The Pandemic Has Deteriorated Food Quality at Massachusetts DOC Prisons | Eater Boston

"Formerly incarcerated people describe this women's prison as having long-standing food-quality problems that worsened during the pandemic: portions and nutrition declined, meals were often cold or inedible, and medically necessary accommodations for conditions like diabetes were inconsistent (one person reported receiving a single apple and a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich for a day). A former kitchen worker recounted systemic mismanagement—incorrect food-storage temperatures, cross-contamination, the presence of vermin and insects, and no ServSafe-certified staff—and said fresh-food donations from local farmers that once supplemented menus disappeared; the department maintains that food-service facilities meet health codes and that dietitians regularly review menus, but multiple sources say quality and safety have significantly deteriorated." - Terrence Doyle