U.S. Naval Academy officials reassured federal officials Monday that plenty of food ? and of reasonable quality ? is available for the midshipmen after shortages were reported earlier this year.
“The food is adequate, and in fact, we?re probably wasting food, we have so much,” said Vice Adm. Jeffrey Fowler, the academy?s superintendent, at the Board of Visitors meeting on Capitol Hill.
Concerns arose in August when some of the brigade had to make do with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and shortened rations when food-service personnel had to use reserve supplies to feed the more than 4,000 midshipmen.
Commandant Capt. Margaret Klein admitted she did not tell the food service staff she had the entire brigade in Annapolis for seminars.
The staff only prepared food for 70 percent of the brigade, Klein said.
Complicating matters further was the renovation of the mess hall, King Hall, resulting in midshipmen being spread out among three buildings for meals.
The scramble to provide food caused noticeable delays for midshipmen, who typically finish a meal in 12 minutes.
“Fifteen minutes is a long time for midshipmen … and many of them will not wait and move on,” Klein said.
Rations have increased to counter any shortages.
And a new menu gives midshipmen more variety, as they now have to eat all their meals Monday through Friday on campus under a new order from Fowler.
U.S. Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md., said her office was flooded with calls when reports of the food shortage surfaced last month.
She questioned Fowler and Klein about whether the midshipmen, especially the athletes, are getting enough food, and whether they are getting healthy food.
