MONTCLAIR, NJ — A school cafeteria menu in Montclair with a watermelon graphic on the date of Juneteenth has left families in the district feeling “hurt, disappointed and offended,” administrators say.
The Montclair Public School District swapped out its food service providers and hired a national corporation, Sodexo, to take over operations earlier this year. The company has assumed full responsibility for meal preparation and service at all Montclair public schools, including breakfast and lunch programs.
“Our partnership with Sodexo represents an important step forward in strengthening our food service program, enhancing meal quality, and ensuring a positive dining experience for all students,” Superintendent Ruth Turner said when the new partnership was announced in January.
On Friday, the school superintendent gave an update about Soxedo – which wasn’t as positive.
Turner wrote:
“I want to address concerns regarding the June cafeteria menu distributed by our food service provider, Sodexo, which included a watermelon graphic on the date of Juneteenth. We recognize that many students, families, staff members, and community members were hurt, disappointed, and offended by the imagery included on the June menu. We share those concerns and understand why this incident has caused distress. The inclusion of this image was inappropriate, insensitive, and inconsistent with the values of Montclair Public Schools. The watermelon has a well-documented history as a racist stereotype used to demean and marginalize Black Americans/African Americans. Its appearance in connection with Juneteenth, a holiday that commemorates the emancipation of enslaved people in the United States and celebrates Black freedom, resilience, and achievement, was offensive and unacceptable.”
Patch reached out to Sodexo USA seeking comment about the superintendent’s statement. We will update this article with any reply we receive.
Turner said that as soon as district administrators became aware of the graphic, they immediately contacted senior leadership at Sodexo to “express their concerns, demand accountability and require corrective action.”
Sodexo was directed to remove the image and revise the June menu without delay, the superintendent said.
“Although the menu was produced by our food service vendor, we recognize that our community rightfully expects all materials distributed to our students and families to reflect the values of Montclair Public Schools,” Turner said.
“In this instance, those expectations were not met,” she added.
Turner continued:
“We have communicated to Sodexo that incidents of this nature are unacceptable and that all communications and materials provided to our school community must be reviewed through a lens of cultural awareness, sensitivity, and respect for the diverse populations we serve. We are also working with Sodexo to review its internal processes and expectations to help ensure that future materials distributed to our school community receive appropriate review and reflect the standards our students, families, and staff deserve. Montclair Public Schools remains steadfast in its commitment to fostering an inclusive environment where every student, staff member, and family feels respected, valued, and welcomed. We appreciate the community members who brought this matter to our attention and reaffirm our commitment to listening, learning, and holding our partners accountable.”
“We remain committed to creating a school community where every student and family feels respected, valued and seen,” Turner said. “We will continue to learn from this incident and take the actions necessary to uphold the standards our community expects and deserves.”
The district has requested a formal response from Sodexo regarding this incident, Turner noted.
Sodexo, one of the largest food service corporations in the nation, manages school cafeterias across the United States. Read the company’s “Pledge to Corporate Responsibility” here.
Sodexo has partnered with former NBA star Earvin “Magic” Johnson on SodexoMagic, a food services and facilities management provider for corporations, health care facilities, K-12 schools and campuses, including several Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Sodexo has also seen criticism in the past over worker salaries and subcontracting. In 2023, hundreds of food service workers authorized strikes against the food service giant at nine cafeterias in New York and New Jersey, including the East Orange Public School District.
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