Opinion: Hidden cafeteria prices deprive students of financial literacy

in News

     Price labels on typical foods – like walking tacos, chicken strips and pizza – have disappeared in the Penn-Trafford High School cafeteria. While previous years featured price stickers on individual items as well as posters advertising costs, this year all stickers are gone and few posters remain. Even an electronic board,
Electronic boards originally listing prices now only show the menu or are completely black during lunch. No prices are visible on these boards.

originally listing prices, now only features menu items.

     Despite being a mere 10 steps away from the “Cash Stash,” the student branch of the Pheple Federal Credit Union, the cafeteria has begun to make budgeting finances harder.

     The Warrior reached out to P-T’s food services for comment on the reasoning behind the changes. However, an Aramark representative declined to comment due to an ongoing change in their management positions.

     While the price labels have vanished, more candy like Swedish Fish, Skittles and Nutella have appeared in the center cashier line. This supermarket-style approach comes with decreases in both finances and health for students.

 

Candy and sweets have been added next to the checkout line without price labels.

     To find prices, students can look at past transactions (requiring purchasing the food first) or ask a cashier how much their items cost at checkout (an inconvenience that potentially holds up the line). General meal costs are available online, but individual item prices, such as fries and hamburgers, are not listed on P-T’s website.

     Out of the three visible price flyers remaining, two are for the cheapest options: $0.50 nacho cheese and $1 extra dessert in the main menu line. 

     Other options, like the $2 cookie and $5.50 walking taco with a drink, are not advertised in the cafeteria.

     When P-T opted out of the National School Lunch Program in 2016, the school lost an estimated $100,000 per year in federal aid. This decision to opt out of the federally funded government program came in an attempt to increase food variety, appetite and buying participation, according to WTAE.

     Another $1 million renovation was spent the same year to create a food-court-style layout for the cafeteria.

     The P-T cafeteria remained under the jurisdiction of Aramark before and after these changes.

     More recent positive changes include allowing students to access their account balance without going through a parent account.

Along with adding candy and sweets at the checkout line, a slushy machine has also been added in the corner of the Penn-Trafford High School cafeteria.

     It is unclear in the 2025-2026 school year if cafeteria changes, like listing all prices and nutritional information on containers, removing sugar-filled candy from the checkout lane and clearly advertising prices online, will be made.