As somebody who has never lived in or indeed only had occasional cause to use any mess while on a visit, I am stunned at what is being reported here.
A few years back the media went to town on the condition of married quarters. This issue is no different, and needs to be brought to a wider audience. Not just the paper plates, but the whole sorry management and the results of it; abysmal living conditions and armed forces personnel being forced to live out to maintain an adequate standard of accommodation.
I've worked in hospitals where ISS were in charge of domestic and catering services and was never that impressed, so I can't say I'm too surprised at their management of MoD catering. But it is an absolute disgrace and they -and other companies and those who negotiated the contracts- should be ashamed of themselves.