N.J. Students Served Fried Chicken For Black History Month; Fairfield Company Apologizes

An Essex County-based school food vendor has apologized after one of its directors reportedly attempted to pay tribute to Black History Month at a New Jersey high school by offering students a meal of fried chicken, sweet potato casserole and other “soul food” staples.

Thursday’s menu at Hopewell Valley Central High School in Pennington – intended as a “celebration of Black History Month” according to a flyer allegedly posted in the cafeteria – also included sautéed spinach, mac and cheese, cornbread and peach or apple crisp, NJ.com reported.

Superintendent Thomas Smith said that the decision “reinforces racial stereotypes and is not consistent with our district mission.”

The school’s food vendor – the Fairfield-based Pomptonian Food Service – has apologized to the district for the incident, Smith told NJ.com.

A spokesperson with Pomptonian said that the menu was intended to “celebrate soul food.”

“Pomptonian deeply regrets that, out of context, this menu may have been perceived by individuals as insensitive or in poor taste,” the spokesperson told NJ.com.

According to the company’s website, prior Pomptionian food programs at New Jersey schools have included “A Taste of Korea,” featuring beef bulgogi, tofu stew, japchae, tteok bokki and kimchi.

The family-owned company - which has been in business more than 50 years and provides food services to more than 350 schools across the state - came under scrutiny in 2013 when at least two elementary school students in Madison purchased bagels that had a cafeteria employee's blood on them.

• See related article: Bloody Bagels Served in School Cafeteria Spark Concerns

Photo: Flickr Commons

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