Prison peddlers: what prisoners are fed in the USA and Russia

No matter how guilty those who are serving their sentences in places of detention are before society, they need to be fed — nutritionally and in a timely manner. Some believe that law-abiding taxpayers should not support criminals at their own expense, others mention humanity and, conversely, fight for better nutrition.

It is no secret that if a person does not receive his daily allowance of calories and nutrients, then this eventually adversely affects the state of his body. In the third world countries, this scientifically proven fact does not bother anyone much, so prisoners there are often treated with waste and, in general, approach their diet very freely.

In developed countries, such an attitude is not allowed, although food in prisons is still difficult to compare with what a person can afford on the outside. Let's see how prisoners are fed in the rich and struggling for the rights of each of their US citizens and Russia, where everything, as you know, is quite ambiguous.

We can say that in In the United States, prisoners are not poor. The food in American prisons is better than in schools and universities, although the 2.8 kilocalories per day allotted to an American convict does not always look appetizing.

It all depends on the state and even on the specific prison. Reducing the cost of keeping prisoners is one of the most favorite pre-election skates of American politicians. Speculation on this topic is not difficult to explain, since it is no secret to any of the citizens of the country that each prisoner costs the budget 30 thousand dollars a year.

In some prisons, they practice feeding violators of the regime with a special dish called nutraloaf. This dish looks like an unappetizing briquette made from leftovers without the slightest hint of salt and spices. The composition of nutraloaf may include bread, vegetables, pasta, beans and, very rarely, meat waste. In different prisons, this dish is prepared in its own way, but everywhere it has an exceptionally nauseating appearance and disgusting taste.

The same sitters, to whom the administration has no complaints, receive quite decent food. The standard breakfast consists of fruit salad, cereal, oatmeal, juice and tea. At lunch and dinner, prisoners can count on chicken or beef, burritos, turkey sausages. There are also desserts, which are a cupcake or a small piece of sponge cake.Every American prison has a full-time dietitian, whose duties include developing the diet of prisoners for each week. At the same time, religious preferences and medical recommendations are taken into account. Muslims, vegetarians and diabetics have a special account, for whom food is prepared separately. Often, the prison is served not by its own kitchen, but by a catering company.

Food in US prisons is under strict supervision of supervisory authorities. Prisoners often write complaints about certain shortcomings of their menu and carefully consider them. For many, this becomes entertainment, because an official response comes to every appeal.

In prisons and colonies of the Russian Federation, the administration cannot influence the diet of prisoners. We have everything strictly and decisions are made by the Federal Penitentiary Service. In 2017, new nutrition rules were issued, according to which the daily diet surpassed the American one and amounted to 3 kilocalories.In our prisons, meals should not be repeated more often than 2-3 times a week. Theoretically, the legendary vegetable balanda has remained in the past and it has been replaced by nutritious and delicious kharcho soup, pea soup, borscht, pickle or cabbage soup to choose from. Ear is also allowed, but in no case as an alternative to meat dishes.

The temperature of meals is also regulated. For liquid dishes, it should be at least 75 degrees, and for the second — 65 degrees. Iced tea is prohibited — its temperature must be at least 80 degrees. It seemed that one could only rejoice for the people who stumbled, who, standing with two feet on the path of correction, are surrounded by care and attention.

But in fact, things are not as rosy as in the official rules. Of the 72 rubles that are provided daily for the prisoner's meals, hardly a third reaches his plate. Widespread theft and negligence makes all instructions and requirements meaningless.

Needless to say, no one in our places of detention cares at all about the prisoner's state of health or his religion. We have not seen such luxury as disposable cutlery in Russian prisons, which have long become the norm in the United States. Just like decades ago, an aluminum spoon and bowl are in use, and forks are still strictly prohibited.

Despite the good food that not all free Americans can afford, life in US prisons is not at all like staying at a resort.