Chartwells Boycott: Connecticut High School Students Boycott Cafeteria Due To Mold And Human Hair On Food

Students at Farmington High School in Connecticut are fed up with the cafeteria food provided by Chartwells Food Service. So, on Monday, Nov. 3, the students took to Facebook with a boycott page to share their dissatisfaction with the national food service provider. The Facebook event post stated the boycott would take place the week of Nov. 3 – 7. They listed the reasons for the boycott and their desired outcome for their actions.

Here’s how the students’ planned to handle get their point across, according to the statement.

We are going to boycott the Chartwells company serving food in FHS. One day (a week, if possible) we won’t buy from them until they stop serving us food that tastes bad and is obviously unhealthy and unsanitary. Make them lose a little money and waste some food like they do when they throw students food out right in front if their faces if they can’t afford it.”

“We need to be allowed to charge again, have good fries and meat and good vegetables and fruits. We need to stop them before it’s too late, because it’s not like there’s any other choice for us anyways. And what about next year and the year after that? Freshmen are coming in thinking that the garbage they serve and the way they treat us is the norm, but it shouldn’t be. We can work together and end this now.

“I know the date is an entire week, but all in all Monday the 3rd, the initial start date, is the most important, and will set the tone for just how long we actually have to boycott! Every day past the 10th is it’s own day, and hopefully those who didn’t know about Monday will see what’s going on and for the rest of the week there will be more and more participation!”

According to Fox-Connecticut, the boycott comes after several complaints about students being served moldy food. Several students shared their frustrations about their lunch struggles. Unfortunately, the students have definitely seen their fair share of distasteful entrees. Eugnie Chen and Cristiania Kamais, both seniors, spoke out about the issues with the lunches being served.

I know a lot of students have found hairs in their food. I’ve had raw chicken, uncooked pasta,”

“The food is awful,” Christy Rosario, a 17-year-old Farmington senior, told The Huffington Post. “I try to avoid it at all costs.”

Although the students have been complaining for quite some time, their boycott seems to have caught the attention of the company and school officials. However, Michael Ryan, Farmington Public Schools’ business administrator, disagrees with their decision to start a boycott. He feels the situation “could have been handled a lot more productively,” he said.

If there’s any lingering concerns, I think the message is very clear that any of the students or customers can access the principal, the dining services director, the central office. There’s many avenues to pursue, I think that’s the overarching message to come out of this.”

Ryan isn’t the only person who’s shared his disdain for the students’ actions. The Farmington Valley Health District has also spoken out in support of the cafeteria. According to Boston.com, random inspections are conducted three times each year and the school cafeteria “has consistently received satisfactory inspection results.”

“The district has not received any complaints regarding food safety nor has it received any confirmed reports of food-borne illness,” an agency spokesperson wrote in a statement to parents following the Facebook boycott.

Do you feel the students’ boycott is radical or justifiable? Share your thoughts.

[Image(s) via Facebook]