October 7th arrives on the menu: the sauce storm at Columbia University

On the third anniversary of the October 7th massacre, the date appeared alongside the name of a pink sauce in the Columbia University dining hall menu, sparking an online uproar. The university quickly apologized, citing a technical editing error, and promised to appoint a staff member to review menus in the future. The incident highlights the sensitivity surrounding the date on a turbulent campus.

On Wednesday, October 7, 2026, exactly three years after the Hamas attack on the Gaza border communities, the Columbia University dining hall menu featured the text 'October 7th' next to the name of a 'Blush Sauce' (pink sauce). A Haaretz journalist posted a photo of the menu on social media, and the image drew critical reactions due to the impression that the date was part of the sauce's name. The university quickly apologized. Wanda Dunn, director of dining services, called the incident a 'regrettable mistake' and stated that the signs were removed immediately upon discovery. According to her, the date was inadvertently left in when copying meal details into the menu template. To prevent recurrence, the university decided that a staff member will now review all menus before they are presented to the public. The university's official X account also issued a similar apology. The uproar occurs against the backdrop of Columbia being a prominent protest hub in the US following the war in Gaza, with demonstrations, encampments, and clashes. The university has faced federal investigations over claims it did not adequately protect Jewish students, and reached a settlement with the administration that restored most federal grant funding. Last Wednesday, protesters affiliated with the 'Columbia Intifada' movement gathered outside the campus. The university clarified that the movement is not officially affiliated with it.