Spring Break
Dining Services axes peanut butter products
Katherine Smith
Issue date: 1/29/09 Section: News
In response to recent peanut butter recalls issued by the Food and Drug Administration, the University of Connecticut's Department of Dining Services has decided to remove all peanut butter products in dining units and convenience stores on campus.
Although the university's food supplier, Sysco, has not yet been added to the list of peanut butter contaminated by the Salmonella outbreak, the list of products are growing rapidly, with potential health problems, UConn is taking the philosophy that erring on the side of caution is always the safe route.
"We don't supply any of those companies [listed by the FDA] but the recall here at Storrs is not only for health and safety, but also for perception," said Dennis Pierce, the director of Dining Services.
Pierce explained that even though all the peanut butter supplied to UConn is safe, many students would be concerned if they saw a peanut butter product in their dining unit and may probably opt not to eat it anyhow. By not offering food made with peanut butter in the first place, UConn could potentially minimize uneaten wasted food.
According to Pierce, removing peanut butter products from the campus has been "relatively easy." Since an overwhelming number of food allergies are peanut related, the software used by Dining Services can easily identify where peanut products are on campus. Any student on a meal plan at the university may notice the individual cups of peanut butter and peanut butter cookies are missing.
Dining Services, in conjunction with the Environmental Health and Safety Department at UConn, made the decision to remove peanut butter products from the various convenience stores on campus. This includes not only jars of peanut butter but also things like peanut butter crackers and Reese's peanut butter cups. Although again none of the products are presumed to be contaminated, Pierce explained the purpose was for consumer perception.
"I generally relied on peanut butter as a good source of protein since I can't get it from meat," said Tiffany Phillips, a 2nd-semester biology and Chinese major and vegetarian. "The recall has been difficult but it's forced me to look for different options."
Phillips and other students are looking forward to the return of peanut butter at their favorite dining units.
"I have a piece of toast with peanut butter every morning," said Zach Love, a 2nd-semester biology major. "I've been trying to eat other things, but I'm looking forward to its return in Buckley."
Unfortunately, students like Phillips and Love may be waiting for a while before they see peanut butter back at Storrs. "We don't know [when it will be safe again], we can't even begin to speculate." Pierce said.
The Department of Dining Services with the Environmental Health and Safety Department will be looking at other Universities and institutions to gauge when peanut butter will have a safe return.
Although the university's food supplier, Sysco, has not yet been added to the list of peanut butter contaminated by the Salmonella outbreak, the list of products are growing rapidly, with potential health problems, UConn is taking the philosophy that erring on the side of caution is always the safe route.
"We don't supply any of those companies [listed by the FDA] but the recall here at Storrs is not only for health and safety, but also for perception," said Dennis Pierce, the director of Dining Services.
Pierce explained that even though all the peanut butter supplied to UConn is safe, many students would be concerned if they saw a peanut butter product in their dining unit and may probably opt not to eat it anyhow. By not offering food made with peanut butter in the first place, UConn could potentially minimize uneaten wasted food.
According to Pierce, removing peanut butter products from the campus has been "relatively easy." Since an overwhelming number of food allergies are peanut related, the software used by Dining Services can easily identify where peanut products are on campus. Any student on a meal plan at the university may notice the individual cups of peanut butter and peanut butter cookies are missing.
Dining Services, in conjunction with the Environmental Health and Safety Department at UConn, made the decision to remove peanut butter products from the various convenience stores on campus. This includes not only jars of peanut butter but also things like peanut butter crackers and Reese's peanut butter cups. Although again none of the products are presumed to be contaminated, Pierce explained the purpose was for consumer perception.
"I generally relied on peanut butter as a good source of protein since I can't get it from meat," said Tiffany Phillips, a 2nd-semester biology and Chinese major and vegetarian. "The recall has been difficult but it's forced me to look for different options."
Phillips and other students are looking forward to the return of peanut butter at their favorite dining units.
"I have a piece of toast with peanut butter every morning," said Zach Love, a 2nd-semester biology major. "I've been trying to eat other things, but I'm looking forward to its return in Buckley."
Unfortunately, students like Phillips and Love may be waiting for a while before they see peanut butter back at Storrs. "We don't know [when it will be safe again], we can't even begin to speculate." Pierce said.
The Department of Dining Services with the Environmental Health and Safety Department will be looking at other Universities and institutions to gauge when peanut butter will have a safe return.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
George Carver
posted 1/29/09 @ 12:37 PM EST
Mr. Pierce, I pay a few thousand dollars for food and my perception is 99.99% of peanut butter is safe and i really like the taste of peanut butter. Will dining services be handing out stipends so i can go buy my own peanut butter? I think this is only fair. (Continued…)
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