Blumenthal Demands Answers From Aramark

After hearing allegations that the Aramark company stole rebates on food supplies from the Detroit Public School system, Connecticut Attorney General Blumenthal said Friday he would probe the company’s track record in New Haven, too.

Aramark has managed food services and facilities for New Haven city schools for 13 years. Aramark’s contracts remain on the wire as the school system, under pressure from unions, opened the bidding process to competitors — click here and here for recent articles on the prolonged battle.

“I am concerned that Aramark may have failed to give New Haven the benefit of any rebates of discounts it may have received in connection with its contract to provide food services,” Blumenthal wrote in a letter to Aramark general counsel, Bart Colli, Friday.

(Click here to read Blumenthal’s letter).

Aramark spokeswoman Karen Cutler countered that the Michigan officials who were initially concerned about the rebates ended up clearing Aramark of those allegations.

“Despite the union’s claims and attempts to discredit ARAMARK, ARAMARK is in full compliance with all of the terms and conditions of our contract with Detroit Public Schools, as approved by the Michigan Department of Education and USDA,” Cutler wrote in an emailed response.

The scope of Blumenthal’s letter extended beyond the vouchers, however. He said he is also ​“deeply concerned as well about reports of deficient food quality and services, which have led to complaints to my office and elsewhere.”

The attorney general called for Aramark to provide answers on how it has handled rebates and discounts related to the city’s food services contract, as well as records of complaints it has received related to food service and quality. He asked for a response by April 28.

“ARAMARK has not received a letter from the Attorney General,” Clark wrote Friday, ​“but if we receive a request, we intend to cooperate with that office.”