News

Food Services Ready to Handle New Challenges Brought by COVID-19

When the coronavirus pandemic caused the abrupt end of residential learning at the University in mid-March, the Food Services department kept working, and responded nimbly to the changes that swept across campus.

Hundreds of students were stranded in Central New York and remained in campus housing. As essential employees, Food Services staff members reported to campus each day to continue to operate dining centers, food courts and convenience stores to support students. They assisted other departments and took on tasks unrelated to food and dining in order to support their colleagues who were working from home.

With the initial challenge of the pandemic met, the Food Services staff have now turned their attention to the upcoming semester, as thousands of students return to campus.

Read the full story at Syracuse University News.

Food Services Cleaning and Sanitation Procedures

Syracuse University Food Services has had strict food safety and sanitation standards for decades. Employees have regular, ongoing food safety training through the ServSafe program. This program, administered through the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation, is the most widely-recognized food safety program in the industry. Ninety percent of Food Services management staff has been ServSafe recertified within the past two months.

Food Services has maintained vigilance with these already-existing protocols and has added additional safety precautions in light of the COVID-19 pandemic:

Operations

  • All locations have Plexiglas barriers installed between cashiers and customers
  • Customers are encouraged to use contactless payment options, such as GET and Grubhub

Safety Precautions

  • Staff are washing, rinsing, and sanitizing all customer contact surfaces frequently, including registers, belts, and counters
  • New hand sanitizer dispensers have been installed
  • Sanitizer wipes are available throughout all facilities

Employee Safety Measures

  • All employees wear face masks and gloves
  • All employees must wash hands and change gloves frequently
  • All employees must practice proper personal hygiene and appearance policies
  • Employees are told not to come to work if they are sick
  • Employees are instructed to notify their manager if they are sick or have been in close contact with someone who is sick

SU Food Services Wins 2019 Best Overall Food Allergy Program

AllerTrain™ by MenuTrinfo® LLC hosted its third annual allergy awards and selected 7 distinguished categories. The AllerTrain™ team selected winners from universities and restaurants across the country to recognize outstanding restaurant and university leaders in the food service industry leading food allergy training and safety. Read more.

SU Food Services Receives A+ Score from PETA for Third Consecutive Year

For the third consecutive year, Syracuse’s dining centers have received an A+ rating from PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), placing Syracuse University on the Dean’s List in PETA’s college rankings. According to VeganReportCard.com, “The Dean’s List includes an elite group of institutions that have accrued enough Vegan Report Card points to rank among the highest tier of A-rated schools They are the vanguard when it comes to vegan cuisine on campus.” Read more.