Food Diversity for Sustainability: Healthy, Affordable and Sustainable food choices for all at Walailak University

08Nov 2022 by Krittayot Ritthijak

Sustainability and Stewardship

Walailak University has a mission to attach great importance to the well-being of its students and staff to enable them to live happily in university life. Regarding food services, the university believes that a positive campus dining experience is an integrated part of student life and can enhance students’ academic performance.

Walailak University provides various types of food and beverage service outlets, including:

1.WU Food Centers

Walailak University has 3 main food centers:

- Cho Pradu Food Center

Opening time: Open every day between 6.00 A.M. and 8.00 P.M.

The food center consists of 14 restaurants and 40 local stalls and is annually open during Ramadan Month

- - Canteen No. 1

Opening time: Open every day between 6.00 A.M. and 2.00 P.M.

Moreover, in 2021, WU founded WU Food Center in which operating for students and staff

WU Hospital Food Center:

Opening time: Open every day between 7.00 A.m. and 4.00 P.M.

This canteen has approximately 70 restaurants.

2.Retail Convenience Stores

There are five retail convenience stores in areas of the university, e.g., Walailak University Hospital, sections, and lecture buildings.

3.Food Stalls

Twenty food stalls are available across the university, selling food and beverages across buildings, such as sections and Walailak University Hospitals.

4.Food Vending Machines

To ensure that all students can access food at all times, Walailak University has established 5 food vending machines in all dormitories.

5.Markets at Walailak University

There are two markets at Walailak University: Bota Green Market and Chan Praduu Market. The Bota Green Market is located at Walailak Botanic Park (WBP) and is held on Thursdays. The Chan Praduu Market is held Mondays at the parking lot between Building 1 and Lecture Building 3. Similarly, the products within the two markets are from the community surrounding the university.

All food outlets must strictly abide by the regulations and practices in line with the pillars of sustainable, healthy, and affordable food provision. The following are the regulations and practices:

- - Walailak University Announcement on “The Regulations and Penalties of Food Operators BE 2560 (2015)”
  - Walailak University Announcement on “The Regulations of the Practices in Canteen Management and Operation BE 2562 (2017)”
  - Walailak University Announcement on “The Lease Agreement of Food Operators BE 2562 (2017)”
  - The Regulations of the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health on Food Hygiene and Sanitation for Food Handlers
  - Order of Walailak University Re: The Appointment of the Committee on Food Safety and Sanitation BE 2560 (2015)

However, Walailak University wanted to create greater sustainability in food for food sanitation and quality-of-service standards to avoid damaging and wasting natural resources. In 2021, all involved sections at Walailak University reviewed those mentioned policies and set a guideline on sustainable food consumption as a test policy. The details are as follows:

The Process of Sustainable Food Sourcing

In 2021, Walailak University reviewed all the regulations on food management to create greater impacts on food to avoid damaging or wasting natural resources and contributing to climate change. The core details of the drafted policy include:

- - - - Meat and animal products, including seafood, should be derived from qualified farms certified by reliable agencies, such as Good Agricultural Practices (GAP).
        Sources of processed seafood, aquatic animals and products must not involve those in conflict with the European Union’s guidelines on illegal unreported and unregulated fishing, destructive fi shing practices, overfishing practices, use of forced and child labor or unfair employment of labor in the seafood supply.
        Environmentally and socially friendly transportation of uncontaminated meat, including animal and aquatic products, must be ensured. Fruits and vegetables should be seasonal fruits and vegetables, and Walailak University prioritizes the purchase of raw materials and others available in local communities with good agricultural practices.
        Nontoxic fruits and vegetables should be seasonal products, locally farmed by neighboring communities, and cultivated with good agricultural practices.

2.Food Diversity on Campus

Walailak University is aware of the importance of food diversity. Consuming a variety of foods can contribute to students to getting different vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. There are more than 100 restaurants at the university providing food choices based on the needs of the students, e.g., religious convictions, health problems, concerns about animal welfare, and avoiding excessive use of natural resources. The food choices at the university include:

- - Local restaurants and food stalls
  - Halal restaurants and food stalls
  - J-Vegetarian and Vegan food
  - Healthy food
  - The diversity of food types for different benefits
  - Supporting delivery services for food operators

3.Affordable Food Choices

The food distributors must obviously attach price tags. All food restaurants are evaluated every week to maintain service quality and sanitation. Normally, the food prices at Walailak University are cheaper compared to off-campus restaurants and food stalls. This can save students’ expenses by 20 – 30 %. Moreover, some restaurants offer rebates for the students and staff by showing them ID cards.

4.Safe and Healthy Food

It is the main duty of a university to protect its students and staff from food-related illness and other harm arising from food contamination.

Walailak University has policies on food sanitation, including distribution quality, to ensure that every food outlet on campus has been evaluated. The food operators also must attend the food safety orientation organized by the Center of Property Management, Walailak University.

The assessment of food sanitation and safety is an important component in identifying and controlling the quality of food and hygiene risks. Walailak University appointed a committee responsible for food assessment. According to the Order of Walailak University Re: The Appointment of the Committee on Food Safety and Sanitation BE 2560 (2015), the committee’s duties include:

1) Provide an 8-hour training for food operators to get a food service sanitation certificate.

2) Evaluate food safety and sanitation, food price, equipment, Appropriate work clothing, food taste, and canteen facilities to ensure students and staff are protected from food contamination and food service accidents.

3)Provide all food operators with food sanitation and safety handbooks that apply to all foods.

- - - - Food service provides must attach great importance to the principles of food hygiene and safety in all steps of food production: cleaning, raw material storage, hygienic care of cooking utensils and packaging, cooking, and distribution.
        All of the food service providers on campus must attend the food safety orientation organized by the Center of Walailak University Property Management.

During the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, all food operators were ordered to strictly follow the preventive measures of COVID-19 as instructed by the Department of Health. Also, those operators must screen customers before they enter and use the “Thai Save Thai”, an application for updating their COVID-19 situation status.

The result of providing food choices showed that the well-being of students and staff was improved. Muslim students and staff trusted in the governance of the university, and vegan students could access the needs of vegetarian meals. The provision also created harmony and understanding among the diversity of beliefs and opinions.

Upon the review in 2021, the new policy on Food Preparation and Sustainable Consumption was announced in 2022 as shown below.

For Thai version, please click the link below.
https://cas.wu.ac.th/sdgs/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2022/11/เรื่อง-นโยบายด้านแนวปฏิบัติเกี่ยวกับการประกอบอาหารและการบริโภคอย่างยั่งยืน.pdf

Relevant Rules and Regulation:

The Announcement of Walailak University Subject: 2022 Policy on Food Preparation and Sustainable Consumption
Walailak University Order No. 1180/2560 regarding the Appointment of the Food Sanitation System Development Committee In the cafeteria Walailak University (dated October 18, 2017)
Announcement of Walailak University on rules, regulations the prohibitions and penalties for tenants of space for business of shops and restaurants within in Walailak University (dated October 9, 2017
Walailak University Order No. 392/2019 regarding the appointing a working group to control restaurant service of entrepreneurs within Walailak University cafeteria (dated April 9, 2019).
Announcement of Walailak University regarding the guidelines for restaurant management within the theater Walailak University Food (dated February 8, 2019)
Announcement of Walailak University terms and details that attached to the contract for renting Walailak University area for food distribution service in Walailak University canteen (dated 23 July 2019)
Regulations of the Department of Health, Ministry of Public Health Food sanitation standards for restaurants.

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