth the peace of mind for these parents," Hanna said, explaining his decision to pull back the plan.

The backlash began when several parents with children suffering from peanut allergies noticed a blurb in a newsletter email that mentioned PB&J coming to cafeterias as soon as April.

Hanna explained the change was actually supposed to come next year, when the district launched a new initiative to give every elementary school student free meals and district leadership wanted some more appealing menu options. The peanut butter was marked to replace a peanut butter alternative product served in some schools that apparently students don’t particularly like.

Hanna suggested chicken nuggets or mac n' cheese could replace peanut butter sandwiches at schools that currently avoid peanut products.

Read more: Leon County Schools change plans to add PB&J to every cafeteria

Bonus: Urban Eats at Stony Brook University now offers four Instagram-worthy specialty milkshakes

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]