Rutgers Dining Halls pivot to serving exclusively halal fresh chicken

Step into any of the four dining halls across Rutgers' campuses, and you'll encounter a distinctly different experience each time.

For a relaxed, social meal with friends, Neilson and Busch Dining Halls offer a welcoming atmosphere. If you're seeking a quick bite, paired with ordering kiosks and cutting-edge technology, The Atrium on the College Avenue campus or Livingston Dining Commons is the place to go.

Though each dining hall proudly features the iconic red "R" in its decor and you'll occasionally run into a familiar face, there's little else that ties these spaces together. While this variety makes each visit feel special, it also raises some important concerns. For students with food sensitivities or religious dietary needs, the lack of consistency across the menus at each location can make it challenging to find reliable, suitable options.

But, finally, after much-needed feedback from the student body, Rutgers Dining Services made a change this semester that was long overdue — all fresh chicken served at Rutgers dining locations is now halal.

No longer are the days of having to place a special order ahead of time or confining yourself to a specific section of the buffet spread — this adjustment will extend to most chicken items that students can find, including chicken breasts, thighs, rotisserie chicken and chicken strips. 

Dr. Peggy Policastro, director of Nutrition for Dining Services, played a key role in bringing about this shift in the dining halls.

With 30 years of experience at the University, she has always made it a point to prioritize the needs of students, even when it means making a substantial switch like this. She cites the strong feedback from Rutgers students as a key motivator behind the move.

"Students are at the heart of all dining decisions," she said. "In response to requests from leaders within our Muslim Student Organizations, we are pleased to expand our offerings of halal meat options."

While students have long advocated for this innovation, one of the challenges Policastro and the team faced was ensuring the menu update was implemented thoughtfully and in a way that would be sustainable over multiple semesters, rather than just a flash in the pan. 

The breakthrough came only when Rutgers Dining Services secured a reliable vendor, capable of meeting the demands of the tens of thousands of hungry students who swipe their RUIDs every day. Other preparations also included informing staff members and conducting site visits to verify that the correct sanitation and halal certification measures were being met.

The change not only addresses the dietary needs of the student body but also helps tackle another challenge: the lack of community spaces on campus. With the demolition of Brower Commons now underway, students are increasingly relying on takeout and retreating to their dorms or other off-campus locations.

In the eyes of Lindsey Hardmeyer, a School of Environmental and Biological Sciences senior, this will help unite the student body. As a member of the Rutgers Healthy Dining Team, a group of undergraduates who work with registered dietitians at Rutgers Dining Services to write weekly newsletters and create interactive education booths, fostering a sense of belonging among patrons is a top priority.

"Food variety and inclusivity in the overall campus experience are extremely important not only to dining services but to the community as well at Rutgers," she said. "They are essential to the campus experience, as they create a welcoming environment where students from diverse backgrounds feel represented and valued. Offering a range of food options supports students' dietary needs and fosters a sense of community."

While this overhaul marks a big step forward for Rutgers Dining Services, it should hopefully signal more initiatives to follow.

A majority of the chicken items served at Rutgers Dining Halls are now halal, but it's important to note that not all of them are. Processed chicken items, such as chicken fingers, nuggets and wings, are not halal unless explicitly labeled as such within the dining facility, but this is something the team is actively working toward rectifying.

"Rutgers Dining Services is always working towards creating a safe and welcoming environment where students can eat worry-free and are working on providing more allergy-friendly foods and vegetarian options and expanding sustainability practices," said Hardmeyer.

Another crucial part of the process involves dispelling assumptions and confusion. Most people who do not follow a halal diet can still eat halal chicken, but the staff encourages anyone unsure of how this change may affect them to reach out to Rutgers Dining Nutrition via email.