Asylum-seekers are frequently malnourished because of inadequate diets or a reluctance to eat Irish food, according to immigrant support groups.
Mr Roy Hassey, spokesman for Waterford Against Racism, has called for an overhaul of hostel menus for asylum-seekers. "People are afraid to complain because they think their asylum status will be put in jeopardy," he said.
Immigrant support groups say asylum-seekers often have never eaten staples of the Irish diet, such as potatoes and bread, prior to living in this country.
Rev Stephen Hancock, of the United Methodist Presbyterian Church in Waterford, is in close contact with a number of Nigerian asylum-seekers who attend Sunday services at his church.
"People are arriving in Ireland and immediately their culture and language change," he said.
"Then there are the dietary changes. It is a huge learning curve for them and for hostel owners."
Meanwhile, Ousmann (36) from Gambia, who lives in a hostel, claims asylum-seekers are becoming ill because of the food.
"We have cornflakes every day and never eat a poached egg. We are appealing to the hostels to make changes. I would love just to have one week where we could make our own ethnic foods. People are getting sick because of the food."
Thomas (33) from Nigeria, who is staying in the same hostel, said: "What we eat is dictated to us by management. If you are not down at 9 a.m., you don't get a breakfast. The owner keeps on giving us chips, rice and beans. I am allergic to beans. It is the same routine every day and is very depressing."
A spokesman for the Irish Refugee Council, Mr Peter O'Mahony, said the biggest complaint of asylum-seekers in hostels was that they were not allowed to prepare their own meals.
Mr Brendan Hennessy, of Cork immigrant support group NASC, said food had become a major issue among asylum-seekers because of a general feeling of powerlessness.
"These are people who can't travel or even choose where to live. Ultimately, the problem lies in direct provision, which was only supposed to be a temporary measure."
A spokesperson for the Department of Justice said the Reception and Integration Agency was doing everything it could to the meet the individual needs of asylum-seekers.