Waitrose mocked online for list of 'essential' student food items

Most university students survive on a diet of pot noodles, beans on toast and if the corner shop is too much of a struggle when hungover – a failsafe bowl of cereal for dinner.

So it comes as no surprise to learn that Waitrose fell victim to online mockery when the upmarket retailer shared its list of ‘essential’ ingredients for teens about to fly the nest.

According to the chain, students should stock up this September on Marigold Swiss Vegetable Bouillon Powder (£2), Waitrose Cooks’ Ingredients Organic Italian Seasoning (£1.89), Aspall Organic Cyder Vinegar (£1.70), Belazu Rose Harissa Paste (£4.35) and Clearspring Organic Tamari Soya Sauce (£3.15).

Yup, we can’t exactly imagine arguments over who used the last of the organic cyder vinegar either…

When Twitter user Andrew Stronarch shared the ‘student storecupboard’ article via Twitter with the caption, ‘The Waitrose concept of essential cooking staples for new students!?!’, the post soon went viral.

Within a mere matter of hours, the post soon amassed over 3,995 likes with fellow social media users taking to the platform to share their idea of student cupboard must-haves.

One replied: “What happened to beans on toast?” While another stated, “If there are no instant noodles there, it’s no student pantry.”

And with eye-watering university fees leaving students struggling to make ends meet, it wasn’t long until parents joined in to share the budget foods they sent their children packing with.

One mum tweeted [sic]: “Uh oh…my son has just gone off with 3 jars of coffee, 4 packs of Super Noodles, 2 Pot Noodles and a bottle of Nandos peri peri sauce…”

While a second replied, “Mines got pot noodles, bread, beans, cheese and a couple of frozen pizzas”.

Yet despite the controversy, there were a couple of Twitter users who didn’t see a problem with Waitrose’s suggestions.

“‘Starter kit for the fledgling cook’ which I took to mean someone interested in actually cooking. These ingredients would indeed help and inspire them to cook flavoursome food from scratch so what is the problem?”, they wrote.

What do you think?

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