Students using the Trojan Food Pantry might leave without one or two of their favorite items this year as organizers reduced the maximum number of items students can pick up from 22 to 15.
The change reflects a need to “maximize resources and respond to growing food costs,” according to an email statement from USC Student Basic Needs.
For some 10 years, the Trojan Food Pantry has operated as a supplemental food resource designed to support students in meeting their basic needs, providing such items as fresh produce, breakfast bars and ramen.
According to the Student Basic Needs website, the pantry aims to provide additional support for students in times of need, rather than to serve as a primary food source.
When the Trojan Food Pantry moved to King Hall in 2024, students could select up to 22 dry, nonperishable goods along with fresh produce and refrigerated goods as Student Basic Needs tested a new operating model, the organization said in an email statement.
“In Fall 2025, to maximize resources and respond to growing food costs, the maximum number of items students may select returned to 15 items per visit, including a variety of fresh produce and other groceries to supplement students’ food options,” the statement said.
Harshita Sharma, a second-year engineering management graduate student using the Basic Needs Service, said grocery shopping in Los Angeles can be a challenge, especially for ethnic cuisine.
“Some of the food choices are very expensive here, especially considering our cuisines that are mostly Indian and foods which are from our hometown,” Sharma said.
Currently enrolled students experiencing food insecurity may access the Trojan Food Pantry if they lack a dining hall meal plan or have less than 20 meals remaining.
Many international students do not have access to federal food assistance programs, such as CalFresh, which makes them reliant on Student Basic Needs services.
“If someone actually does need it, it is a pretty good service,” Akshat Jha, a computer science graduate student said. “I think people should come and use it up because it is being provided by the university.”
An international graduate student studying computer science, who wished to remain anonymous for the sake of his privacy, said his monthly expenses are about $1,700.
The student said food prices are so high in Los Angeles that he “tried to have spaghetti for about two months” until the food pantry provided him access to a diverse range of food options.
Students must complete an intake form each semester and swipe their USCard to access the food pantry.
An applied data science masters student who used the Trojan Food Pantry for the first time on Thursday, September 11, said she heard about the service from her classmates. She requested to remain anonymous.
“They had tomatoes, onions and all that,” the applied data science student said. “It’s been pretty costly getting it outside in Ralphs, Target or even Trader Joes, so [the] USC pantry is good.”
She said the service was easy to access. After filling out the intake form, she said she received a sticker on her USCard and is able to swipe her card to access the pantry in the future.
Student Basic Needs also offers a resource guide with information about other food pantries, resources and low-cost options near USC, which includes a new initiative called Tommy’s Table.
The initiative aims to reduce food waste, improve sustainability efforts and promote on-campus food security by providing students access to surplus food from catering events.
The Trojan Food Pantry, located in King Hall Suite 103, is open on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Students interested in learning more about the pantry can email basicneeds@usc.edu with any questions.