Prison food
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Prison food is the term for meals served to prisoners while
Around the world
North America
United States
Most prison food in the United States is prepared with the blast-chill method, which allows a large number of meals to be prepared and then reheated at meal times. In the US, this technique was pioneered by the New Jersey correctional system, in January 1982.[3]
Inmates may also purchase food at the
Often, private civilian contractors are responsible for all aspects of food preparation, including training, adherence to recipes, food safety, theft prevention, and
Jewish prisoners may be issued
As of October 2, 2016,
Although there is a certain amount of self-regulation, most oversight occurs as a result of inmate litigation. Complaints against prison food have been made on the grounds of breach of
State prisons often prefer to conduct their own inspections; however, they may opt for accreditation from a nonprofit organization such as the American Correctional Association. Approximately 80% of state departments of corrections are involved with such oversight organizations.[6]
Example of meals
An example of a meal from a state prison is as follows:[8]
- 2–3 oz (57–85 g) of meat or meat by-product
- half a cup of vegetables
- three-quarters of a cup of a starch
- three-quarters of a cup of salad with dressing
There have been several documented examples of mass illness within prisons from the food served.[9] There have been hunger strikes from prisoners protesting being served food that makes them ill after eating. Whistleblowers and reporters have documented mouse droppings and various violations of standards in prison kitchens.[9] It is no longer allowed for family to bring food nor share with loved ones behind bars; rather, families can transfer money for a fee to allow inmates to purchase packaged foods such as prepared noodle packages and candy from the prison store.[citation needed] There is thus usually no way for inmates to ever have access to fresh food. Aramark, who has provided the meals to many prisons in the U.S. since 2004, has been sharply criticized for lowering standards and not providing sufficient quantities of edible food.[9]
In U.S. federal prisons, breakfasts usually consist of a
Prisoners have been known to create prison "spreads", or privately prepared meals with items purchased from a prison commissary, obtained from government-mandated meals to prisoners, or obtained from a prison kitchen. Spreads can often become communal gatherings of prisoners, with the general expectation that each prisoner contributes one aspect of the meal. Prison spreads are largely a response to inadequate food quality, quantity and/or variety within the meals served by the prison itself.[11][12]
Europe
Poland
A Prison Service officer — a chef—supervises the proper preparation of meals in each unit. He is also the one who supervises the inmates employed in the kitchen. Prisoners are involved at every stage of meal preparation, from peeling vegetables, preparing individual ingredients, cooking and dividing food portions. They are employed in the kitchen on a paid or unpaid basis, and their assignment to particular tasks depends primarily on their education and skills. All meals are carefully selected in terms of nutritional value. Depending on the type of prison, meals are delivered to the cell or, as is the case in semi-open and open prisons, inmates eat them in canteens.[13]
The officer of the quartermaster's department is responsible for determining what is included in the menu and for diversifying the meals. He prepares individual diets with the participation of a health care worker. A convict staying in a prison or pretrial detention facility receives drinks and meals with appropriate nutritional value three times a day, including at least one hot meal. The energy value of meals included in the daily diet of prisoners is not less than 2,800 kcal for prisoners under 18 years of age and 2,600 kcal for other prisoners. The food rations allocated consider the type of work performed and the age of the convict, and, if possible, also religious and cultural requirements.
There are 7 types of meals available in the units:
- meals prepared for prisoners over 18 years of age –"P"
- meals prepared for prisoners under 18 years of age – "M"
- therapeutic meals: easily digestible, diabetic, individually assigned to the inmate
- meals prepared considering religious and cultural requirements
- meals prepared for inmates working in particularly onerous conditions.
Convicts have the opportunity to receive meals that take into account religious or cultural requirements, for example, a dietary standard without pork (so-called "Muslim diet") or vegetarian. Some inmates deliberately declare converting to Islam or Judaism to change their meal plan.[13][14]
Examples of meals
Sample daily meal plan for "P" option from a Kraków prison includes:
- Breakfast—tea, bread, margarine, pork knuckle sausage
- Lunch—dill soup with rice, beef goulash, potatoes, cucumber salad, compote
- Dinner—tea, bread, margarine, pressed luncheon meat.[13]
Another sample daily meal from Łódź prison looked as follows:
- Breakfast: wheat bread, "bread fat-spread", homogenized cheese and apples
- Lunch: celery soup with potatoes, chicken wings with vegetables, rice, mixed vegetable salad and apple compote
- Dinner: identical to breakfast, except for replacing the cheese with cottage cheese[14]
United Kingdom
In jails in the late 1830s prisoners were issued a spoon, a 2 imperial pints (1.1 L) zinc dish for broth, and a 3-gill (3⁄4 imperial pint (430 ml)) zinc bowl for milk. During winter, when milk was in short supply, prisoners would occasionally be provided with treacle water.
Strict rules governed the quantity of food given to prisoners. For example, a female who was not in condition for work would receive around 1+1⁄2 imperial pints (850 ml) of broth and 6 ounces (170 g) of bread. A male prisoner who was in condition for work would get 2 imperial pints (1,100 ml) of broth and 12 ounces (340 g) of bread.
Breakfast, served at 7:30 am, would comprise 5 ounces (140 g) ounces of oatmeal porridge with 3⁄4 imperial pint (430 ml) of milk. Lunch, served at 12:00 pm, consisted of soup and bread. Each pint of soup was required to contain 1 ounce (28 g) of
Up until about 2004 (in most prisons), prison meals were prepared by prisoners under the supervision of prison employees.[citation needed] The move towards privatization of meal preparation and rationing resulted in numerous changes from historical practices.[9] In some prisons e.g. HMP Norwich, the prison meals are still prepared by prisoners.[citation needed]
Current food
The average daily allowance per prisoner is £1.87, and can be as low as £1.20. In some cases, particularly in juvenile institutions, allowances can be as high as £3.45 per day.
The total catering expenditure by the
Meals are generally not made from seasonal produce, but instead use convenience foods such as canned goods, frozen vegetables, hamburgers and pies.[16]
Examples of meals
Examples of menus in a London prison are as follows:[17]
Lunch:
- Vegetarian pasta bake
- Chicken & mushroom pie
- Jamaican beef patty
- Corned beef & pickle roll
- Jacket potato & coleslaw
Dinner:
- Vegetable supreme
- Chicken supreme
- Chicken curry
- Grilled gammon
- Pork pie salad
Africa
Egypt
Regular meals served to prisoners are basic. For lunch prisoners are typically served dishes such as cold pieces of boiled meat, eggs, or skinny chicken bones, white rice, and vegetable soup, and dinner consists of foods such as ful medames (a traditional Egyptian dish of fava beans, vegetable oil, and cumin) with stale bread made from mixed flours. Each prison has a canteen where prisoners can buy additional food such as meat, vegetables, and fruits to supplement their diet. Many prisoners also have food brought to them by their families.[18][19]
Rwanda
Prisoners receive two basic meals a day, a breakfast of maize or sorghum porridge and a lunch or dinner of a maize porridge called Ugali and beans. Extra food is available for purchase at the prison canteen or can be brought by visitors.[20]
Asia
Saudi Arabia
Prisoners in Saudi Arabia are served foods such as bread and sandwiches for breakfast, chicken, mutton, and fish for lunch, and rice and vegetables for dinner. Prisoners also receive rations such as salads, milk, and juice.[21]
South Korea
Kongbap, a dish consisting of white or brown rice cooked together with grains, peas, and beans, is a common staple in Korean prisons. Prisoners are also served dishes such as bread with tomato sauce, cheese, soup, salad, and soy milk at breakfast and bone marrow and vegetable soup, kimchi, and beansprouts at lunch.[22] Other foods such as fruits and meats are available for purchase at prison commissaries.
Vietnam
Every prisoner is entitled to 17 kilograms of rice, 15 kilograms of vegetables, 0.7 kilograms of meat, 0.8 kilograms of fish, 0.5 kilograms of sugar, and 1 kilogram of salt per month.[23]
Oceania
New Zealand
The New Zealand Department of Corrections is required by law to provide three meals per day, one of which must be hot, and meals cannot be more than 14 hours apart. As of February 2020[update], the average meal cost is $6.03 per prisoner per day.[24]
An example daily prison menu includes the following:[25]
- Breakfast: Cornflakes and milk; two slices of toast with margarine and peanut butter; tea and sugar.
- Lunch: Two mixed grain sandwiches: one roast beef, relish and salad (or tomato, mayo and salad) and one egg, mayonnaise and salad; one serving of fresh fruit
- Dinner: Two chicken sausages (or vegan sausages), two servings of vegetables, potato, onion gravy, one serving of fresh fruit, and milk
- Supper: Muffin
List of prison foods
- Last meal – In the United States, when prisoners are on death row they are entitled to one last meal of their choice, which is served to them two hours before they are executed. Studies show that most of the time death row inmates choose foods that are high in calories and fat such as french fries and hamburgers. In some US states, for example, Texas, last meals were limited to 20 dollars.[citation needed] However, in other states such as Florida and Indiana, last meals are limited to 40 dollars. California allows for up to 50 dollars to be spent on the last meal. Most states require that the last meal be locally available. If the meal exceeds these price limits they will either reduce the portions or make the inmate choose something else. For example, a Texas inmate who asked to be served 24 soft shell tacos was only given 4. It was also found that last meal requests reflected the inmates' nationality.[26][page needed]
- Nutraloaf – Nutraloaf is given to prisoners who misbehave.[27][28][29] Nutraloaf usually is a blended concoction of previous days' meals. Nutraloaf can be described as very bland and cardboard-like. However, it has all of the vitamins and nutrients that are needed to survive. The morality behind nutraloaf is a widely controversial issue. Many argue that serving nutraloaf to prisoners is unethical and goes against particular rights. However, prison staff argues that nutraloaf reduces violence tremendously.[30]
- Mystery meat – similar to bologna sausage
- Porridge – a former staple in UK prisons
- Ričet– a European barley, bean, vegetable and pork stew sometimes associated with prisons
- Gruel
See also
- Hardtack, the military ration of hard bread
References
- ^ Do Prison Inmates Have a Right to Vegetarian Meals?. Vegetarian Journal Mar/Apr 2001. Retrieved 19 August 2015.
- ^ Liu, Benjamin Pi-Wei. "UCLA Law Review". UCLA Law Review. 51 (4): 1151–1201.
- ^ Wilson, Donovan W. (1982-12-19). "Prison Food: Not Fancy, But -". The New York Times. p. NJ19.
- ^ Are Clark County Jail meal requests kosher? That's one issue facility is facing as spike in special religious diets sends food costs soaring, 2013-01-20
- ^ U.S. Prisons to Begin Offering Vegan Entrées in October 2016, 2016-09-26
- ^ a b Naim, Cyrus (2005). "Prison Food Law". Harvard Law School. Archived from the original on May 10, 2013.
- ^ Bach, George (October 1, 2013). "Defining "Sufficiently Serious" in Claims of Cruel and Unusual Punishment". Drake Law Review. 62 (1): 1–39.
- ^ Waite, Jennifer Prison Food: What Are America's Inmates Eating? Archived 2014-05-10 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b c d "Food Behind Bars Isn't Fit for Your Dog". Truthdig: Expert Reporting, Current News, Provocative Columnists.
- ^ "What Do You Eat In Prison".
- ISSN 1529-3262.
- ^ Veronese, Keith (July 30, 2012). "10 Revolting Foods That People Have Made in Prison". Gizmodo.
- ^ a b c Czajczyk, Anna. "Kilka faktów o więziennych posiłkach". Służba Więzienna.
- ^ a b Jabłoński, Tomasz. "Autentyczny jadłospis łódzkich więźniów. Oto, co jedzą osadzeni w aresztach śledczych i więzieniach ZDJĘCIA". Express Ilustrowany.
- ^ "Life in Jail | Prison Life in the 1800s". Archived from the original on February 12, 2015.
- ^ "Serving Time: Prisoner Diet and Exercise - National Audit Office (NAO) Report". National Audit Office.
- ^ "British Prison Food: Today's Prison Meals". www.foodreference.com.
- ^ "Egypt: in prison abroad". GOV.UK.
- ^ "How to Eat in an Egyptian Prison". www.vice.com.
- ^ "Information Pack for British Prisoners in Rwanda" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-03-17. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
- ^ "Life in a Saudi jail". Bangalore Mirror.
- ^ "Delicious And Disturbing Prison Food From Around The World". So Yummy. February 25, 2019.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2019-07-26. Retrieved 2020-07-24.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Lines-MacKenzie, Jo (2020-02-08). "New Zealand prison menu upgraded after 11 years: 'The old style of working was we filled them up full of carbs'". Stuff. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- ^ "National Menu - Week 1". www.corrections.govt.nz. 2019-10-11. Retrieved 2023-07-11.
- S2CID 144164543.
- ^ Greenwood, Arin (June 24, 2008). "Can prison food be unconstitutionally bad?". Slate Magazine.
- ^ "What's Worse Than Solitary Confinement? Just Taste This". Archived from the original on 2007-09-28. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
- ^ "Vermont inmates call food foul, sue over it". NBC News.
- ^ Barclay, Eliza (2014). "Food As Punishment: Giving U.S Inmates 'The Loaf' Persists". Corrections Forum. 16 (4): 24–26.
External links
- Media related to Prison food at Wikimedia Commons
- Media related to Prison kitchens at Wikimedia Commons
- Eating Behind Bars - Ending the Hidden Punishment of Food in Prison. Report by Impact/Justice on the quality and consequences of food in the U.S. prison system.