LONDON - A BRITISH navy captain has banned Brussels sprouts from his ship and labelled them the 'devil's vegetable', reports said on Wednesday.
Commanding Officer Wayne Keble made the order to his 390-strong crew on HMS Bulwark because he 'hates' the vegetable, the Daily Telegraph reported.
But he denied speculation that he brought in the ban because sprouts make the sailors suffer from flatulence in the cramped conditions on board.
Captain Keble disclosed his order after he was asked to confirm reports that he had banned fried foods from his ship for health reasons.
He said: 'The only thing I have banned on board is Brussels sprouts. They are the devil's vegetable and the only thing I do not like, and the only thing I hate. Brussels sprouts are absolutely banned on board HMS Bulwark. I do not eat them so I do not know what the after-effects are.'
The distinctive smell of sprouts is caused by sulphur compounds released when cooked.
A spokesman for the Royal Navy and the Ministry of Defence said sprouts had only been banned from the captain's table.
But a source on board the ship said he was 'very serious' about the ban and refused to allow any sprouts on board.
'This ban is no joke... The MoD can say what they like but Capt Keble runs the ship and he has categorically said that sprouts are banned,' he said.
HMS Bulwark is currently deployed in the Mediterranean and Far East. -- AFP
