Daily diets in prisons – health aspects of primary importance

M. Krawinkel, S. Halacz, Giessen

Daily diets served in prisons should be carefully composed as prisoners cannot choose and some of them have to live on the diet offered even for many years. The present – non-representative – study reports about the daily diets in 25 prisons in the Federal Republic of Germany.

Menu plans were recorded over 2 weeks and analysed for composition and nutrient content. The study did not specifically address food safety aspects. The diets have been found to contain more bread, meat, poultry, liver, fish, potatoes and potato products and vegetable fat, but less eggs and fruit compared to the nutritional survey data presented by the Robert Koch Institute in 2002.

As far as nutrients are concerned, comparison with the D-A-CH recommendations has shown a high supply of proteins and fat, but also of dietary fibre, vitamin C and folic acid. Compared to a Bavarian study of 1988, the nutritional quality of daily diets served in prisons has improved in accordance with the D-ACH recommendations and under the aspect of preventing nutritional diseases. This trend should be further optimized.

Key words: Prisons/daily diets/composition/nutrient content/ health aspects

Sie finden den Artikel in deutscher Sprache in Ernährungs-Umschau 08/06 ab Seite 309.