5 things: School cafeteria workers say they serve students unsafe food

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 Nov. 11:

1. School cafeteria workers say they serve students unsafe food

Cafeteria workers from two different districts said they had served unsafe or out-of-date food to their students. The first district is Shelby County Schools in Memphis, Tenn. A worker there told LocalMemphis.com that she documented dozens of photos and videos of unsanitary conditions and food safety issues, including maggots in potatoes, mold in the refrigerator and spilled milk left on the floor for weeks. The worker says when she brought these issues to her supervisors’ attention, they told her to “look the other way.” The district issued a statement saying: “We have strict protocols in place to ensure all food is safely prepared and adhere to all nutrition standards requested by the federal government.  In addition, we have an intensive in-service training process for employees who handle food to address food safety, preparation and sanitation.  Any complaints we received regarding Soulsville Charter have been addressed. Lastly, the last three health inspections scores related were 97, 93 and 98, which are above the average.”

The second district is in Rock Hill, S.C., where a worker told the local TV station that she had witnessed children being served out-of-date and moldy bread for lunch. The district, however, said the worker’s claims weren’t necessarily true, releasing a statement that said: “The stories shared with WSOC do not jive with accounts of others on the cafeteria staff at Oakdale,” Rock Hill Schools officials said in a statement. “The date on the bread is a manufacturers (sic) ‘best if used by’ date which is different than an ‘expiration date.’ Further, bread can be frozen, thawed and then used. Essentially, this renders the ‘best if used by’ date moot. Sandwiches were made and kept as samples and have been inspected today. No mold on sandwiches.”

Read more: Shelby County Health Department Weighs In On Unsafe Food At Local Schools and School cafeteria worker in Rock Hill says students served moldy bread

2. College students launch campus delivery app

Some entrepreneurial students at the University of Calgary have created DeliverUS, an on-campus food delivery app. Through the app, students can order food and have it delivered to them wherever they are on campus. The orders are delivered by fellow students, allowing them an opportunity to earn some extra cash. It’s unclear where the food that is ordered comes from, but it’s likely it is from local restaurants and not dining services locations on campus.  

Read more: University of Calgary students launch DeliverUs, an on-campus meal delivery service

3. College giving vouchers for free meals to address student food insecurity

As colleges are looking for ways to tackle food insecurity among their student populations, Spelman College is starting a new program this week that will give vouchers to students for free meals in the dining halls. The vouchers are for students who live off campus. The college says it will provide 2,000 meals by the end of the year and 7,000 more next semester.

Read more: Spelman College announces plan to address student hunger issue

4. School administrator accused of stealing lunch subsidies

Pamela Strain founded the Beacon Hill Preparatory Academy, a charter school in South Chicago, in 2005. Records released this week allege that Strain stole as much as $2.7 million over a seven-year period from the school, including money from school lunch subsidies and other grants to feed low-income students. The documents allege that she used the funds to pay for her home, luxury cars and shopping sprees.

Read more: South suburban school chief suspected of looting low-income lunch program to fund lavish lifestyle

5. Sam Kass’ Ted Talk on school breakfast

Sam Kass, former White House chef/food policy advisor for the Obama administration and executive director of first lady Michelle Obama's "Let's Move!" campaign, recently gave a Ted Radio Hour talk about the importance of providing free breakfast to all students in schools. Kass has long been a child nutrition advocate.

Read more: Sam Kass: Can Free Breakfast Improve Learning?

Bonus: Sodexo to acquire Centerplate

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