Students were trailing staff by about 20kg near the end of the day when OUSA president Logan Edgar and administrative vice-president Jonathon Rowe went on a shopping trip, buying about a hundred cans of baked beans to tip the scales in the students' favour.
Mr Edgar said he was "stoked" to see students come out on top and hoped the appeal would become an annual event.
University vice-chancellor Harlene Hayne said she was pleased with the response from both staff and students and said the appeal was another "great sign" that students were contributing to Dunedin.
She said it did not matter who won the competition, as "Dunedin wins" regardless.
The final weigh-in came at 153.5kg of food for the students and 148.3kg for staff.
