By Rory McNelley, Education and Enrichment Coordinator

Last week an incident in Hoff Dining Commons, referred to by most as The Caf, resulted in the removal of a dining hall employee and students speculating about food safety. 

A video circulated on Fizz, an anonymous social media app, of a dining hall worker, yelling “Maggots, Maggots, Maggots, Y’all all going to get sick!” From there, rumors circulated about the validity of the claim and the quality of the food served.

The Caf serves as the main source of food on campus for students who purchase a meal plan. Xavier partners with Chartwells, a food management company, to keep operations running smoothly. 

“We meet all state and local food safety regulations. We also meet all of Cincinnati’s health department guidelines and we abide by Ohio food code,” Resident District Manager for Chartwells on Xavier’s campus Liz Kestermann said. 

She explained the different health codes Xavier meets to maintain compliance with all relevant guidelines. 

“We also cook a lot on the line. In the home style line, right around the corner are the hot boxes, the ovens and the prep station. Those are publicly cooked so students can see their food from start to finish,” Kestermann added.

“We built that facility in 2011 and we designed it to do as much of that exhibition cooking as we could. That way there isn’t so much wondering ‘hey what’s going on in the back’ so that was by design,” Director of Auxiliary Services Bill Moran said. 

Following last Wednesday’s event, Moran and Kestermann sent an email to the student body thoroughly explaining the incident which took place. Following the event, Xavier investigated any sanitary concerns and found none. Both Moran and Kestermann emphasized the transparency they hope to provide students. 

“Xavier Dining has a long-standing reputation for excellence. Our team consistently delivers high-quality meals and service, earning multiple awards. We take food safety and cleanliness extremely seriously,” the email stated. 

Dining hall employees receive training when they first arrive and they have companywide training two times a year for four hours. These trainings usually take place before the semester begins. The Ohio Department of Health verifies that all the food handling staff have completed a Serve Safe Certificate. Those who deal with raw protein received additional training. 

Moran and Kestermann also received and welcome additional feedback from the student body dealing with the concerns they have about The Caf.

“(We offer the) Dine On Campus website survey, set up meetings if anyone would like to meet with us and review and interact with as many people as we possibly can who might give us feedback,” Kestermann said. 

“We prefer to speak to people in person because we can have a candid conversation and answer everything,” Moran said. 

Auxiliary Services is located in the Musketeer Mezzanine inside Justice Hall and Chartwells can be found in the office spaces next to Hoff Dining Commons. 

According to recent polls, 95% percent of Xavier students are currently satisfied with their dining experience. Additionally, out of the 23 colleges in Ohio, Hoff Dining Commons was ranked No. 1 for their dining facilities. 

“We do have an advisory committee for faculty and students and it’s a great way for people to communicate their wants and needs on campus,” Kestermann said. 

The advisory committee gives student feedback and ideas directly to Chartwells and the Auxiliary staff.