UND Dining Services plans to replace a popular coffee creamer found at Stomping Grounds despite students opinion on a recent survey.

Carnation creamer, a self service creamer, used in coffee drinks has been reported to contain .5 grams per serving of partially hydrogenated oil, which contains trans fat. Last fall, the FDA announced that hydrogenated oil is generally unsafe in food, has no health benefits, is linked to heart disease and recommends people do not consume it.  Although the FDA does not require coffee shops to stop the use of carnation creamer yet, Dining Services thought maybe they should stop offering it to customers.

This semester, Dining Services surveyed customers at Stomping Grounds informing them of the situation and the health risks associated with Carnation Coffee Creamers and then asked participants if they would like Stomping Grounds to stop providing this type of creamer or continue offering the product.  250 customers were surveyed.  60 percent of participants voted in favor of keeping the Carnation Coffee Creamer and 40 percent of participants voted to eliminate it.

“Surprisingly, more people wanted us to keep it,” Director of Dining Services, Orlynn  Rosaasen said.

Despite survey results, Dining Services decided it would be best to replace the Carnation Coffee Creamer with a more healthy option for customers.

“Our feeling is that socially it is the right thing to do even though the customers say it did not matter to them,” Rosaasen said.

Stomping Grounds plans to replace Carnation Coffee Creamer in six weeks when the new equipment arrives.  In replace of the old creamer, Stomping Grounds will offer International Delight, a natural creamer with no trans fat in it.

I think customers will be quite pleased,” Rosaasen said. “Instead of having to use a pump for the creamer they will just need to push a button.

UND student Bailee Vaughn said she feels like it could be a problem for some customers.

“The big thing is that coffee drinkers can are pretty adamant about what they want and people could get mad,” Vaughn said.

Rosaasen said that he does not think the change will affect customers too much and that prices will not be effected either.

“They will be getting a much better product,” Rosaasen said.

Ashley Marquis is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. She can be reached at [email protected].