Student’s dissatisfaction with many aspects of Aramark and the MUN Dining experience
boiled over late in the Winter semester, when images of raw pork chop surfaced on Imgur.
The photos sparked #StopAramark, a campaign on Twitter and Facebook that garnered
national and international attention. MUNSU helped to channel students’ frustrations into
organized action, hosting a two-hour town hall for 200+ students to capture stories and
feedback on March 26th. We’ve since met repeatedly with Memorial’s administration, leading
to a meeting with Aramark leadership where we presented students’ issues and demands for
change. Aramark has taken responsibility for the poor experiences students have had with
MUN Dining and committed to many positive changes in the future.
STUDENTS’ DEMANDS FOR ARAMARK & MUN DINING
After significant discussion among the students of Memorial University of Newfoundland,
students are calling on Aramark Services to make the following changes (and more) to
food service operations at Memorial.
MAKE MEAL PLANS MORE FLEXIBLE:
• Re-instate the 10 meal plan
• Provide an option for students to opt-out of the mandatory meal plan.
• Extend Dining Hall hours during exams, evenings, weekends, and provide late night
options.
• Allow students to swipe meal plan at other locations (MI, CNS, cafes, etc.)
ENSURE STUDENTS DIETARY RESTRICTIONS ARE MET:
• Properly label food including: type of food; allergy alerts; halal, kosher, vegan,
vegetarian, etc.
ENSURE TRANSPARENCY:
• Make financial records of MUN Dining / local Aramark operations publicly available
• Make contract between Memorial University of Newfoundland and Aramark Services
publicly available
• Make information about Aramark’s food supplier publicly available
MUN Students’ Union
CFS Local 35
munsu.ca/food
#StopAramark
ENSURE THAT THERE ARE CONVENIENT FEEDBACK MECHANISMS AND HIGHQUALITY FOOD:
• Create a Residence Dining Committee with student representatives from MUNSU and
the residences
• Create a easy-to-access suggestion board
• Maintain increased quality inspections and health/safety inspections
STUDENT VICTORIES
• • • • • • Immediate and thorough internal inspections of Aramark’s food service operations
A commitment from MUN to conduct a third-party inspection in the near future
A visit from Aramark’s Head Chef to review the menu and food service procedures
The return of the Residence Dining Committee, a student committee with representatives from the
Houses, Courts, and Towers to give direct feedback to Aramark management
Provincial and national news coverage of student action
A MUNSU meeting with Aramark leadership, where Aramark committed to:
• Properly labeling food including the type of food allergy alerts and dietary restrictions such as
halal, kosher, vegan, vegetarian, etc.
• Making health and safety inspection reports publicly available.
• The addition of 8:00AM hot breakfast; and more.
THE MEETING WITH ARAMARK
In a meeting with the University and Aramark on Friday afternoon, MUNSU representatives presented
students’ concerns and solutions for improving food services on campus. Student action has already
made an impact: not only did Aramark send their Regional Vice-President and Regional Culinary
Director to meet with students, our impact has been felt all the way up to the CEO of Aramark. The
meeting itself was fairly positive and Aramark seems willing to listen to students’ issues and ideas as a
result of student action.
While it is refreshing to see a renewed commitment to meeting and maintaining health and safety
standards – the minimum expectation from any food service provider – there are still a number of other
concerns that have yet to be addressed.
• • • • Mandatory meal plans are an unfair and outdated system and students require a process for
opting-out of these plans.
Dining Hall hours are still largely restrictive and lack necessary accommodations during exams,
evenings, weekends, and late night options.
Students should be able to use meal plan swipes outside of Dining Hall and roll-over unused
swipes from week-to-week.
Aramark has yet to commit to increased transparency and make their contract and financial
records publicly available.
In short, much remains to be done to improve food services at MUN. Aramark’s representatives
were receptive and keen to cooperate, but students need to keep the pressure on to ensure Aramark
commits to the above improvements to MUN Dining.
MUN Students’ Union
CFS Local 35
munsu.ca/food
#StopAramark