USF students urge dining services to address food theft problem

Students around USF have experienced food theft for mobile pickup orders, prompting complaints and frustration over the services and their procedures. ORACLE PHOTO/EMILY CRUZ-ARRIAZA

Justin Jackson said that throughout his first few weeks at USF, he heard about food theft on campus through his friends and was “disgusted” that some students would attempt it.

“It was really concerning to hear about this,” said Jackson, a freshman biology major. “It shows a lack of integrity in our peers and allows others to potentially capitalize on meal plans that students pay for.”

Jackson said hearing about food theft on campus has caused him to be more cautious about ordering online for pickup — and said he stands at the pickup shelves or kiosks “at all times” when he does.

Still, Jackson said he believes food theft on campus has “simple fixes.”

“There are easy measures that could be put in place to stop this,” said Jackson. “Presenting school IDs to ensure name verification or seeing order confirmation could be a start.”

Food theft has become a growing concern within USF’s student body, with some students pushing for calls to action for USF Dining to address the situation beyond order remakes.

A Reddit post on the r/USF subreddit from Sept. 25 about someone’s online pickup order being stolen at Panera Bread in the Marshall Student Center garnered 125 upvotes and 118 comments.

The poster, an anonymous USF student, said the experience almost caused them to be late to class after Panera Bread had to remake their order following the mishap.

Comments on the post were mixed — some discussed food insecurity and desperation, while others agreed about the “inconvenience” of the theft.

Chartwells has been USF’s dining services provider since the university switched from Aramark over the summer.

Katryna Wolfrom, a Chartwells spokesperson, said food theft is “not uncommon” at college dining facilities that offer pickup.

“Customers who experience this at an establishment on any USF campus should reach out to the location’s on-site manager for assistance,” Wolfrom said.

Despite the assistance USF provides when someone experiences food theft, including remakes and refunds, the issue has inconvenienced some students around campus.

William Trinh, a sophomore architecture major, said he had his pick-up order stolen at the Sessums Mall Chick-fil-A last spring.

“Getting my food stolen was a huge inconvenience to my day,” Trinh said. “Even though Chick-fil-A was able to remake my order, it still delayed my schedule and caused me to wait longer for my food.”

Trinh said he was able to get his order remade after he told Chick-fil-A staff about the theft.

However, meal recovery procedures — including remakes, refunds and discounts — are at the discretion of the restaurant, according to Chick-fil-A’s website.

Trinh said students ordering food at USF’s dining facilities often want something “quick and easy,” and food theft prolongs the time spent waiting for food.

“A lot of students have strict schedules, and sometimes get food before class,” Trinh said. “Waiting to get food remade could interfere with time in class or any plan in general.”

Although Trinh has only experienced food theft once, he said it was “enough” to make him want stricter practices to prevent the issue at USF.

“A more rigorous verification process could stop theft from occurring,” Trinh said. “If there was an ID requirement or proof-of-order receipt, most cases of food theft could easily be resolved.”

Britney Meza is a junior electrical engineering student and said she had her food stolen at the Chick-fil-A in the MSC last fall.

Meza said her entire meal was stolen after she left it unattended on a table for a couple of minutes while going to the restroom.

She said she was “furious” about the incident and asked people around the MSC Bullpen if they had seen it.

“It was disheartening to have someone steal my food,” Meza said. “Now, I take precaution by never ordering online and always being vigilant of when food arrives — even asking for receipts if given the option.”

Meza said Chick-fil-A remade her order after employees said they saw someone steal her order from the table, but said she was disappointed the experience had happened to begin with.

“I get that there are people who don’t always have money [for food],” Meza said. “[But] they should redirect this need and apply for services like Feed-a-Bull.”

USF students urge dining services to address food theft problem

Tags: