Appalling Prison and Jail Food Leaves Prisoners Hungry for Justice

Source: David M. Reutter, Gary Hunter & Brandon Sample, Prison Legal News, Tuesday, February 07, 2012

.... Over the past decade, prison and jail officials have been turning to private for-profit companies to cut the cost of feeding prisoners. Leading the way in contracted food services is Philadelphia-based Aramark Correctional Services. Other prison food service firms include A'Viands Food & Services Management, ABL Management, and U.K.-based Compass Group's Canteen Correctional Services and Trinity Services Group. ..... Food is a basic necessity and failure to provide adequate meals can lead to health-related problems or even violence by hungry and frustrated prisoners. In many cases, though, providing decent prison and jail food is an unappetizing prospect for government officials, who are increasingly cutting costs at the expense of prisoners' waistlines. Which is an unhealthy practice that is hard to stomach.