What prison food in the US really looks like, and why some inmates refuse to eat it

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Since the US has local, state, and federally run jails and prisons, an inmate’s plate varies depending on where they are in the country, 9 News reported.

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Cereal, fruit, bread, and sugar packets were on the breakfast menu for US inmates in 2020, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article

For lunch in US prisons, bread, a fruit, a vegetable, and some kind of protein, like beans, are standard.

Microsoft may earn an Affiliate Commission if you purchase something through recommended links in this article

Some US prisons spend less than $1 on each inmate’s meal, the Marshall Project, a nonprofit publication that covers the US criminal justice system, reported in 2015.

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Some inmates are so repulsed by certain meals that they skip them.

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Barbara, an inmate from A E’s documentary series 60 Days In, previously told Insider that the beans in jail were so inedible that she frequently skipped dinner and didn’t eat until breakfast the next day.

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Another inmate on the show, Tami, called the prison meals depressing.

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But prison food doesn’t just taste bad reports indicate that it’s also making some inmates sick.

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A CDC study found that between 1998 and 2014, inmates suffered from a food related illness 6.4 times more than the general population.

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The nutraloaf is a punishment meal given to some US inmates because it’s so disgusting.

The brick-like meal is typically made from tomato paste, potato flakes, and beans, Business Insider previously reported.

While it has been banned in a handful of states, WUFT and Fox12 Oregon have reported as recently as 2017 that the horrible food is still being served in some states, like Florida and Oregon.

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Inmates at some US prisons have gone on hunger strikes to protest horrid conditions including the terrible food.

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While prison meals in the US might look like the worst school lunch you’ve ever had …

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… other countries have it much better.

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One prison in Italy has a bakery inside of it where inmates make desserts like Panettone a traditional Italian Christmas cake, Reuters reported in 2014.

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A 2015 New York Times opinion piece reported that inmates in Germany had access to kitchens and were able to purchase fresh food with wages from vocational programs.

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In Incarceration Nations A Journey to Justice in Prisons Around the World, Baz Dreisinger reports that a prison in Norway has its own nature reserve that grows 25% of the prison’s food.

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We don’t know what Angeli’s organic meals in detention look like, but we doubt he’s eating Nutraloaves.

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What prison food in the US really looks like, and why some inmates refuse to eat it

Since the US has local, state, and federally run jails and prisons, an inmate’s plate varies depending on where they are in the country, 9 News reported.

Cereal, fruit, bread, and sugar packets were on the breakfast menu for US inmates in 2020, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

For lunch in US prisons, bread, a fruit, a vegetable, and some kind of protein, like beans, are standard.

Some US prisons spend less than $1 on each inmate’s meal, the Marshall Project, a nonprofit publication that covers the US criminal justice system, reported in 2015.

Some inmates are so repulsed by certain meals that they skip them.

Barbara, an inmate from A E’s documentary series 60 Days In, previously told Insider that the beans in jail were so inedible that she frequently skipped dinner and didn’t eat until breakfast the next day.

Another inmate on the show, Tami, called the prison meals depressing.

But prison food doesn’t just taste bad reports indicate that it’s also making some inmates sick.

A CDC study found that between 1998 and 2014, inmates suffered from a food related illness 6.4 times more than the general population.

The nutraloaf is a punishment meal given to some US inmates because it’s so disgusting.

Inmates at some US prisons have gone on hunger strikes to protest horrid conditions including the terrible food.

While prison meals in the US might look like the worst school lunch you’ve ever had …

… other countries have it much better.

One prison in Italy has a bakery inside of it where inmates make desserts like Panettone a traditional Italian Christmas cake, Reuters reported in 2014.

A 2015 New York Times opinion piece reported that inmates in Germany had access to kitchens and were able to purchase fresh food with wages from vocational programs.

In Incarceration Nations A Journey to Justice in Prisons Around the World, Baz Dreisinger reports that a prison in Norway has its own nature reserve that grows 25% of the prison’s food.

We don’t know what Angeli’s organic meals in detention look like, but we doubt he’s eating Nutraloaves.

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Since the US has local, state, and federally run jails and prisons, an inmate’s plate varies depending on where they are in the country, 9 News reported.

Cereal, fruit, bread, and sugar packets were on the breakfast menu for US inmates in 2020, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

For lunch in US prisons, bread, a fruit, a vegetable, and some kind of protein, like beans, are standard.

Some US prisons spend less than $1 on each inmate’s meal, the Marshall Project, a nonprofit publication that covers the US criminal justice system, reported in 2015.

Some inmates are so repulsed by certain meals that they skip them.

Barbara, an inmate from A E’s documentary series 60 Days In, previously told Insider that the beans in jail were so inedible that she frequently skipped dinner and didn’t eat until breakfast the next day.

Another inmate on the show, Tami, called the prison meals depressing.

But prison food doesn’t just taste bad reports indicate that it’s also making some inmates sick.

A CDC study found that between 1998 and 2014, inmates suffered from a food related illness 6.4 times more than the general population.

The nutraloaf is a punishment meal given to some US inmates because it’s so disgusting.

Inmates at some US prisons have gone on hunger strikes to protest horrid conditions including the terrible food.

While prison meals in the US might look like the worst school lunch you’ve ever had …

… other countries have it much better.

One prison in Italy has a bakery inside of it where inmates make desserts like Panettone a traditional Italian Christmas cake, Reuters reported in 2014.

A 2015 New York Times opinion piece reported that inmates in Germany had access to kitchens and were able to purchase fresh food with wages from vocational programs.

In Incarceration Nations A Journey to Justice in Prisons Around the World, Baz Dreisinger reports that a prison in Norway has its own nature reserve that grows 25% of the prison’s food.

We don’t know what Angeli’s organic meals in detention look like, but we doubt he’s eating Nutraloaves.

Send MSN Feedback

More Stories

Healthy Food Trends You’ll Love This Year

Healthy Food Ideas for a Nutritious Lifestyle

Healthy Food Mistakes You Might Be Making

You may have missed

Must-Try Italian Food Beyond Pasta & Pizza

The Best Diet for Gut Health and Digestion

Food & Cooking Techniques Every Home Chef Should Know

Food World Innovations Making Headlines