The nutritional content of male prisoners' diet in the UK

Abstract

The Prison Catering Service has changed from a Ration Scale to a pre‐select menu system as the basis for providing prisoners' meals. The purpose of this research was to ascertain how this may have affected male prisoners' nutritional intake. Using a modified visual estimation technique, the dietary intake of 506 prisoners (mean age 35 years, height 1.77 m and weight 78.03 kg) in eight prisons was estimated for a 24‐h period. Results show that overall, the mean nutrient intake from food provided by HM Prisons (2561 kcal; 10.77 MJ) fell within current recommendations. However, in four prisons, energy intake was below the recommendations as were a small number of micronutrients (vitamin A, vitamin B2, vitamin C and calcium, one prison each; and vitamin D, in all prisons) from the food provided. The mean percentage of energy provided from total fat (36%) was just in excess of the recommendation of 35% and similar to the National average. There is little evidence to suggest that the ‘new’ system has any detrimental effects on prisoners' nutritional intake.

Food provision and the nutritional implications of food choices made by young adult males, in a young offenders' institution

“…(2001) also found that the diet consumed by male prisoners compared favourably with the general population, with a result of 36.2% energy as fat. Carbohydrate intake (as percentage energy) was close to the recommended 50% and was comparable with the 50% found by Edwards et al . (2001).…”

“…Average energy intake was close to the EAR, and compared well with data from Edwards et al . (2001), who found an average intake of 10.8 MJ across the eight prisons included in their study (Table 4).…”

“…Protein intake was in excess of the RNI. Both general population figures (MAFF, 1999) and results from Edwards et al . (2001) also found intakes well above recommendations.…”

“…Other methods (e.g. Edwards et al ., 2001) have based judgements on choices, assuming all selected foods were eaten. In this sense the method employed gave a more accurate indication of the implications of food intake, as well as food choices.…”

“…Fat intakes (as percentage energy) were above the recommended 35%, but compared well with general population figures at the time, which stood at 39.7% and 39.1% for 1996 and 1997, respectively [Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF), 1999]. Edwards et al . (2001) also found that the diet consumed by male prisoners compared favourably with the general population, with a result of 36.2% energy as fat.…”