Join Larry Wainstein in the Hispanic Parade

News

Published: September 29 2014

Video of Live Insect in New Jersey High School Lunch Investigated

News

Published: September 20 2014

By Checkey Beckford

 A New Jersey high school's food vendor says it's investigating after several students began circulating video purporting to show a live insect squirming inside a taco salad school lunch.

Video taken by North Bergen High School students show what appears to be a small worm on the lunch plate. One girl posted the video on Instagram, and another boy sent video to NBC 4 New York.

The authenticity of the videos could not be immediately confirmed Friday, but the lunch vendor for the school, Nu-Way Concessionaires, said it's investigating and that the health department was immediately called in.

Mystery meat? Health department investigates maggot found in North Bergen student's lunch

News

Published: September 20 2014

By Kathryn Brenzel | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com

NORTH BERGEN —  One student at North Bergen High School on Thursday found a squirming extra ingredient in his taco salad: a live maggot.

The incident prompted the school to call in the township health department on Friday, which found that the insect likely came in a prepackaged lettuce bag supplied by a Perth Amboy-based distributor, U.S. Foods. The school complied with all food preparation and storage requirements, according to the health department's report.

Health Department Director Janet Castro said that sometimes, when multiple parties are involved in packaging, delivering and preparing food, insects can get into prepackaged food.

"It’s not highly common, but we have seen it on occasion. That’s why we don’t downplay any complaint that we get,” she said.

A representative from U.S. Foods could not immediately comment on the incident. A representative at Nu-Way Concessionaires, the school's Kearny-based vendor that bought the lettuce from U.S. Foods, said that the company is taking the incident very seriously, but that the incident was isolated. 

"It's not something that we see as endemic to what we do," said Sal Valenza, Nu-Way regional director. "This is very much an isolated incident."

Maggots and other insects found in food don't pose high health risks, Castro said, but can make people sick — out of disgust, not disease.

“It’s just a disgusting, gruesome act. From a communicable disease standpoint, it’s not as high of a risk,” she said.

Castro said the health department will be following up with state health officials and U.S. Foods to make sure that the distributor is following all regulations.

The health department deemed that the incident was isolated but, to be safe, the school threw out between 10 and 20 large bags of lettuce from U.S. Foods, said Superintendent George Solter. The school learned of the incident after one student posted a video of a maggot in another's student's lunch and after receiving calls to the principal's office on Friday. The video shows what looks like a small worm or maggot squirming amid taco meat, lettuce and chips.

Solter, who has worked for the school district since 1981, said that this is the first time he's ever heard of such an incident in the North Bergen schools.

“I’ve never heard of any problems with bugs in the food,” he said. “I’ll be honest with you, I eat the cafeteria food every day.”

Students took to social media on Thursday and Friday, expressing outrage and disgust at the incident.

Larry Wainstein and the NBCC held their final summertime bbq

News

Published: September 19 2014

With the end of summer here and fall beginning, Larry Wainstein and the NBCC held their final summertime bbq. Throughout this summer, hundreds of residents, at each event, came to discuss their hopes and vision for North Bergen with Larry Wainstein. " As we have wrapped up our summertime barbecues, the experience has been heart warming and energizing. I have had the absolute pleasure to meet hundreds and hundreds of residents that are passionate about North Bergen, just like I am. Their energy in creating positive change for North Bergen was overwhelming. During this fall and winter, the NBCC and I will continue to hold events for the residents in North Bergen. In addition, we will continue to provide our free classes and social services for those in need," stated Larry Wainstein.

Con el final del verano y el principio de otoño,
Larry Wainstein y el NBCC celebraron su barbacoa al final del verano. A lo largo de este tiempo, cientos de residentes llegaron para hablar de sus espectativas y visión para North Bergen con Larry Wainstein. "La experiencia ha sido reconfortante de conocer sus vidas y situaciones muy criticas. He tenido el placer absoluto de conocer a cientos y cientos de residentes que son apasionados de North Bergen, al igual que yo. Su energía en la creación de un cambio positivo para North Bergen fue abrumadora con las vivencias de cada familia y la union de todos podemos tener un North Bergen donde se pueda vivir feliz. Durante este otoño e invierno, la NBCC y yo vamos a seguir celebrando eventos para que los residentes de North Bergen sigan compartiendo sus experiencias. Además, vamos a seguir proporcionando nuestros cursos gratuitos y servicios sociales para las familias," declaró Larry Wainstein.