Volume 111 >> Issue 56 : Friday, December 6, 1991

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Doughnut stand back after securing permit

By Karen Kaplan

On November 26, a representative from the Cambridge Board of Health forced the doughnut stand in Lobby 7 to shutdown because it did not have a food registration permit. The doughnut stand, which raises money each year for the junior class, is usually the major source of funding for Senior Week.

Although the doughnut stand will sell coffee and day-old, half-price doughnuts today and return to full operation on Monday, the Class of '93 lost approximately $200 in revenue during the one-week shutdown. In addition, the class lost $200 when a shipment of food arrived on Monday "but we couldn't sell it," said Scott M. Liwan '93, manager of the doughnut stand.

Lawin said a sanitary inspector from the board of health approached a doughnut stand worker and asked for the operating license, which the stand did not have. The inspector did not have the authority to close the stand, but said all service should stop until a permit was obtained. "We've been in operation for more than ten years. I don't know why we don't have one," Lawin said.

Lawin decided to close the stand until a permit was secured so that the Class of '93 would not be fined. The matter was turned over to John T. McNeil, associate director of MIT Food Services, who arranged for the $75 permit. MIT agreed to foot the bill, Lawin said.

"There's no problem. It was just a misunderstanding. Everything has been resolved," said Joseph Nicoloro, senior inspector of the Environmental Health Division at the Cambridge Board of Health.

Nicoloro said that all concession operators are supposed to notify the health department and inform them of the source of the food they are selling, even if they do not prepare it themselves. "Scott was not aware of that. But he's all set. The stand will reopen," he said.

Last year's junior class raised approximately $4000 in proceeds from the doughnut stand. "The doughnut stand has always been that one automatic money maker. With all other fundraisers, you either make a lot of money of lose a lot of money," said Jennifer B. Singer '92, class treasurer.

Nicoloro said that all concessions stands, including one-day Chinese pastry sales in Lobby 10 and the Student Center, must file food registration permits with the Board of Health.