Worms, bugs, and mold—some USC students are feeling uneasy about their dining hall meals. Students at Everybody’s Kitchen and USC Village Dining Hall have shared alarming images and videos on social media, showing unsettling critters in their food.
In one shocking clip, a maggot-like bug slowly crawls across a plate at Everybody’s Kitchen. This video, along with others, has been confirmed by USC’s student-run news outlet, Annenberg Media.
Another student recorded footage of a green bug hidden in a salad at USC Village Dining Hall. In yet another instance, a student discovered a worm-like bug on her broccoli while eating. She was so disturbed that she decided not to eat there for weeks.
These incidents haven’t gone unnoticed. A TikTok post titled “trigger warning: bugs” featured a fly on lunch meat and moldy bread from Everybody’s Kitchen. The public response has been strong; many students are now expressing their refusal to eat there again. “If I heard there were maggots, I would never eat at EVK,” said Eli Kashfian, a freshman studying law, history, and culture.
In light of these unsettling reports, USC’s Assistant Vice President for Hospitality, Dirk de Jong, stated that the university usually maintains high standards for food safety. He highlighted that they deliver between 30,000 and 40,000 meals daily and consistently receive excellent ratings from the health department. However, he noted that the university is now reviewing their protocols and looking to improve inspection processes.
Interestingly, a public health report from September 2021 recorded a “minor violation” concerning pest presence at campus dining facilities. Such violations are considered minor under health department guidelines, but they raise questions about the overall cleanliness and safety of the dining experience.
Foodborne illnesses are serious; in the U.S., an estimated 48 million people become sick each year from contaminated food. Given this context, students at USC are understandably concerned about what they find on their plates. As they continue to share their experiences online, attention to food safety in university dining halls is becoming a growing concern. For continual updates, check credible sources like Los Angeles County Public Health.
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