Sodexho: Pitt offers food choices

It’s all one big misunderstanding, according to Sodexho campus services.

After numerous… It’s all one big misunderstanding, according to Sodexho campus services.

After numerous students complained about the disappearance of two popular salad bars on campus, dining services has offered an explanation for the disappearing act.

“We’re trying to eliminate duplication,” Sodexho General Manager Martin Millner said. “We tried to do the job better in the space we have. We want to improve the quality of food offered to Pitt students.”

Sodexho, the University’s dining service provider, is revamping the food available to its Jewish, vegetarian and vegan populations. Eddie’s, the retail food operation located below Litchfield Towers’ lobby, will see many of these changes.

The area that once housed the salad bar, for example, is now home to a “convenience store-type” area, with various dry-food goods available for purchase. Eventually, Millner said, all kosher foods will be grouped together and will include new foods, as well as products offered in the past.

“A lot of students don’t even realize that a lot of what we have already is kosher,” he added, pointing out the kosher symbol on a bag of Chips Ahoy cookies.

Millner is working with the executive director of the Jewish University Center, Aaron Weil, to find a wider variety of time-friendly options for students who keep kosher.

“We think the students will be very happy with what is being planned,” Weil said.

The process of expanding the food options began about a year ago, and it is still a work in progress. In the coming weeks, students will have access to new kosher food options, varying from frozen entrees to ready-made sandwiches. In addition, a special microwave will be available for kosher and vegetarian fare.

“I think the students misunderstood what we were doing,” Weil added. “We’re expanding what we’re offering. It’s going to be an unprecedented offering. It’s also going to benefit the vegans and vegetarians.”

As for the missing salad bars, changes are underway. Prepackaged salads are still available in Eddie’s, both with and without meat. A variety will be offered, Millner said, with salad types rotated throughout the week.

Salads, such as chicken and egg salads, will be available each day in the deli area, along with a special “make your own salad” area, where students will be able to customize their salads, according to Millner.

In The Marketplace, the other cafeteria located under Towers’ lobby, the salad bar has remained — though it, too, now features a wider variety of toppings.

“We chose to keep the salad bar [in Marketplace] because of the area available for it there,” Millner said. “The price difference [between Eddie’s and Marketplace] isn’t a significant difference.”

Lindsay Sherrin, who previously spoke out against the changes, is pleased with the response to her grievances.

“I’m happy to see they’ve made all the frozen foods available,” she said. “My earlier suggestion was that they ask us what we would like to see. I think it’s a great thing that they are doing this, though.”

But students’ reactions to the missing salad bars have been mixed.

“I think it’s kind of stupid,” senior Mike Stephens said. “I mean, vegetarians and other healthy eaters still have the wrapped-up [salads], but they’re kinda small.”

Freshman Lisa Nause felt less strongly about the changes and was willing to wait them out.

“I prefer a salad bar,” she said. “But, if they’re good, then I’d prefer [the packaged salads].”