Food

Food Goals

food icon round

GOAL: By 2030, increase sustainable food purchases by campus foodservice providers to at least 25%.

STATUS: Achieved

GOAL: Expand food recovery efforts in partnership with the campus Basic Needs program. 

STATUS: Achieved

GOAL: Ensure that 40% of the food in a vending machine meet UC Healthy Vending Guidelines for Healthy Spend by 2025

STATUS: In Progress

Campus Performance Overview

Berkeley Student Food Collective

Foodservice impacts campus purchasing, waste, and engagement.  About 25% of the food purchased by dining halls, campus restaurants, and concessions is sustainable, and that percentage is veering upward.  To qualify as being “sustainable,” foods served on campus must contain a UC-approved 3rd party certification including certified organic, fair trade, and humane (i.e. raised with humane practices). 

 decorative Food graphic with statistics about sustainability on Berkeley campus

Healthy Campus

The Food and Beverage Choice Policy established nutrition standards and the need for sustainable, fresh, whole foods to be accessible via campus foodservice vendors and at campus events. Rather than take consumer choices away, the policy instead strives to “make the healthy choice the easy choice” in campus cafes, markets, vending machines, meetings/events, and athletic concession stands. In vending, 70% of beverage options and 40% of food options must meet healthier standards, along with healthier options stocked at eye level. In 2025, over 90% of beverage machines and over 70% of snack machines met the shelf space requirement. To access a list of which food and beverage vendors are in compliance with this policy, visit the Eat Well Berkeley webpage.

The Berkeley Student Food Collective is a market run by Cal students. The store provides fresh, local, healthy, environmentally sustainable and ethically produced food at affordable prices to the Berkeley campus and greater community.

Food Recovery Program

Berkeley Dining in collaboration with the Basic Needs Center is working to reduce, monitor, and redirect the amount of food waste at UC Berkeley. Pre-consumed food that is safe for later consumption is routed to a food pantry that aids in reducing food insecurity among students. Post-consumer food waste is composted. 

Each semester, Berkeley Dining donates over 50,000 pounds of food—equivalent to around 40,000 meals—to students and community members in need through the campus pantry and local nonprofit partners.

The Berkeley Student Food Collective is a student-run market that offers fresh, local, healthy, and ethically produced food at affordable prices, serving both the campus and the broader community.

Food Choices and Carbon Impact

UC Berkeley is striving to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from food purchases by providing globally-inspired, culturally-acceptable, plant-forward menus including fruits and vegetables; whole grains; beans and other legumes; soy foods; nuts and seeds; plant oils; herbs and spices; and vegetarian/vegan alternatives to meat and dairy. 

Be Well at Work - Wellness Program offers cooking workshops and recipes for staff and faculty, showcasing recipes that align with the guidance above.

Berkeley Dining provides its patrons with access to educational and training materials to help support their food choices.To make your own sustainable choices, look out for carbon footprint labels on Berkeley Dining online menus. These labels of carbon impact were calculated from emissions data from the World Resources Institute. To learn more visit Berkeley Dining’s Carbon Footprint guide

Thanks to funding from the Healthy Beverage Initiative, the Green Initiative Fund (TGIF), Facilities Services, departments, and new construction budgets, refill stations serving free and safe tap water can be found near building entrances in many campus buildings. On this page, find a map of UC Berkeley's bottle fillers and water fountains, a guide for departments looking to add bottle fillers, and more.

STARS Performance Overview

Food and Dining Category

According to STARS, "This subcategory seeks to recognize institutions that are supporting a sustainable food system. Modern industrial food production often has deleterious environmental and social impacts. Pesticides and fertilizers used in agriculture can contaminate ground and surface water and soil, which can in turn have potentially dangerous impacts on wildlife and human health. The production of animal-derived foods often subjects animals to inhumane treatment and animal products have a higher per-calorie environmental intensity than plant-based foods. Additionally, farm workers are often directly exposed to dangerous pesticides, subjected to harsh working conditions, and paid substandard wages... Dining services can also support sustainable food systems by preventing food waste..."

Berkeley's STARS Performance

Total Points Available: 10.00

Food and Dining Points Claimed: 7.46

  • UC Berkeley achieved 75% of available points in the STARS Campus Engagement category. The average among research universities is 39.6%.

  • Cal Dining’s  commitment to serving fresh, sustainably sourced food resulted in our stellar STARS performance in the Sustainable Dining category.

  • The campus reduces dining-related waste by  collecting and donating safe uneaten food to people in need. 

Research

Check out Claire Kremen’s presentation: “What is the future of farming?”

Food Highlights

The Berkeley Food Institute works to create a more just and sustainable California food system to enhance the health of people and the environment.