Prison food
Encyclopedia
Prison food refers to the meals served to prisoners while incarcerated in correctional institutions. While some prisons prepare their own food, many use staff from on-site catering companies.
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 mealtimes.
Inmates may also purchase food at the prison commissary
, such as chocolate bars, beef jerky, squeeze cheese, bread, coffee, and snack cakes.
Often, private civilian contractors are responsible for all aspects of food preparation, including training, adherence to recipes, food safety, theft prevention, and portion control.
. Approximately 80% of state departments of corrections are involved with such oversight organizations.
, and a 3-gill zinc bowl for milk. During winter, when milk was in short supply, prisoners would occasionally have to settle for 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 one and a half pints of broth and six ounces of bread. A male prisoner who was in condition for work would get two pints of broth and twelve ounces of bread.
Breakfast, served at 7:30 am would comprise 5 ounces of oatmeal porridge with 3/4 of a pint of milk. Lunch, served at 1:00 pm consisted of soup and bread. Each pint of soup was required to contain one ounce of ox head or marrow bones, 1 1/2 ounces of barley, 1/2 of green peas, 1 1/2 ounces of leeks, and various other vegetables. Supper was served at 6:00 pm, and consisted of 5 ounces of oatmeal porridge and 1/2 of a pint of milk.
The total expenditure by HM Prison Service in 2004 to 2005 was 94 million pounds, 43 million of which was spent on food, and 32 million on catering staff.
Meals are generally not made from seasonal produce, but instead comprise convenience foods such as canned goods, frozen vegetables, hamburgers and pies.
Lunch:
Dinner:
United States
Typical menus are designed to be low-sugar, low salt, and to contain a limited amount of calories from. Dietary, religious, and ethical concerns are taken into consideration.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 mealtimes.
Inmates may also purchase food at the prison commissary
Prison commissary
A prison commissary or canteen is a store within a correctional facility, from which inmates may purchase products such as hygiene items, snacks, writing instruments, etc. Spices, including those packaged with ramen noodles, are a popular item due to the often bland nature of prison food...
, such as chocolate bars, beef jerky, squeeze cheese, bread, coffee, and snack cakes.
Often, private civilian contractors are responsible for all aspects of food preparation, including training, adherence to recipes, food safety, theft prevention, and portion control.
Law
Current regulations regarding prison food are more a product of prison law than food law. Although there is a certain amount of self-regulation, most oversight is occurs as a result of inmate litigation. Complaints against prison food have been made on the grounds of breach of the Constitutional Amendments. In particular, claims of inadequate food may breach the Eighth Amendment banning cruel and unusual punishment, and denial of specific food requirements on religious grounds breach the First Amendment.Inspections
State prisons often prefer to conduct their own inspections, however they may opt for accreditation from a nonprofit organization such as the American Correctional AssociationAmerican Correctional Association
The American Correctional Association , formerly known as the American Prison Association, is the oldest and largest international correctional association in the world. Approximately 80 percent of all state departments of corrections and youth services are active participants...
. Approximately 80% of state departments of corrections are involved with such oversight organizations.
Example of meals
An example of a meal from a State prison is as follows:- 3-4 ounces of meat
- half a cup of vegetables
- three-quarters of a cup of starch
- three-quarters of a cup of salad with dressing
- 1 bread item
- 1 beverage
- 1 dessert
History
In jails in the late 1830s prisoners were given a spoon, a 2-pint zinc dish for BrothBroth
Broth is a liquid food preparation, typically consisting of either water or an already flavored stock, in which bones, meat, fish, cereal grains, or vegetables have been simmered. Broth is used as a basis for other edible liquids such as soup, gravy, or sauce. It can be eaten alone or with garnish...
, and a 3-gill zinc bowl for milk. During winter, when milk was in short supply, prisoners would occasionally have to settle for 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 one and a half pints of broth and six ounces of bread. A male prisoner who was in condition for work would get two pints of broth and twelve ounces of bread.
Breakfast, served at 7:30 am would comprise 5 ounces of oatmeal porridge with 3/4 of a pint of milk. Lunch, served at 1:00 pm consisted of soup and bread. Each pint of soup was required to contain one ounce of ox head or marrow bones, 1 1/2 ounces of barley, 1/2 of green peas, 1 1/2 ounces of leeks, and various other vegetables. Supper was served at 6:00 pm, and consisted of 5 ounces of oatmeal porridge and 1/2 of a pint of milk.
Present
The average daily allowance per prisoner is 1.87 pounds, and can be as low as 1.20. In some cases, particularly in juvenille institutions, allowances can be as high as 3.41 per day.The total expenditure by HM Prison Service in 2004 to 2005 was 94 million pounds, 43 million of which was spent on food, and 32 million on catering staff.
Meals are generally not made from seasonal produce, but instead comprise convenience foods such as canned goods, frozen vegetables, hamburgers and pies.
Example of meals
An example of a meal from a London prison is as follows:Lunch:
- Vegetarian pasta bake
- Chicken & mushroom pie
- Halal Jamaican beef patty
- Corned beef & pickle roll
- Jacket potato & coleslaw
Dinner:
- Vegetable supreme
- Chicken supreme
- Halal chicken curry
- Grilled gammon
- Pork pie salad
List of prison foods
- Last mealLast mealThe last meal is a customary part of a condemned prisoner's last day. Often, the day of, or before, the appointed time of execution, the prisoner receives a last meal, as well as religious rites, if they desire. In the United States, inmates generally may not ask for an alcoholic drink...
- KongbapKongbapKongbap is a Korean dish consisting of white or brown rice cooked together with one or more beans . Kongbap may be made from scratch by combining and cooking together dried rice and beans, although it is also commercially available premixed packages in dried form in grocery stores throughout Korea,...
- a staple in Korean prisons - NutraloafNutraloafNutraloaf, sometimes called prison loaf, disciplinary loaf, food loaf, confinement loaf, seg loaf, or special management meal, is a food served in United States prisons to inmates who have demonstrated significant behavioral issues. It is similar to meatloaf in texture, but has a wider variety of...
- provided to inmates in United States prisons who have behavioral issues - Mystery meatMystery meatMystery meat is a disparaging term for meat products, typically ground or otherwise processed, such as Spam, Salisbury steaks, sausages, or hot dogs, that have an unidentifiable source. Most often the term is used in reference to food served in institutional cafeterias, such as prison food or an...
- similar to baloney - PorridgePorridgePorridge is a dish made by boiling oats or other cereal meals in water, milk, or both. It is usually served hot in a bowl or dish...
- a former staple in UK prisons