Two Columbia University dining halls have notched enough health code violations during routine city inspections to qualify for failing grades, bringing fresh scrutiny to campus dining operations as the institution scales up its meal service.
Pests, Mold, and Missed Timelines at Ferris and Faculty House
Inspectors from the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene found evidence of mice, flies, and significant food contamination hazards at Ferris Booth Commons and Faculty House during visits conducted in September, the Columbia Daily Spectator reported. The findings left both locations with violation point totals high enough to trigger “C” letter grades—the lowest rating issued by the city—should university operators fail to clean up the infractions before unannounced reinspections.
At Faculty House, which serves meals on the second and fourth floors, health inspectors tallied 41 violation points during a Sept. 14 visit. That total marks the highest demerit count issued to any campus dining location in the last three years. The inspection uncovered roughly three pounds of mold-damaged strawberries sitting in the basement pastry prep area, alongside about seven pounds of cooked sweet potatoes, cauliflower, and mushrooms left sitting at roughly 65 degrees Fahrenheit for two hours without mandatory time-based safety controls.
Inspectors also flagged equipment and supplies stored directly beneath exposed sewer lines, mildew-coated ice machines, drainage issues, and an insufficiently hot dishwasher. Meanwhile, at Ferris Booth Commons—the university’s most popular dining facility by weekly meal swipes—staff received 33 violation points after inspectors discovered fresh mouse droppings in a cold catering storage room. The visit also revealed cracked eggs stored improperly near intact ones, active fly presence, and two- to three-inch holes in the ceiling that could welcome pests.
Columbia Dining Serves 12,000 Daily Meals After Expansion
The sanitation flags arrive as Columbia Dining completes its fifth year of sweeping expansion, a period that has more than doubled campus seating capacity and extended operating hours to accommodate student body growth. As of the fall 2026 semester, the university serves upwards of 12,000 meals daily.
Vicki Dunn, assistant vice president for Columbia Dining, and Michael DeMartino, executive chef of campus dining, addressed the findings in a joint statement provided to the student newspaper.
“We want to reassure our community that these findings do not reflect the quality of the food we serve or the commitment and care our staff bring to their work each day,” Dunn and DeMartino wrote. “The health and well-being of every student we serve remains our highest priority.”
The administrators noted that they were disappointed by the inspection results and moved quickly to correct many of the flagged items. University officials confirmed that the sewer pipe at Faculty House has since been insulated, ice machines cleaned, drainage systems adjusted, and dishwashers serviced. Regarding the strawberries, a dining official stated that the produce had arrived just a day prior and was flagged by inspectors before kitchen staff had finished checking incoming deliveries.
Miles Sturges, CC ’27, a student services representative for the Columbia College Student Council, noted in an interview with the Spectator that while the inspection results were concerning, they felt entirely unsurprising given recurring student sanitation complaints.
John Jay and Barnard Cafeterias Maintain A Grades
Despite the high scores at Ferris and Faculty House, other dining outlets across the campus fared better during recent city visits. John Jay Dining Hall, Columbia’s third most popular dining hall, picked up just eight violation points on Sept. 17, easily securing an “A” grade without requiring a follow-up visit. Barnard College cafeterias likewise maintained their top marks, though the Diana Center Cafe accumulated 13 points—just inside the threshold for an “A”—after inspectors spotted live roaches on the premises. A Barnard spokesperson characterized that incident as an isolated issue in a common area managed by a thorough, ongoing pest-control program.
The Fac Shack, a mobile food operation normally stationed outside Wien Hall, was cited for operating as an unlicensed mobile food truck while its permitting process remains underway. The truck’s operations have temporarily shifted to Faculty House.
Both Ferris Booth Commons and Faculty House retain their current “A” grades based on evaluations from the first half of 2025 while they await mandatory city reinspections. While city guidelines typically mandate follow-up visits within a month of an initial low-scoring inspection, public online portals have yet to reflect any updated statuses.
