Families in a New Jersey school district were left outraged after a cafeteria menu distributed in June featured a picture of a watermelon on June 10 — prompting school officials to denounce the image as racially offensive and demand immediate action from the catering contractor.
Montclair Public Schools said the photo appeared at a June cafeteria set up by food service company Sodexo and sparked complaints from students, families, staff and community members.
Superintendent Ruth Turner said those who saw the menu were “upset, disappointed, and outraged” by the image’s appearance alongside the June 19 holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States.
Turner described the image as “inappropriate, insensitive, and inconsistent with the values of Montclair Public Schools,” adding that its placement in relation to Juneteenth was “offensive and unacceptable.”
The district said that the management immediately stood up after hearing about the dispute, and contacted Sodexo’s senior leadership seeking accountability and rectification of the situation.
According to Turner, Sodexo was ordered to remove the image and release an updated version of the June menu.
The district also said it will work with the company to review internal processes and expectations regarding resources distributed to students and families.
“All things shared with our school community must be reviewed through the lens of cultural awareness, sensitivity, and respect,” Turner said.
The dispute erupted a few months after Sodexo took over the food supply for the entire region.
The district-affiliated outfit announcing the partnership said Sodexo began operating in Montclair schools on Jan. 5.
Families were promised that their children would be served fresh ingredients, nutrition-focused meals and “culturally responsive menu options.”
The image of the watermelon was soon analyzed because of the long and complicated history of the fruit in American racial ideas.
In a statement, Turner pointed to the historic use of the watermelon image to denigrate black Americans, saying the organization made the menu image more problematic when paired with Juneteenth.
The district thanked members of the public for bringing the matter to the attention of the administration.
It is not clear who first saw the photo or when the complaints were first filed.
And it’s unclear who designed the graphic, who authorized its distribution, or whether it appeared across the district or only on certain school menus.
Sodexo apologized after the controversy went public.
The company said it was “deeply sorry[s] the use of traditionally insensitive imagery on our June menu” and emphasized that the aim was to highlight a seasonal item served each spring.
“We are taking this situation very seriously,” the company said.
Sodexo said the matter was dealt with through internal agreements and pledged to strengthen service standards, operating procedures and accreditation procedures.
The company has not publicly identified the employee or employees responsible for creating or authorizing the image.
No disciplinary action has been publicly announced.
