Officials at USC say they’re reviewing food safety protocols after students shared videos of bugs and mold in dining halls.
Videos and images posted by the school’s Annenberg Media on Instagram show insects and mold in food served at two major USC dining halls over the course of three months.
Alyssa, a graduate student at USC, told KNX News’ Nataly Tavidian the issue goes beyond disgust - it’s about health and safety.
“Oh, I can say for me personally, it changes the dynamic immensely because I'm personally a cancer patient currently and a student,” she said. “So to think that I've frequented those halls many times, like I said, between classes, I haven't seen a report of any student ending up in the hospital. But I feel like I've ended up in the hospital throughout and through this cancer journey in recent months and this year, before and after eating the food in these halls. So I cannot, I can say I won't be eating there anymore.”
She added that it’s especially frustrating given the cost of meals and the fact that there really aren’t other options.
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“I would have to see more than just A-grade inspections,” she said. I feel like for me, personally, I would want to see video or footage of the improvements myself to build that trust, that relationship that I would ever eat there or consume anything. Even a beverage again.”
USC Hospitality says it serves up to 40,000 meals a day and consistently earns A grades from unannounced health inspections. The university says it's reviewing the reports and has begun new inspection protocols to maintain food safety standards.
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