A protest outside Dunedin Hospital today could be the start of an ongoing public battle to cancel the Southern District Health Board's contract with a catering company.

LISTEN ABOVE: E Tu organiser Anna Huffstutler speaks to Jack Tame about SDHB food

The protest is being organised by the Real Meals Coalition over the quality of the food served by Compass in the Dunedin, Wakari, and Southland Hospitals.

Social media has been rife with criticism aimed at the Southern DHB and Compass since the contractor began serving the meals in mid-January.

The Southern DHB was looking to save $6.96 million by switching to a contractor, instead of making the food themselves.

Labour Party MP for Dunedin South Clare Curran said today's protest won't be the last time the hospital will face heat from the community.

"I think what we will see is just an ongoing pressure from the community for the DHB to get rid of the contract with compass."

Curran said people are fed up over the standard of health services in Otago and Southland.

"I think that compass needs to front up and be honest with the community about where the food is coming from," she said.

The protest is scheduled to get underway from midday.