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Food court and campus supermarket must be healthier and more sustainable

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Students and staff have expressed their general satisfaction with the supermarket and the food court on campus, but felt that the sustainability and healthy options were unsatisfactory. This was the conclusion of a survey conducted by the university among some five hundred students and staff at the end of last year.

The Woudestein campus supermarket.

One in three respondents said that the Spar supermarket and the food court on campus had insufficient healthy options available, and that the campus catering and supermarket were not appropriate for a sustainable campus. Students and staff rated the food court and supermarket considerably higher in other areas, such as hygiene, atmosphere, opening hours and the provision of information. More than half rated these aspects as “good”, “very good” or “excellent”.

Less satisfactory

It’s notable that in almost all aspects, students and staff gave Spar and the food court a lower rating than last year. For example, 56 percent awarded the catering and campus supermarket a rating of “good” overall. The 2017 figure was 79 percent. Far fewer respondents believe the facilities are appropriate for an international university: where 76 percent rated this aspect as “good” in 2017, the 2018 figure was just 53 percent. The results do show visitors to be more satisfied with the cleaning than in 2017.

Students and staff rated Spar and the food court on eight aspects. The university’s minimum requirement is that more than half of those responding rate each aspect as “good”, “very good” or “excellent”. If they provide an unsatisfactory score for any particular aspect, such as sustainability and healthy choices this time, the operators must take action.

Measures

An e-mail from a spokesperson says the university has no explanation for the declining satisfaction. A press release states that the operators have already taken measures: they are using bioplastics and have adapted menus to the demand for sustainable and healthy products.

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5 reacties

  1. Veganista op 5 February 2019 om 17:37

    When will Tosti World get a vegan option? Why does Satebar not offer a tempeh and vegetable dish (the gado gado is awful!)? Why is there fish sauce in the Sohmi noodles? And why egg in the miso soup? Where are sustainable, satisfying and protein-rich plant-based options in the Food Court? And why does everything have to come in disposable packaging instead of reusable dishes?

  2. forthefuture op 5 February 2019 om 17:57

    Hopefully they’ll really change something this time !

  3. Professor X op 7 February 2019 om 18:58

    Plastic is part of the problem; a lack of bio/organic as a default is part of the problem; a non-regional menu and item offering is part of the problem; the industrialization of food is part of the problem.

    Bioplastics will not solve the disposibility issue. This needs to be rethought, in Spar and otherwise. Quick fixes will not do. It is hypocritical to say that the university cares about sustainability and then sell a bunch of one-use disposable stuff. Period.

    We’ve got world-class research and students–why not implement best practices of other successful universities (e.g., farm to table) or come up with and take action on our own?

    It is possible to make inexpensive food out of good ingredients, served on non-disposable ware. This is not rocket science. It only requires will and education, and breaking out of the linear throw-away economic model.

  4. Freethetable op 8 February 2019 om 10:40

    Food court is dirty and nasty. It is difficult to find a place because most of the tables are taken by people with laptops checking facebook.
    The sustainability is a real problem. the waist separation does not work that well and indeed packaging should be reduced.
    the survey perhaps should investigate more on what is considered healthy by the respondents. It is wrong to draw conclusions by these results.

  5. Getalife op 9 February 2019 om 11:44

    I feel bad for the kebab guy, he’s probably tired of dealing with snotty college kids demanding him that his kebabs should be made from biodegradable bamboo and his ayran have a soy option.

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