B&G fixes mouse problem in a “Jif?”

By Erin Brodbeck
Collegian Editor
October 17, 2007

Blue and Gold Dining Commons management was instructed to immediately correct a mouse infestation after the Philadelphia Department of Public Health paid its bi-annual visit Sept. 26. According to Director of Food Services Robert Nyce, the problem has since been corrected, and health inspectors approved of the facility’s improvements Oct. 10.

Angelo Ratini - A sign indicated that peanut butter, which was stationed near the
cereal last year, is now being served at the deli counter.

Initially, Nyce reported that the inspectors made a few minor recommendations to the B&G management Sept. 26, withholding the information about the mouse infestation. He did reveal the inspector’s suggestion to move peanut butter and jelly containers to the deli, where they would be covered.

“The inspectors mostly suggested improvements to the physical facilities,” Nyce said.

More specifically, inspectors observed numerous mouse droppings on the preparation area floor, according to a report on the city’s Web site, phila.gov. Nyce said exterminators have come to the B&G each day since the Sept. 26 inspection, and will continue to work there to keep rodents out. Although the mouse infestation was dealt with, inspectors made another recommendation during their second visit Oct. 10 to replace the kitchen floor.

After contacting the City of Philadelphia to obtain the actual report, Collegian discovered the B&G’s inspection on phila.gov. Nyce then confirmed the report, and maintained that Food Services is working to improve the B&G.

In a previous interview, Nyce said, “Our standards are higher than those of other institutions. We are constantly training people.”

According to phila.gov, La Salle isn’t the only Philly school that’s had to deal with sanitary issues. The University of Pennsylvania’s cafeteria was told to fix a fruit fly infestation in January 2007, and Drexel had a similar mouse problem in October 2005.

Nyce recalled when, two or three years ago, a Villanova University dining hall was shut down for a year after failing a health inspection. No La Salle dining hall has ever been shut down, Nyce said.

Students exiting the B&G Oct. 16 weren’t surprised to hear of the dining hall’s furry visitors.

“It doesn’t bother me, because people get mice in their house all the time,” freshman business major Caroline Moore said.

Another freshman business major, Tina Cherry, agreed with Moore.

“As long as it’s not in my food, it’s not affecting me,” she said.

Sophomore psychology major Mike Waxman was still slightly disturbed to hear the news.

“They need to pay more attention to cleanliness,” he said.

Other recommendations are being taken into account, according to Nyce. Peanut butter and jelly containers were moved to the deli counter after inspectors pointed out that leaving the foods uncovered could subject students to airborne germs.

“They are right,” Nyce said of the inspector’s recommendation.

Inspectors had never cited the PB&J location as a problem in the past because the containers used to be located either under the salad bar or behind the bread station, where the food was protected from students who might be suffering from a cold.

Food Services is also looking into the suggestion to replace the kitchen floor.

“It looks horrible,” Nyce said of the scuffed kitchen floor. “It will be a large project, but we’re taking it one step at a time.”

brodbecke1@lasalle.edu