Florida Targets Prison Food To Save Money

MADISON, Fla. (AP) - Florida is returning to in-house food
service for its prisons while the Legislature cuts spending in the
nation's third-largest state prison system.
Philadelphia-based Aramark withdrew its food services from
Florida's prisons last month. The company said it couldn't make
money due to the rising cost of bread, milk and other staples amid
pressure from the state to cut costs.
A smaller, Florida-based food service company, Trinity Services
Group of Oldsmar, also has pulled out of the state's prisons.
The state paid the two vendors $85 million for the fiscal year
2007-2008. The current year's food budget is $76 million.
Prison menus will change to save money. Inmates will get corn
bread instead of sliced bread at some meals, fewer sweetener
packets and orange juice that comes from concentrate.

(Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)