Fifty high school boys from Selborne College have been boycotting their hostel meals and have sent school management a petition complaining about the quality of the food.
Headmaster Andrew Dewar yesterday dismissed reports there was a hunger strike, saying some boys were objecting to the menu.
“There are no issues about food quality. There are certain parts of the menu that they do not enjoy and they would like to be changed.
“I had all the parents here yesterday. They went into the kitchen and didn’t understand what the boys were complaining about because the food is great. This has been sorted out, the parents are happy. They have moved on,” he said.
But parents, who wanted to remain anonymous, complained about the food.
“Most of it is very oily and consists mainly of carbohydrates.”
They said they wanted more balance in the menu and healthier options.
“The porridge in the morning is watery and tastes bland. Milk is either old or seems to be diluted with water to the point where it does not taste like milk. We are are also calling for more variety on the menu, having less potato-based meals in a week.”
They wanted less “mash potato and sausage, cottage pie, oats and porridge.
“We could have less chicken pie, and salads which are merely a concoction of random food.”
A parent said it was unfair that their children had to resort to a food boycott.
“Our children do not deserve that. Look at the pictures of food circulating versus the money we pay,” he said.
The parent accused the headmaster of the school of not communicating the issue with them.
Another parent said food preparation and presentation had been an ongoing concern for some time now.
“The boys saw nothing improving and the parents thought it was only isolated instances.
“Brave boys initiated a peaceful and quiet protest by not eating. The parents got to hear about it on Wednesday night and started a hectic support group,” said the parent.
Dewar dismissed complaints about oily food.
“We have combi convection cookers that steam it. There is no oil. Where is the oil coming from?” he asked.
He said there was nothing wrong with the food as he and his family were eating the meat, “and we are fine”, he said.
Selborne pupils refuse to eat over food quality
Headmaster Andrew Dewar yesterday dismissed reports there was a hunger strike, saying some boys were objecting to the menu.
“There are no issues about food quality. There are certain parts of the menu that they do not enjoy and they would like to be changed.
“I had all the parents here yesterday. They went into the kitchen and didn’t understand what the boys were complaining about because the food is great. This has been sorted out, the parents are happy. They have moved on,” he said.
But parents, who wanted to remain anonymous, complained about the food.
“Most of it is very oily and consists mainly of carbohydrates.”
They said they wanted more balance in the menu and healthier options.
“The porridge in the morning is watery and tastes bland. Milk is either old or seems to be diluted with water to the point where it does not taste like milk. We are are also calling for more variety on the menu, having less potato-based meals in a week.”
They wanted less “mash potato and sausage, cottage pie, oats and porridge.
“We could have less chicken pie, and salads which are merely a concoction of random food.”
A parent said it was unfair that their children had to resort to a food boycott.
“Our children do not deserve that. Look at the pictures of food circulating versus the money we pay,” he said.
The parent accused the headmaster of the school of not communicating the issue with them.
Another parent said food preparation and presentation had been an ongoing concern for some time now.
“The boys saw nothing improving and the parents thought it was only isolated instances.
“Brave boys initiated a peaceful and quiet protest by not eating. The parents got to hear about it on Wednesday night and started a hectic support group,” said the parent.
Dewar dismissed complaints about oily food.
“We have combi convection cookers that steam it. There is no oil. Where is the oil coming from?” he asked.
He said there was nothing wrong with the food as he and his family were eating the meat, “and we are fine”, he said.
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