Response email to Aramark regarding ingredient transparency policy

The following email is the response I sent to Aramark after having received the email featured in my blog's latest entry.

Mr. [Aramark employee],

It does not specify on the ARAMARK website that the policy only pertains to individuals with food allergies. Also, in no way does the site even suggest that these allergies must be documented.

I am aware that ARAMARK is not legally obligated to provide me with the ingredient information for the food served at my school. However, I believe that it is an ethical obligation, as your site clearly states that the information can be requested upon by customers, and does not specify any qualities which these customers must possess.

I am also quite aware that the D300 website offers a nutritional calculator. However, I do not believe that this allows me to monitor the nutritional content of my meals at school. For example, did you know that a termite contains approximately 14 grams of protein? Interestingly enough, a half cup of cooked soybeans also contains about 14 grams of protein.

However, I would never confuse the two. Unless of course they were found in foods in which the ingredient information was kept from me, and I only had the nutritional data available to make a decision as to whether or not to consume them.

In no way, sir, am I suggesting that ARAMARK would ever contaminate its food with termites to replace soybeans (even if it may save a few pennies here and there). However, the idea remains valid. In order to make responsible and intelligent decisions about what I put into my body, I must be able to decipher between termites and soybeans, sugar and high-fructose corn syrup, natural oils and those that have been partially-hydrogenated, etc. etc.

Now as far as me being a customer to ARAMARK, I recently purchased something in the cafeteria in order to make matters very simple for us.

I hope that clears up everything and I look forward to reviewing the cafeteria food ingredient information for my school very soon.

Until then,

Tara

Email from Aramark

More than a month ago I sent Aramark an email reminding them that their website claims ingredient transparency.

Upon request, we share with customers all ingredients that go into our final product.

I suggested that they may have possibly been confused, as I had obviously been attempting to get cafeteria food ingredients for a long time.

Last night they emailed me back. Here is what they have to say.

-- We appreciate your patience as we reviewed this issue further.  

 

The information you cited and extracted from our corporate website relates to customers with documented food allergies. 

 

Nutritional information for the food served in D300’s Food Service Program is readily available on the D300 food service website using the Nutritional Calculator.  This allows students and parents to monitor the nutritional content of D300’s school meals, which exceed State and USDA nutritional requirements. 

The D300 proprietary menu database includes hundreds of recipes containing thousands of ingredients.  Currently, there is not a means for specific ingredient lists to be accessed electronically.  Ingredient lists for specific items prepared in the D300 Food Service Program can be compiled manually to assist parents of student customers with documented food allergies. 

 

We have not received, from you or your parents, any information relating to a food allergy and you do not appear to be a customer of the D300 Food Service Program.  If you do, in fact, have a documented food allergy, then our School Food Service Director will be happy to speak with you and/or your parents to assist you in selecting menu items that meet your dietary needs. 

There are so few things in this world really deserving of the term bullshit. This is one of those things.

The information you cited and extracted from our corporate website relates to customers with documented food allergies. 

Really? Because it doesn't say that. And usually when things aren't said, we can assume that they don't apply. I usually feel safe eating veggie burgers in restaurants because I make the reasonable assumption that a restaurant would not be stupid enough to put meat on it.

With that said, I know now not eat a veggie burger produced by Aramark.

And another thing: what exactly defines an allergy? Does meat have to make me sick in order to have the right to opt out of it? And if getting sick from it IS the definition of an "allergy", then how fast does it have to happen? I mean, studies have shown that partially-hydrogenated oils have far more detrimental effects to your health than natural oils. Does that mean that everyone is allergic?

Nutritional information for the food served in D300’s Food Service Program is readily available on the D300 food service website using the Nutritional Calculator.  

Which weighs more: a pound of feathers or a pound of iron?

This allows students and parents to monitor the nutritional content of D300’s school meals,

 No actually it doesn't, as I have just clearly proved with my very clever feathers to iron analogy.

which exceed State and USDA nutritional requirements.

The USDA also says that onion rings and french fries count as vegetables.

The D300 proprietary menu database includes hundreds of recipes containing thousands of ingredients.  Currently, there is not a means for specific ingredient lists to be accessed electronically.  Ingredient lists for specific items prepared in the D300 Food Service Program can be compiled manually to assist parents of student customers with documented food allergies. 

 Alright... so you don't know, and you don't want to go through the effort of finding out? Unless I'm sick?  There's that western  mentality again- I have to be sick before I should start taking care of myself.

We have not received, from you or your parents, any information relating to a food allergy and you do not appear to be a customer of the D300 Food Service Program.  If you do, in fact, have a documented food allergy, then our School Food Service Director will be happy to speak with you and/or your parents to assist you in selecting menu items that meet your dietary needs.  

I became a customer when I started paying federal, state and local taxes. I was even a customer when I stopped making cafeteria food purchases due to Aramark's refusal to present me with information that I believe is vital to my health and the health of my peers.

And today, to make things really simple for you, I was a customer when I purchased something and gave it away.

I supported you.

Now it's time for you to support me, and anyone else who wishes to take intelligent care of their body.

It's time for you to assist the parents who want to see their children to grow up strong and healthy.

It's time for you to help to end childhood obesity in America.

It's time for you to live to your word.

What's in that?

At the beginning of my journey for school food ingredients, I was in contact with a new member of my district's Aramark representatives. Luckily for me at the time, this particular representative was unaware of her ability to deny me ingredient information. After a few weeks of gathering facts I was sent a word document which contained a few ingredients for many of the main entrees served at my school. I was unsatisfied as the document was not only obviously unofficial, filled with errors in spelling and unspecific cafeteria food terms, but also lacked the information for numerous menu choices. However, I was pleased with some of the information I received, and later used it as evidence in a speech I gave at my school board meeting on removing additives from our cafeteria food.

Anyway, I thought it might be fun and informative to pull out some of these facts and see for ourselves exactly why ingredient transparency is so necessary.

I will henceforth be reviewing items on the daily.

These facts are dedicated to the loving parents out there who have dumpster-dived their kids' schools.

Also, anyone who is interested in seeing these word documents for whatever purpose can feel free to request them via email. I would be happy to share them with you!


Today I thought it would be fitting to begin with the item I used as evidence for my school board meeting speech, which I spent a good minute and a half reading aloud for all to hear. After I was finished a board member remarked, "I hope that's not a salad!"

"Gravy"

Gravy Ingredients: maltodexrin, modified cornstarch, bleached enriched wheat flour, hydrolyzed corn gluten, soy, wheat gluten protein, cornstarch, partially hydrogenated soybean and cottonseed, whey, onion powder, yeast extract, less than 2% sugar, soybean oil, caramel color, xanthan gum, soy sauce, garlic powder, dextrose, disodium inosinate, disodium guanylate, spice, sunflower oil, citric acid, thamine  

 So maltodextrin comes first which is a sort of over-processed starch. Then we've got another modified starch, followed by a flour which has been bleached (to suck out the nutrients) and then enriched (to chemically "put some of them back").Then we enter some probable MSG in disguise, followed by some soy and wheat proteins for texture. Oh, and we mustn't forget the trans fat for shelf life.

Here's a tip I often give to people who want to start taking care of their bodies:

"If you don't know what it is, DON'T EAT IT."

Unfortunately in today's day and age, many of us don't have that luxury.

Fun facts

I have been very busy lately. Last week I took a trip all the way down to the capitol to attend a rally to pass taxes for education. Currently the state owes my district more than 11 million dollars due to the economic downturn (their poor budgeting).

Illinois ranks as the 5th richest state according to personal income.

They also rank 47th for educational funding.

Yeah, I know. It doesn't make any sense. But hey- Neither does a lack of ingredient transparency!

Speaking of that, with an application to the budget crisis: Many have suggested that I lobby my district to switch to a food provider that will treat students like myself with a little more respect.

Well, here is my "answer" to that-
Aramark has continually offered my district the best deal for outsourced cafeteria food management. And though their contract is up for consideration this summer, it would do more harm than good to switch to a different company. We've already lost too much to the deficit. 148 teachers and counting so far, as well as numerous cuts to our extracurricular programs and a five students per class size increase.

I'm really between a rock and a hard place in that matter. And so is my district.

So I realize that not everyone lives in District 300, or Illinois in that matter. But this is definitely an issue that many will face upon seeking ingredient transparency.

On a lighter note: This school offers full ingredient transparency.
http://www.northshore.k12.ny.us/Foodserviceinfo/nutritionlabels.htm

It's all done on a volunteer basis through their wonderful nutrition committee.
http://scsfood.blogspot.com/2010/02/interested-in-knowing-what-is-inside.html

 (thanks JGold!)

Ingredient Transparency Email Update

About a month ago I was directed to the Aramark website- on which it claims ingredient transparency already...

Upon request, we share with customers all ingredients that go into our final product.

-[love,] ARAMARK

So, I sent them an email that day suggesting that they may have been confused about their own policies.

A week and a day later I got a "thank you for your inquiry" response. (the exact email can be found here)

On April 15th, after waiting patiently two weeks for a response, I sent them this:

[representative's name],

It's been a couple weeks since I've heard from you in regards to the ingredient transparency claim made on the Aramark website. Are there any updates on that situation? Would it help if I contacted someone else?

Thanks a lot!
Tara

Since then, I've gotten this back:






That's right... a big white space. 
Well less than that, actually. I don't think most email sites will let you send blank messages. And even if they could, that might just take far too much effort. I'm sure they wouldn't want to lead me on.

So what do I have to do to be taken seriously? 
Is it too much to ask for a simple SELF CREATED POLICY to be followed?

I just want to know what's in the school cafeteria food.

An unexciting, but still note-worthy update

It's been a while since I've posted, and for anyone who is curious- I am still alive.

Today was an exciting day for me. Last year at school I spent a good bit of time trying to get our overgrown courtyard transformed into a garden. Finally today, with the help of many others, I saw that idea come true! We are going to be planting flowers and trees and bushes to make the area a nice place to enjoy the outdoors, as well as will be planting vegetables to be grown organically. Very exciting. I offer my assistance to any students out there who would like to see any similar projects happen at their own schools. On that note, I will end this blog with a few pictures from today.

Now as far as ingredient transparency goes, I've been reaching out to newspapers lately in hopes that someone will find the withholding of school food ingredients to be as ridiculous as I do. So far my blog has been mentioned in the Chicago Tribune, but ingredient transparency has not gotten the illumination yet that I've been hoping for. Hopefully soon! I'm just going to keep on telling whoever I can about what's going on. Feel free to email me with any suggestions on how to get ingredient transparency some public attention. <3

On the road again!

Figuratively speaking. But in the best way possible.

I got another email today. Not from my district healthy school's project coordinator... but from the Illinois project coordinator! She said she was sorry that my district felt it was a conflict of interest for me to continue, but that she believes ingredient transparency absolutely fell within the guidelines of the project. She even said she would be able to provide me with some other resources that could help me.

I really appreciated that. I have been really bummed out about having to drop the healthy schools grant project.

Speaking of dropping the project, I had to email the bad news to the yogalates teacher today that was scheduled to be coming to our school. Faith from Exercise in Disguise was going to be giving us a generous fifty percent discount on six classes that would be offered free to any interested students.

I really believe it's individuals with skills and resources like that that can have some of the largest impact on the health of our society. You give a free yoga class to one kid who begins feeling in tune with their body... and you may have laid the ground work for a lifetime of wellness. Now that's what this whole movement is really about!

Now to the "on the road again" part;

I feel like it's now or never, so I sent my first email to a newspaper in regards to ingredient transparency today. Tomorrow I'll send another... or a few. With that said, please send me your press contacts to healthytara@gmail.com. I would graciously accept any advice as far as these things go as well.

Oh, and last but not least,
A mom from Texas posted a very encouraging blog the other day about my blog and action towards ingredient transparency. Since then, she's been posting more and more about these issues and voicing her opinion on Aramark and cafeteria food. She's fun, informative and definitely worth following: http://mesquiteparent.posterous.com/

<3

Short of an ending

So I thought today would be the day I could say, "ONWARD!"

But unfortunately, as my luck should have it, my meeting with the healthy schools grant coordinator today was canceled.

I had paced around all morning only to find that the meeting confirmation email I had sent days ago hadn't actually sent. Technology fails me sometimes.

So, in anticipation of continuing my journey towards ingredient transparency, I decided to send another email instead of rescheduling the meeting.

It went sort of like this...

Actually, meeting on Thursday may not be totally necessary. I've thought a lot about our conversation we had over break in regards to the conflict of interest involved in working towards ingredient transparency for our district.

and...

However, it is also clear to me and my teammates that funding through the grant is not absolutely necessary. With that in mind, we will be continuing with our endeavors with a few alterations to our original plans. I intend to further inspire wellness at my school without these constraints.

Thank you for this opportunity and I am sorry that it didn't work out.

Tara

So I sent that this morning and hope to get a response by tomorrow. I guess it doesn't really matter anyway... I feel like I've made up my mind by this point.

Now I'm free to do what I need to do.

Decision time

I haven't made any posts in a while as I have been torn.

As I blogged in the past, I had been pointed to the Aramark ingredient disclosure policy listed on their website. On the food allergies page in plain black and white it says:

Upon request, we share with customers all ingredients that go into our final product.

So I emailed the representatives with whom I had spoken before, hoping that maybe the ingredient secrecy had all just been a big mistake on their own policies.

A week later I had received no response. So I forwarded the email to their boss.
And their boss.
And their boss.

The next day I got a phone call. Unfortunately for me, it was not from Aramark, but from the coordinator for a healthy schools grant project I have become involved with.

That day I learned exactly what having a "conflict of interest" meant.

(I would explain further but feel I have an obligation to keep such privileged information to myself)

After that phone call I realized I had a choice to make; either
1. Ignore the fact that Aramark was not following their OWN POLICY and continue with the grant project with which I could inspire wellness in other ways at my school and still work to bring national attention to ingredient transparency or
2. Leave the healthy schools project and fight the wrong

At that point I had no idea what I was going to do. I felt a responsibility for the project and my school... but I was also angry. I felt disrespected for having been ignored by Aramark representatives, and I was flabbergasted by the fact that they were not only being unethical by denying me these ingredients, but were also doing it under the public's false pretense that it wasn't their policy to do so.

That same day I got an email back from Aramark representatives.

Tara,

Thank you for your inquiry. It is currently being reviewed by our corporate office. We appreciate your patience and will respond accordingly.

Over the weekend I sat on it. I was free to illuminate Aramark and ingredient transparency on a national level but if I chose the healthy schools project I would have to pretend none of this ever happened.


Today I went back to school and talked to some friends and teachers who offered a lot of support and guidance.

Now I know what I have to do.

Tomorrow I have a meeting with the project coordinator.

Tomorrow night I will post another blog.