Jail Food Can Be a Hard Sell (changed to accomodate Muslims)

LAT ^ | Jan. 8, 2005 | Paul Pringle

[FairOpinion]

Today, inmates are guaranteed a healthy allotment of calories and nutrients, as well as clean kitchens. Diets low in salt and fat have gained favor. More and more prisons are eliminating pork in deference to the religious tenets of Muslim prisoners.

Some cling to an old tactic of pumping up the calories — serving 3,500 to 3,800 a day, instead of the standard 2,500 to 3,000 — to keep inmates full-bellied and calm, said Dan Jameson, a senior vice president of Aramark Corp., a food vendor that provides meals for 425 prisons and jails.

"It's using food to manage the prison," Jameson said.

Inmate rights advocates condemn as dehumanizing what they say is the growing practice of requiring inmates to eat in their cells, a measure taken to prevent fights in dining halls.

[bigsigh]

Most prisons are feeding for less than 7 dollars per day. You can do a lot of potatos, pasta etc for that. When I retired in 98 we were feeding at $359 per day per inmate and that was in Cal.

Many prisons also grown there own including pigs, corn, dairy and so fortyh. That keeps the price down considerably and you can provide fattening and hicarb foods so the little dears don't starve todeath.

Thos folks who love Sheriff Joe, must realize his inmate are short term jainl prisoners. Some are not adjudicated. You can't treat people like crap for long-term unless you want to return to Attica.

[bigsigh]

$3.59

[bigsigh]

and if I knew haw two spel I'd git a reel jawb.

[douglas1]

I can feed my husband and I pretty good if I shop around on ten dollars a day.

[CyberAnt]

I agree .. this irritates me too.

[Paul_Denton]

Feeding muslims? That makes a good way to put cat waste after cleaning the litter box!