Aramark launches Cool Food Meals pilot at Canadian universities

Aramark is piloting use of the Cool Food Meals badge at 15 Canadian universities this semester.

Through the pilot, the Cool Food Meals badge, which identifies menu options with a lower carbon footprint, will appear on up to 250 menu items in residential dining halls.

Earlier this year, Aramark implemented the Cool Food Meals program at 10 universities in the U.S. The food management company says it is the first to use the badge on its menus.

Cool Foods were determined through a process created by the World Resources Institute (WRI), through which hundreds of Aramark’s recipes were analyzed to determine which items’ carbon footprint fell below an established per-meal threshold and met a nutrition safeguard, according to a statement. Some of these recipes include Chipotle Lime Fish Tacos, Jerk Chicken Pasta and Thai Lentil Rice Bowl.

"We are thrilled to be giving students the opportunity to identify climate-friendly choices on dining menus with the help of the Cool Food Meals badge," said Andy Siklos, president of Aramark Canada. "Our market research has clearly shown a desire amongst consumers to reduce the amount of meat in their diets, as well as a growing interest in fighting climate change. Our Cool Food Meals recipes will give students the means to do both."

This pilot is a part of a larger endeavor by Aramark to reduce the environmental impact of its operations. Earlier this year, Aramark established a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a quarter by 2030.