World · North America · 1 day ago
Columbia says menu’s ‘October 7th’ sauce name was a technical error
A Columbia University dining hall in New York listed “October 7th Blush Sauce” among its pasta options on Wednesday.
The university said the sauce was a pink mix of cream and tomatoes, and that the date was accidentally left in a menu design template.
Dining staff removed the signs after noticing the mistake, and the university apologized.
The date drew anger on social media because October 7, 2023, was the day Hamas attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251, according to the account in the story.
Some users suspected the wording was intentional, while others defended the university.
Columbia has been a focal point of protests over Israel’s war in Gaza, which began after the October 7 attacks.
The university said the date was not a reference to the attacks; no further action was announced.
Columbia University said a menu listing “October 7th Blush Sauce” resulted from a technical error.
The sauce was scheduled for a campus dining hall menu on Wednesday, and the date was left in when information was copied into a design template.
The university apologized and said dining staff removed the signs as soon as they identified the mistake.
The menu listing drew anger and accusations on social media that it intentionally referenced the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attacks on Israel.
Other social media users defended the university, saying the listing might have been an unintentional error.
- Who
- Columbia University and its campus dining staff.
- What
- The university said “October 7th Blush Sauce” appeared on a dining hall menu because of a technical error.
- When
- The menu listed the sauce on Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
- Where
- A Columbia University dining hall in New York.
- Why
- Columbia said the date was left in by mistake when information was copied into a menu design template.
Critics of Columbia
Columbia University
Intent
Critics of Columbia
Some social media users accused the university of intentionally referencing the October 7 attacks.
Columbia University
Columbia said the date was left in by mistake after information was copied into a design template.
This was an unfortunate mistake
A Columbia dining hall menu listed “October 7th Blush Sauce,” prompting anger on social media.
Dining staff removed the signs.
- Menu item
- October 7th Blush Sauce
- Menu date
- Wednesday, October 7, 2026
- University
- Columbia University
- Location
- New York
- Cause given by Columbia
- Date left in by mistake when information was copied into a design template
Sources
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