CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

Restaurant Associates is dedicated to being on the forefront of sustainability as well as social and environmental responsibility.  RA is acutely aware that our thoughts and actions directly impact not only our customers, but a much larger community.  Because of this, RA has taken steps to continually improve how we run our business, serve our guests, and preserve our natural resources. 

At the US House of Representatives, RA is determined to impact both the health and wellness of our guests, and the quality of our community and the environment. We have instituted the following initiatives and are continually researching new practices and policies: 

Organic Food:  A large part of organic agriculture involves the health of the soil and of the ecosystems in which crops and livestock are raised.  A healthy environment significantly benefits crops and the health of those consuming them.

Local Food:  Restaurant Associates is working with local farmers and produce distributors to provide our guests with the freshest seasonal foods while supporting our local communities.  Items are identified as local if they are from sources that are no more than 150 miles from the location in which it is served.  As a result, local food means fewer food miles and a dramatic reduction in transportation, days of refrigeration, and tons of pollution and packaging. 

Sustainable Seafood:  The world’s stock of wild seafood is threatened with extinction due to over and uncontrolled fishing.  Compass Group, Restaurant Associates’ parent company, began a policy on March 1, 2006, replacing Atlantic cod, a species which leading conservationists have recommended consumers avoid, with more environmentally sound Pacific cod, Pollock and other alternatives. RA also plans to seek ways to decrease its use of shrimp and salmon that are farmed in an unsustainable manner. These two species are extremely popular with consumers but are a concern to environmentalists.

RA and Compass Group rely on the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch Program which empowers seafood consumers and business to make choices for healthy oceans. For more information, visit www.seafoodwatch.org.

Zero Trans-Fat: Restaurant Associates is committed to providing healthy menu items.  In response to the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the American Medical Association’s recommendations to minimize trans-fat consumption, RA transitioned to non-hydrogenated, zero trans-fat oils for both cooking and frying.  RA is also making a commitment to eliminate trans-fats in our purchased goods, resulting in a massive reformulation effort by manufacturers and producers which will make many more trans-fat free snacks and baked goods available in the near future.

Milk Produced Without Synthetic rBGH: Produced by dairy cows that have never received injections of synthetic bovine growth hormone.

Cage Free Shell Eggs: Cage free shell eggs means the hens have not been confined to a battery cage.

Wellness: Restaurant Associates has made a commitment to partner with The House of Representatives’ nutrition, health and wellness initiatives to foster and promote a more healthful workplace. We understand that everyone’s nutritional needs are different, so we created Balance: It Takes You to help you make your own personal healthy choices throughout the day. By highlighting the best sources of proteins, calcium, fiber and Vitamin C, the Balance: It Takes You program provides education and helps promote wise food choices that will produce a balanced diet leading to overall wellness.  Please visit the Wellness tab for more information and other health and wellness initiatives.