Introduction
The question of whether prison food constitutes healthy nutrition is a complex one, touching on legal, ethical, economic, and public health concerns. While prisons are not primarily designed for health, they offer a unique opportunity to address health disparities. The food provided in prisons significantly impacts the physical and mental well-being of incarcerated individuals. This article delves into the multifaceted aspects of prison food, examining its nutritional content, the meanings it carries, and its broader implications for incarcerated individuals and the community upon their release.
The Nutritional Landscape of Prison Food
Reports on the quality of prison food vary significantly across different countries and even within different facilities in the same country. Some studies indicate that prison meals meet basic nutritional standards, while others paint a grim picture of inadequate and unhealthy food offerings.
United States: A study conducted across 40 US states concluded that food in US prisons is a ‘hidden punishment,’ with prisons functioning as food deserts that perpetuate poor health patterns in underserved communities.
Spain: A comparison of the diet provided in prison with national healthy eating guidance revealed that the meals were high in fat and sugar, low in fiber, and contained few fresh vegetables or fruit.
Poland: An analysis of food served in Polish prisons found that while protein, fat, and carbohydrate levels met national recommendations, the amounts of vitamins and minerals did not.
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Australia: Studies conducted in 25 prisons across Australia indicated that menus included adequate variety and met most nutritional standards.
United Kingdom: Studies conducted in 17 prisons in England and Wales concluded that, on the whole, people in custody were provided with nutritious food. However, Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Prisons (H.M.I.P., 2016) determined that the quantity and quality of food were often insufficient, and the conditions in which it was served and eaten undermined respect for prisoners’ dignity.
The Symbolic Meanings of Food in Prison
Beyond its nutritional value, food carries significant symbolic meanings in the prison environment. Interactions around food, often characterized by top-down control and a lack of choice, can exacerbate feelings of isolation from home, impact an individual’s sense of autonomy, and hinder their potential for reintegration and self-care after imprisonment.
Meta-Ethnographic Synthesis: First-Hand Accounts
A meta-ethnographic synthesis of 27 papers integrated first-hand experiences of food in prison from 10 different countries. The lived experience for most in custody is of poor-quality prison-issued meals, necessarily consumed at a time and place at odds with socio-cultural norms. The potential of food to enhance the prison environment and support improvements in prisoner health and wellbeing is limited when the nutritional content is inadequate and/or where food is served and eaten impacts negatively on human dignity. Beyond nutrition, food carries clear symbolic meanings in prison; through everyday food activities in prison, especially cooking, empowerment, participation, agency and identity are negotiated and performed. Cooking (with others or alone) can reduce anxiety and depression and increase feelings of self-efficacy and resilience in a socially, psychologically, and financially disadvantaged population. Integrating cooking and sharing food into the routine of prison life strengthens the skills and resources available to prisoners, empowering them as they move from the prison environment to the community.
Legal and Regulatory Framework
The legal system governing nutrition standards at state and local carceral facilities is an amalgamation of state and local policies, along with a myriad of court decisions. There exist few all-encompassing prison food laws. The American Correctional Association offers accreditation to correctional facilities, but the program is voluntary. To meet accreditation standards, a facility must allow at least 20 minutes of dining time for each meal and ensure that meals are not spaced more than 14 hours apart. Furthermore, all carceral facilities must have a licensed dietician on staff to review menus in order to receive ACA accreditation.
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The primary governing law for prison food is the Eighth Amendment, which prohibits cruel and unusual punishment. Courts have generally interpreted this to mean that correctional facilities must not deprive prisoners of the "basic necessities of life," including adequate food. However, court decisions have varied, and some have upheld policies that may seem inadequate from a nutritional standpoint.
The Bureau of Prisons’ Food Service Manual (FSM), which governs policy at federal prisons, states that “Inmates will be provided with nutritionally adequate meals, prepared and served in a manner that meets established Government health and safety codes,” but nowhere in the FSM do they expand upon what nutritionally adequate entails. Notably, there exists no nationwide mandate for state and local prisons on the cost of a meal, or on the minimum amount of calories or nutrients they must contain. States must comply with their own standards, but there is no guarantee that these standards are in line with well-studied dietary recommendations.
The United States Department of Agriculture releases an official “Thrifty Food Plan” yearly, outlining the average cost to feed a United States citizen “a nutritious, practical, and cost-effective diet” based on Dietary Reference Intakes and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025.
The Dehumanizing Nature of Prison Food
The quality and presentation of prison food are often described as dehumanizing and disgusting. Meals served in "chow halls" have been compared to "food intended for livestock." Some of the incarcerated are starving-94 percent of formerly incarcerated people surveyed by Impact Justice said they could not eat enough to feel full-whereas others are exhibiting trauma-induced eating behaviors that cause rapid weight gain like binging and hoarding.
Health Implications of Poor Prison Nutrition
Studies have consistently shown that nutrition is linked to better health outcomes. Poor nutrition, on the other hand, is associated with a range of health problems, including:
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- Cardiometabolic diseases (heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, hyperlipidemia, or hypertension)
- Obesity
- Cancer
- Aggression
- ADHD
Prisoners experience a higher burden of poor health, aggressive behaviours and worsening mental health than the general population. Almost one in three prisoners have hypertension, 7.2 percent have diabetes (almost double the rate in the general population), 10 percent have heart problems (10 times the rate in the general population), 25 percent have diagnosed ADHD (five times that of the general population), and one in four prisoners are in serious psychological distress-all diseases that are significantly and consistently associated with poor nutrition.
The Role of Commissaries
Commissaries or "canteens" are retail stores within prisons where incarcerated people can purchase additional food and hygiene products at inflated prices. Typically, prisoners spend money on commissary provisions from the wages they earn through work. Those who are unable to pay on their own depend on their family for monetary support to make purchases possible. Although they are in high demand, commissaries do not offer anything fresh. Most items for sale are pre-packaged, processed foods that are filled with sugar (like candy bars) or salt (like chips or ramen noodles).
The Cycle of Incarceration and Chronic Disease
The mere experience of incarceration leaves an indelible imprint on the health of an individual. Furthermore, the legal policies governing food access for the formerly incarcerated compound upon the atrocious policies within the system to create cycles of chronic disease that directly intersect with cycles of incarceration hyper-prevalent in Black and Brown communities. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, formerly food stamps, has been associated with improved dietary quality and increased food security-along with measurable improvements in children’s health, academic performance, and generally lifting people out of poverty. However, some states have historically imposed a lifetime ban on SNAP and/or TANF (Temporary Assistance for Needy Families) for those with previous drug felony convictions. Public assistance programs like SNAP and TANF are essential to those who were formerly incarcerated, and their families. The main benefit of these public assistance programs pertains to accessing low-cost meals, of essential importance to the 91 percent of those released from carceral facilities who experience food insecurity.
The Impact of Incarceration on Life Expectancy
A study found that each year spent in prison “translated to a 2-year decline in life expectancy.” It’s easy to see how. Foodborne illnesses are, perhaps, among the most immediate and universal risks for incarcerated people-research findings indicated they were six times more likely to contract them. Prison diets could also have a cumulative impact, worsening issues for people with existing chronic diseases and, for others, helping lead to their development. People in prison were 150 percent more likely than the general population to report histories of diabetes, asthma, or high blood pressure, according to the DOJ. Nearly one in four incarcerated people have hypertension.
Promising Initiatives and Reforms
Despite the challenges, some correctional institutions and organizations are working to improve the nutritional quality of prison food and promote healthier eating habits among incarcerated individuals.
Mountain View Correctional Facility (Maine): This facility operates a garden and bakery staffed by incarcerated people, providing fresh produce and homemade bread for residents. The program saves the prison nearly $100,000 yearly, reducing reliance on vendors and, for residents, the commissary.
Sustainability in Prisons Project: The Washington Department of Corrections and Evergreen State College run beekeeping and composting programs onsite and coordinate with local partners to harvest fresh produce, which is shared among all 11 state prisons as well as with nearby food pantries.
Basic Affordable Supplies for Incarcerated Californians Act: Signed into law in October 2023, this act aims to curtail commissary price gouging in California.
Rights Behind Bars Bill (New York): Introduced in December 2023, this bill would mandate regular access to "wholesome and nutritious food," including fresh fruits and vegetables, in New York State prisons.
The Role of Nutrition-Based Interventions
Research confirms that prison food is not just gross; it is often nutritionally inadequate. 30% of incarcerated people have hypertension, 10% heart problems, and 9% diabetes - all higher rates than the general population. Nutritional interventions have shown promise in improving mental health and reducing aggressive behaviors among prisoners. Studies have explored the use of nutritional supplements, diet changes, and education programs.
Supplementation-based studies: Of the seven supplement-based studies, six included rule violations as an outcome, and only three demonstrated significant improvements. One study included mental health as an outcome; however, results did not reach significance.
Diet change studies: Of the three diet change studies, two investigated cognitive function as an outcome, with both reaching significance. Anxiety was included in one diet change study, which found a significant improvement through consuming oily fish.
Diet education study: One study using diet education did not find a significant improvement in overall mental resilience.
The Economic Implications of Prison Food
The lack of coherent, cohesive laws on food quality and quantity, including a lack of enforcement of federal guidelines at a state and local level, allow for unappetizing, unsatisfying, unhealthy, and inhumane portions of food to be served day in and day out to those in prisons and jails. The mental and physical health impacts of this poor diet create hyper prevalence of cardiometabolic disease-and these problems are only intensified as the formerly incarcerated are denied access to public assistance and live in areas designated as “food deserts” where food insecurity is the norm.
Correctional agencies often prioritize cost-cutting measures in food services, but this can be fiscally short-sighted. Deteriorating food quality can lead to security problems and protests, requiring additional staff and resources. Furthermore, food costs are dwarfed by healthcare costs in prisons, so improving the nutritional quality of prison food would be a cost-effective way to improve inmate health. The study from Prison Voice Washington reveals how changes in food service at the Washington Department of Corrections violate the state’s own Healthy Nutrition Guidelines. Since turning over food service to the Department’s business arm, Correctional Industries, the quality of food has deteriorated and culinary job opportunities that require actual cooking skills have dried up.
The downturn in prison food quality can be blamed on larger trends toward industrialization and privatization.