Study: Flavored Milk Does More Good Than Harm
May 13—Children who drink milk, flavored or regular, have higher intakes of key nutrients, including calcium, phosphorus, vitamin A and potassium, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association.

Unidine Signs Pledge to Commit to Sustainable, Local Foods
May 13—Unidine became the first foodservice contractor specializing in healthcare to sign the Health Care Without Harm’s (HCWH) Food Service Contractor Pledge, according to HCWH. Through the pledge, Unidine promises to work with local farmers and community-based organizations to increase the availability of local and sustainable foods, as well as alerting customers when genetically engineered foods are being served.

Vanderbilt names Camp Howard new director
April 23—Vanderbilt University announced that Camp Howard has been appointed director of Vanderbilt Dining. Howard had been serving as interim director.

Morrison Partners with Weight Watchers
April 23—Morrison Management Specialists has partnered with Weight Watchers to offer selections from the weight management company’s menu in more than 300 hospitals nationwide. The roll out is expected to take five years, with 60 locations this year gaining the items.

Pittsburgh Hospital Hires Cura as Foodservice Provider
April 18—St. Clair Hospital in Pittsburgh has selected Cura Hospitality, a healthcare and acute care dining provider, to be its foodservice provider. As part of the contact, Cura will to implement a menu concierge program for hospital patients. In the program, clinicians visit patient rooms to take meal orders, helping patients select items that will help heal them or improve their medical condition.

Mike Bailey starts new contract company
April 10—Michael Bailey, a former Compass Group CEO, and San Francisco-based Gryphon Investors have formed a new contract management firm to be called TrustHouse Services Group. The new company was created through the acquisition of Aladdin Food Management Services, its subsidiary, Ameriserve Food Service Management, and Fitz Vogt & Associates.

Bill Helps Put Local Produce on School Menus
March 12—The Washington state legislature passed legislation that will help the state’s schools purchase locally grown produce—even if it costs more—by relaxing purchasing regulations.

Aramark combines cultural attraction accounts
Feb. 28—Philadelphia-based Aramark announced the alignment of its more than 20 zoo, science center, museum and aquarium accounts under a unified team, Aramark Cultural Attractions.

Study: Michigan School Districts Increase use of Contracts
Feb. 18—Michigan school districts have increased the use of outsourcing according to a new report by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, a Michigan-based research group. The survey found that the state¹s school districts¹ use of contracted services in food, busing and janitorial services rose 33.5% between 2005 and 2007 to 40.2%. The study adds that, 29.7% of the contracts were for foodservice managements.

D.C. Schools to Outsource Foodservice
Feb. 15—Schools Chancellor Michelle Rhee and Mayor Adrian Fenty announced that the city’s public school system would begin accepting bids for foodservice contracts next week, according to The Washington Post. This follows three years of multimillion-dollar losses in the department, with a projected $11.6-million loss for fiscal 2008, according to the Office of Food and Nutrition Services. The district’s enrollment is around 50,000.

Chef hired for Farm-to-School Program
Feb. 7—The Oregon Department of Agriculture has hired Portland chef Cory Schreiber to head its Farm-to-School Program, which aims to increase the use of Oregon-grown products in the state's 198 school districts. Schreiber began this new position of program director in January, and said the overall goal of the program is to have "100% Oregon products in the schools."

Tully’s Coffee switches to Organic Espresso
Feb. 7—Seattle-based Tully’s Coffee said it now exclusively serves 100% Fair Trade Certified Organic Espresso, through a partnership with TransFair USA, the only third-party certifier of Fair Trade products in the country.

Baylor’s 50-year plan to include mega cafeteria
Feb. 1—Baylor University officials in Waco, Texas detailed their 50-year plan for growth to the student senate this week. Part of the plan, which includes campus access changes and new residence halls, entails the construction of a cafeteria large enough to feed the 14,000 students on campus.

Virginia Senate Votes to Eliminate Trans Fat from Schools
JAN. 30—The Virginia Senate unanimously agreed to eliminate trans fat from all food sold at public schools. The bill, which will affect items sold in cafeteria lines as well as those available in vending machines, directs the state superintendent of public instruction to develop guidelines on how to phase the additive out, according to The Washington Post.

Iowa School Board Passes Allergy Policy
JAN. 30—The Clear Lake (Iowa) Community School Board unanimously passed a new allergy policy, which forbids peanuts and peanut-containing products to be sold in the district’s cafeterias. The regulations should go into effect by the beginning of March, said superintendent Dwight Pierson.