The results of recent health inspections have students feeling uneasy about eating at places on or near campus. Many food establishments in University City are currently listed as out of compliance with Philadelphia health code due to problems such as storing food at improper temperatures and having mouse droppings on the premises.
All of the establishments with violations need to take every measure possible to comply with standards. But we are especially concerned with the problems listed at the eateries that are part of Penn’s dining plans, and the University should make sure all issues are fixed.
All freshmen are required to pay for large and expensive meal plans, and many upperclassmen have meal plans as well. There are students who decide to use up as much of their meal plans as possible in an effort not to waste money, and students who use scholarship money to pay for meals rely heavily on dining halls. So when three of the four main dining halls and many of the places that accept dining dollars are out of compliance, it forces students to spend money they don’t have or to eat in places where there may be risks of food-born illnesses.
Bon Appetit District Manager Paul Bulau said the food-service provider has addressed the problems found in recent inspections and is taking proactive measures to maintain compliance. We hope all problems are being resolved and on-campus eateries never end up out of compliance again.
