About Prison Food

Have you ever wondered what prison food tastes like? Since most people will hopefully never have a chance to try jailhouse cuisine, it's no surprise that there is a lot of curiosity surrounding the issue. It is also no shock that there has been a lot of debate over the meals that are served to prisoners.

History

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was formed in order to set standards for the products Americans ingest. More specifically, in 1933, the FDA was created to enforce the Pure Food and Drugs Act passed years earlier. In order to protect consumers from potentially dangerous foods and drugs, the FDA designated minimum requirements for all food and drug manufacturers. Additionally, the organization also determined that the public has a right to know the nutritional content of the food and declared that all products should therefore be labeled accordingly.
But these guidelines do not apply to the foods that are served in American prisons. Instead, prison officials decide what types of food to serve their prisoners. These meals are not regulated by FDA standards, and the only requirements prison administrators have is to ensure that at least three meals are served per day.

Function

As with our personal food choices, the main function of prison food is to provide affordable and nutritionally-sound meals. However, unlike our family's meals, these are the only factors that are considered when prison administrators decide what's for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Often compared with school cafeteria food, prison meals are typically bland, as the focus is on nutrition rather than taste. Due to the large number of inmates being served, most prison dining halls use a blast-chill method to cook the meals. This method allows the cooks to create enough food for a regular seven-day week in just a five-day work week.

Misconceptions

Although most of us are probably not surprised that our prison system does not serve gourmet food, many may be shocked to learn that there is no set law as to whether or not food may be used as a form of punishment. In recent years, there have been several court cases centering on the issue. More often than not, the courts found in favor of the prison officials.
Indeed, in order for prison food to be declared unconstitutional, the food must not only be considered cruel and unusual by a normal person, but must also be given intentionally or with deliberate indifference.

Considerations

Although preventing vitamin deficiency is important when selecting our inmates' weekly menu, cost is yet another aspect that must be considered. Because correctional institutions are primarily funded by citizens, the price of feeding those incarcerated is a big concern. On average, one serving costs around .20 cents. The cost for three meals a day is approximately $2.25 per prisoner.
In addition to cost, the food's packaging is yet another factor that prison officials must consider before selecting meals. Any type of packaging that could be used to make a weapon must be avoided. This includes aluminum foil, saran wrap and other similar materials. Corndogs, for example, can't have sticks.

Theories/Speculation

Many critics believe that our prison systems' food should be regulated by the FDA. At the same time, however, others argue that a prison sentence is meant to be form of punishment, and as long as inmates are fed nutritionally-sound foods, there is no need to regulate any other factors.
As for people with specific dietary needs, they are often out of luck. Vegans, for example, have been quite unfortunate in the past. Most courts have determined that prisons do not have to require animal-free products to vegans, regardless of their religious or personal beliefs. Typically, only pregnant women and inmates suffering from medical conditions such as diabetes or AIDS are approved for any type of special diet. Even then, however, all foods must be approved by the institution's dietitian.