5 things: Concession workers threaten to strike Major League All-Star Game

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:

About 1,500 food and other concession workers employed by Levy Restaurants could go on strike at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles during the Major League Baseball All-Star Game on July 19, as 99% of the members of Unite Here Local 11 have reportedly voted to authorize a strike. While the Dodgers are on the road until after the All-Star Game, there are several All-Star Game related events planned for the stadium starting the weekend of July 16, including a "Futures Game" involving top minor league players along with a home run hitting contest.

Read more: Dodger Stadium workers authorize strike ahead of MLB All-Star Game

Childhood obesity is on the rise, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics that looked at obesity in children ages 6 through 11. Among the findings were that age-specific obesity rates increased and occurred at a younger age over the 20-year study period.

Read more: More US children becoming obese at younger ages

Related:5 things: Classroom distancing hampers return to cafeteria eating for school district

The Humane Society of the United States has released its Protein Sustainability Scorecard, taking a close look at the food service industry in the U.S. and progress toward offering climate-friendly, plant-based foods. FM Top 50 contract firms earning a “A” grade included ISS Guckenheimer, Sodexo, Fresh Ideas Food Service Management, Café Services, Southwest Foodservice Excellence, Whitsons Culinary Group, HHS Culinary & Nutrition Services, Creative Dining Services, Elior North America and Epicurean Group.

Read more: The Humane Society of the United States releases Protein Sustainability Scorecard of foodservice industry

Many upscale restaurants that catered to the nation’s downtown office crowd are canceling the meal, as remote work persists and business deals are sealed online. Some 47% of diners who work from home go out to lunch less frequently than they did before the pandemic, according to the National Restaurant Association and lunch reservations in the first four months of this year at restaurants with an average check of more than $50 were sharply lower than during the same period in 2019, according to data from the online reservation service OpenTable.

Related:5 tech things: Whitsons upgrades K-12 unit-level communication network

Read more: The Business Lunch May Be Going Out of Business

The University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) is hosting The World Games 2022 July 7-17, 2022, with its campus dining services taking on an increased role of providing some 10,000 meals to up to 3,400 diners per day, all while navigating labor and supply chain challenges and meeting impeccable food safety standards. Here is a video of how the department is meeting the challenge.

Read more: The World is Coming to UAB

Bonus: FM announces 2022 Best Concept Award winners

Contact Mike Buzalka at [email protected]