Webster University’s dining hall, Marletto’s Marketplace, recently served raw chicken to a student.
Freshman Kolten Wiegers ordered the pre-cooked chicken when 360 Degrees, the off-the-grill option in Marletto’s, was closed. The meal came with three chicken strips–all raw.
After taking a bite, Wiegers noticed the unusual appearance. After tearing each piece apart, he discovered the chicken was severely undercooked.
Wiegers did not get sick from the chicken, but according to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eating undercooked chicken can lead to food poisoning, which can cause diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting. There have been no reports of food poisoning in the past month, according to Webster University’s Student Health Services Department.
Wiegers posted a photo of the raw chicken to a Webster Snapchat story, where student and member of Webster’s Dining Advisory Board Styx Nappier found it.
“It almost looked as if somebody had barely dipped the chicken into the fryer before taking it out,” Nappier said. “I was appalled.”
The Snapchat post of the uncooked chicken was shared with Matt Suellentrop, general manager of Sodexo. Sodexo is Webster’s chosen food service company, and manages Marletto’s, employs chefs, and provides food options.
“My reaction was that it’s unacceptable for us to be serving anything of that quality to our guests and should not happen under any circumstances,” Suellentrop said.
Additional training is being given to Marletto’s staff and supervisors, along with replacing and hiring employees. Suellentrop described the current quality of Marletto’s as “inconsistent.”
According to Marletto’s Food Establishment Inspection Report, on Oct. 11, 2023, the dining hall went from an A to B rating upon first visit. Health code violations include the build up of soil on the soda fountain spout, a mold like growth around the soda spout, and the hand sink being used to store cooked items on top of it. Marletto’s received a score of A after making corrections ‘on site.’
Webster is not the first college to have issues with Sodexo. Other universities, including Minnesota State University and West Virginia University, have reportedly had raw chicken served.
Webster has a Dining Advisory Board made up of students that review dining options on campus twice a week. Member Nappier agrees with Suellentrop that Marletto’s quality is unpredictable.
“Marletto’s is a mixed bag in terms of quality, with some meals and restaurants within it being better than others,” Nappier said. “360 Degrees is always high quality, whereas the main grill features food that is often mediocre, such as having crunchy rice. I have also had some great meals from the main grill, but not knowing if you’ll get a tasty burger or crunchy rice really makes it difficult to fully appreciate the restaurant.”
Meanwhile, Dining Advisory Board member Josh Meyr has a positive opinion of Marletto’s.
“I still eat there regularly because the people running our campus’s food know what they’re doing,” Meyr said. “The service has been better, the food is pretty good, nothing award-winning, but I enjoy it nonetheless.”
All first-year students living on campus are required to pay for a meal plan. Wiegers, Nappier and Meyr will all continue to dine at Marletto’s, but not without double checking their food first.
“The experience definitely made me only order food that is cooked in front of me now,” Wiegers said.
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