Tag: Prison Food Service

Hunger Games

In Michigan prisons, the complexities of feeding thousands daily expose significant shortcomings in nutritional standards amid strict budget constraints. Official guidelines mandate 2,600 to 2,700 calories per inmate, yet many face chronic deficits due to portion control, supply issues, and unpalatable meals mainly comprised of processed foods. The privatization of food services has exacerbated these problems, leading to health hazards, sanitation failures, and staff misconduct. Despite legislation aiming for reforms and oversight, the health risks from long-term poor nutrition remain high, underscoring how inadequate meals contribute to chronic illnesses and strain state healthcare resources.

Butt Naked Fish

Not much needs more to be said about food service in the MDOC than to mention “Butt Naked Fish.”  This will elicit a visceral response from anyone who has served appreciable time as a prisoner.  BFN is an unbreaded fish fillet that has more in common with particle board than Van de Kamp’s. 

Pavlovian Response

The bottom line is the bottom line, food costs money.  The goal is to feed an inmate for $1 a day and has been for years regardless of inflation.  When buying the cheapest food isn’t enough food service management will do whatever it can to contain costs, even cut corners.  I suspect that Pavlov’s dogs wouldn’t have salivated in anticipation of a meal at the MDOC.