Columbia University recently dealt with criticism after a campus dining menu displayed “October 7th Blush Sauce” coincidentally on the anniversary of a deadly Hamas attack. The menu gained attention through a post by Simone Saidmehr from Israeli newspaper Haaretz, who shared an image featuring “October 7th” alongside “Blush Sauce.” Many perceived this as a reference to the victims of the terror attack that resulted in about 1,200 fatalities.
Vicki Dunn, assistant vice president of Columbia Dining, clarified to Fox News Digital that the menu inclusion was a “mistake” and swiftly corrected once noticed. Dunn explained, “This was an unfortunate mistake and was not intended as a reference to the events of October 7. The blush sauce was planned, and the date got mistakenly included during template copying. Signs were removed immediately after the error was identified. We apologize for causing any confusion or concern.” In response, Columbia Dining now ensures a team member reviews all menus before posting.
The university reiterated its stance with a statement on X, emphasizing that the error was accidental, not a deliberate reference to the tragic events. It reassured that the issue was addressed promptly by removing the signs.
Columbia University was also among the sites witnessing anti-Israel protests following the October 7 attacks three years ago. Consequently, it faced federal civil rights probes over accusations of failing to safeguard Jewish students. By July 2025, under the Trump administration, Columbia reached a $221 million settlement to resolve claims of discriminatory practices, including antisemitism against Jewish faculty.
Nonetheless, anti-Israel demonstrations persisted at the university. Activists from The Columbia Intifada were present on campus recently, although Columbia maintains that this group is not affiliated with the institution.
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