Sodexo gets an A

Rockhurst University students aren’t the only ones getting A's on campus.

This month, the Kansas City Health Department gave Sodexo, the University’s food service provider, the A grade with its 2011 food excellence award. The top rating was given to Planet Sub, Daily Grind Coffee Shop, Thomas More Dining Room, and Pub. This was the second year Planet Sub and Daily Grind have received the A rating.

“I think it’s a culmination of a lot of hard work between our staff and the physical plant department,” said Michael Johnson, general manager and district supply management coordinator for Sodexo Campus Services at Rockhurst.

The health department’s website states that the award is designed to “recognize those facilities that take the initiative to go above and beyond health code requirements to excel in sanitation and food safety.”

To achieve this level of food safety and sanitation, the health department graded Sodexo on seven different criteria, including: no repeats of violations from the calendar year; identified as not a source of food-borne illnesses with a year; at least one person who has successfully completed the department’s food manager course or is ServeSafe certified.

Johnson said  the Sodexo team works hard every year to obtain this distinction, which puts Rockhurst in the top 5 percent of facilities inspected throughout the city.

Matt Quick, Ph.D., dean of students and vice president for student development and athletics, echoed Johnson’s statements.

“We are very proud of the collaborative work performed by Sodexo and Rockhurst staff to ensure and enhance food safety and facility sanitation,” Quick said.

But the true test in safety and quality comes from the students and others who eat the more than 2,200 meals served each day by Sodexo between 7:15 a.m. and midnight, five days a week.

One such student, Keith Graham, is a fan of the food service’s shrimp scampi and a frequenter of the salad bar.

“I’m happy for them,” he said. “I think they do a good job serving Rockhurst students. I always feel safe eating their food and I know it is good quality.”