Post by CC on Jun 16, 2009 0:07:23 GMT -5
Prisons, jails re-evaluate food choices
Hannah Poturalski
June 14, 2009 - 6:19PM
LIMA - With the economy tight and no turnaround expected soon, prisons and jails have begun to look closer at their expenses, including the way they feed their inmates.
While some places have made portions smaller, others just buy cheaper foods. Both state and county facilities are considering these changes.
Lt. John Allen of the Allen County Jail said while the portions and caloric intake have not changed, the way the jail shops for its food has changed a lot.
"We have to shop for the dollar," Allen said. "Where we used to have just one food-service provider, we now have to be competitive in our prices."
Allen said the Allen County Jail is accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and has to fulfill those dietary requirements.
"We voluntarily submit to NCCHC requirements but now have to be more efficient with our money," Allen said.
Van Wert County Sheriff Stan Owens said his county's jail is also more cost-conscious now in terms of meal preparation.
"We feed cheaper food items now but still meet the minimum requirements for nutrition," Owens said.
Owens mentioned that Van Wert County Correctional Facility does monitor rising and falling food prices and buys the food that's cheapest.
"Money is tight, so when pork got cheaper we bought half a dozen fat hogs," Owens said. "We try to feed quantity."
The Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation Center in Lima has made cutbacks on the food given to inmates.
Felicia Jenkins, food-service coordinator at the center for the past 13 years, said the cutbacks haven't been drastic. Vending machines were installed so inmates could buy coffee, because they only receive one cup a day now.
"We're looking into different companies to get the lowest prices but maintain a quality of food," Jenkins said.
Jenkins said the center has begun to use leftovers and incorporate them into other dishes. The center has also changed from regular-sized snacks to the smaller "fun-sized" packages.
"In the last couple years there's been a tightening from the state, so we try to cut back everything we can," Jenkins said. "We look for best way to utilize the taxpayers' money."
Capt. Jodie Lange of the Mercer County Jail said they've gone to one cold meal a day.
"Our food is currently catered in from the county home and by going to a cold meat sandwich we saved a $1.70 per meal," Lange said.
JoEllen Culp, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in Columbus, said the possibility of providing inmates with a brunch meal and taking away breakfast is being explored but nothing has been decided about if and when that would be implemented.
Culp's office is also in charge of communications for the Allen Correctional Institution here in Lima.
"There have been no cutbacks to our food menu yet," Culp said.
Hannah Poturalski
June 14, 2009 - 6:19PM
LIMA - With the economy tight and no turnaround expected soon, prisons and jails have begun to look closer at their expenses, including the way they feed their inmates.
While some places have made portions smaller, others just buy cheaper foods. Both state and county facilities are considering these changes.
Lt. John Allen of the Allen County Jail said while the portions and caloric intake have not changed, the way the jail shops for its food has changed a lot.
"We have to shop for the dollar," Allen said. "Where we used to have just one food-service provider, we now have to be competitive in our prices."
Allen said the Allen County Jail is accredited by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care and has to fulfill those dietary requirements.
"We voluntarily submit to NCCHC requirements but now have to be more efficient with our money," Allen said.
Van Wert County Sheriff Stan Owens said his county's jail is also more cost-conscious now in terms of meal preparation.
"We feed cheaper food items now but still meet the minimum requirements for nutrition," Owens said.
Owens mentioned that Van Wert County Correctional Facility does monitor rising and falling food prices and buys the food that's cheapest.
"Money is tight, so when pork got cheaper we bought half a dozen fat hogs," Owens said. "We try to feed quantity."
The Western Ohio Regional Treatment and Habilitation Center in Lima has made cutbacks on the food given to inmates.
Felicia Jenkins, food-service coordinator at the center for the past 13 years, said the cutbacks haven't been drastic. Vending machines were installed so inmates could buy coffee, because they only receive one cup a day now.
"We're looking into different companies to get the lowest prices but maintain a quality of food," Jenkins said.
Jenkins said the center has begun to use leftovers and incorporate them into other dishes. The center has also changed from regular-sized snacks to the smaller "fun-sized" packages.
"In the last couple years there's been a tightening from the state, so we try to cut back everything we can," Jenkins said. "We look for best way to utilize the taxpayers' money."
Capt. Jodie Lange of the Mercer County Jail said they've gone to one cold meal a day.
"Our food is currently catered in from the county home and by going to a cold meat sandwich we saved a $1.70 per meal," Lange said.
JoEllen Culp, spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction in Columbus, said the possibility of providing inmates with a brunch meal and taking away breakfast is being explored but nothing has been decided about if and when that would be implemented.
Culp's office is also in charge of communications for the Allen Correctional Institution here in Lima.
"There have been no cutbacks to our food menu yet," Culp said.