Important notice: Changes to Food Services on campus in response to COVID-19
On Friday, you received an update from Ryerson regarding the university’s response to the risk of COVID-19 (formerly novel coronavirus) to our community. Food Services is monitoring the evolving situation in Toronto and we’re working with university leaders and public officials to coordinate our response. At this time, the university remains open and Food Services and Housing and Residence Life continue to operate.
The health and safety of students, staff and guests is a top priority for Food Services. We are taking extra safety precautions designed to reduce the risk of the spread of illness at our dining halls and campus eateries. This includes enhanced food safety quality assurance measures and temporary changes to the operations of our two dining halls and five retail locations.
Please note that these changes are preemptive measures and not a result of illness on campus.
What’s changing in the dining halls
Beginning March 17, we will be temporarily closing the ILC Dining Hall. The Pitman Dining Hall will remain open at this time but with significant changes to our daily operations.
Meals in the Pitman Dining Hall will be served to guests by Ryerson Eats staff in takeout containers and with prepackaged cutlery. Self-serve and build-your-own stations will be closed.
In-house dining has been suspended in the Pitman Dining Hall. Guests will be required to receive their meal and exit the dining hall.
What’s changing at our retail locations
Effective today, the Hub Café (JOR), the Kinetic Café (ENG), the Library Kiosk (LIB), Starbucks (SLC) and Ted’s Bagels (TRS) will be closed until further notice.
Additional food safety quality assurance measures
Food Services has strict food handling and safety standards and procedures in place designed to minimize the risk of foodborne illness at our campus eateries. In light of the increased risk of the spread of COVID-19 within Toronto, we are taking extra safety precautions, including:
- Providing enhanced food safety training and regular COVID-19 updates to our staff
- Introducing a requirement that front-line staff wear gloves when handling food and washing their hands every 30 minutes
- Adding additional Food Services staff to our schedules to clean and wipe down high food-contact surfaces in our campus eateries
- Increasing the strength of our surface cleaners and sanitizers
- Transitioning self-serve and build-your-own stations in Pitman Dining Hall to fully served stations
- Continuing to advise staff who are sick or exhibiting flu-like symptoms to stay home
Get in contact with us
If you have any questions about these temporary changes to food on campus, please contact Marwan El Chafei, associate director of Food Services, at marwan.elchafei@torontomu.ca.
More information
Stay up-to-date on Ryerson’s monitoring of COVID-19.
For additional information and the latest news about COVID-19 and its impact in the Greater Toronto Area, please visit: