Concerns raised over 'cookhouse'-like meals in Hwa Chong, school says photo doesn't 'accurately reflect' food offered

More schools are turning to external food operators in place of canteen vendors, to overcome what the Ministry of Education (MOE) previously said were challenges in finding new stallholders and the retiring of existing ones.

13 schools in Singapore have adopted the new Central Kitchen Meal Model (CKMM) as of 2026, while others, like Hwa Chong Institution (HCI), have turned to airline caterer SATS to provide canteen meals.

Both the HCI high school and college canteens will work under a hybrid model combining both freshly cooked meals from on-site stalls, and pre-packed meals from a central kitchen, The Straits Times reported in October 2025.

It seems, however, that some students and their parents have found the meals less than satisfactory when it comes to quality and price.

'Worse than Tekong food'

A Reddit thread comparing the meals, packaged in bento boxes, to "cookhouse food" recently gained traction.

Reddit users commented on the appearance of the food, noting its similarity to food served during National Service. Another stated that the food in the picture looks "worse than cookhouse food".

Others also commented on what they perceived to be a lack of protein in the pictured food.

One user claiming to be an existing HCI student said that students were not enjoying the meals.

Another lamented on students' lack of freedom of choice when it comes to lunch options, which could worsen the "school experience".

Petition

The same photo on the Reddit thread was used in a petition urging HCI to strongly reconsider the implementation of the central kitchen via Sats.

The petition, which has garnered nearly 1,200 signatures thus far, raised several issues, such as concerns over the safety of consuming pre-packed food, as well as the purportedly higher prices of the bentos.

It stated that the "quality of the food servings are inconsistent with the prices", and that the cheapest bento meals cos S$3.58, while the cai png stall previously served meals for S$2.70, and with larger food portions.

Another cause for concern was the portions, which were "insufficient to meet [students'] dietary needs, or lacks certain nutrients such as protein that the students may require more".

"As the system does not [allow] students to order multiple servings at once or add extra nutrient sources, some students either do not have their individual dietary needs met or have to resort to purchasing food from the remaining two live stalls in the canteen, which defeats the purpose of the SATS model in the first place."

The petition concluded that many students and parents were disappointed by the SATS meals, given the "school's prestige".

"Many hope that the concerns with the SATS system in HCI will be addressed adequately with thorough reforms and consideration of feedback to achieve a happy compromise. If not, the signatories of this petition will look upon favourably towards the re-establishment of the old canteen system."

Response

In response to queries from Mothership, an HCI spokesperson said they were aware of the concerns raised by their new canteen model.

They said HCI worked with SATS to operate their school canteen on a hybrid model from Jan. 2, 2026, to address the issue of long queue times.

SATS would provide students with bento sets and operate various live food stalls offering "Indian fusion, Chinese, Western and local cuisine".

According to the spokesperson, this allowed HCI to ensure students continued access to "balanced, reasonably priced meals" that met "nutritional needs and dietary preferences" in the face of "sector-wide manpower constraints affecting school canteen operations".

Students can pre-order bento meals designed by certified nutritionists.

"They can choose from at least three regular options daily, priced at $3.60 each, or premium options priced at $4.80 each to provide greater variety. The menu will be rotated regularly, and students will also have access to live stalls for additional variety and choice."