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.

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.