Café Mac this week began implementing a new social responsibility program by placing ingredient lists beside vegan entrees. Bon Appétit is launching the program, called “Circle of Responsibility,” at its locations nationwide.

“The program was created to educate staff, but also to provide the most healthful meals possible for students,” said Bon Appétit manager Allison Albritton.

The most noticeable changes in Café Mac are the new ingredient lists and food icons denoting specialized foods, including vegan, organic, halal, kosher and low-fat fare. Among other changes, the Café also plans to incorporate more vegetable and utilize more low-fat cooking methods.

Bon Appétit General Manager Lori Hartzell said that the new guidelines are in line with the company's founding principles. “Bon Appétit was the first company to support Northwest Tree planters and also the first to be a part of the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch, which only endorses sustainability-minded fisheries,” Hartzell said. Local foods, including produce like apples, are frequently purchased from local suppliers in a program known as Farm-to-Fork.

Although more organic and specially prepared foods will be available under the new guidelines, the company's organic selection will remain somewhat limited. “We have 1,000 students come in for lunch and for dinner, and 600-800 for breakfast, so it's not possible to have totally organic menus…In addition to that, organic food doesn't last as long as non-organic, and that's an important consideration with the amount of students dining,” Hartzell said.

Student reactions to the changes in Café Mac are mixed. Ben Garnett ’07 is critical of organic food. “Organic tomatoes are delicious. Otherwise I like my food genetically modified. I personally think organic food is a crock, but if other people want it then it’s okay.”

Becca Kreitzer ’07, an employee of Whole Foods, also tentatively agreed with the Circle of Responsibility guidelines. “I like knowing what’s in my food because sometimes I won’t like a certain ingredient. But the special options don‘t interest me much. I frequently spend my $7.50 on a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, nicely toasted.”

The Circle of Responsibility is not the only thing changing in Café Mac this year. Besides seasonal events and the occasional sundae bar, the “Clean Plate Club” will be introduced. Hartzell explained that monitors would be posted at the tray carousel to award clean plates with raffle tickets. Hartzell hopes this will help alert students to the large amount of food waste at Café Mac. “We have about 100 gallons of pulp food waste a day,” said Hartzell, "so you can imagine how much solid waste that is."

Marketing materials for the Circle of Responsibility program were due to arrive about a month ago. Once the materials are received, Café Mac can begin the program in its entirety. “It should be any day now,” Albritton said.