Custodial Inspector Richard Connock inspects Tasmanian prison menus

TASMANIA’S prisoners have complained of brown chicken, “monotonous” gravy and watery vegetables, and some say they want more than the 11 slices of bread they are fed every day.

Prisoners at the Risdon Prison Complex are fed up. Source: THE CUSTODIAL INSPECTOR.

TASMANIA’S prisoners have complained of brown chicken, “monotonous” gravy and watery vegetables, and some want their daily bread ration increased.

Top purchases at prison canteens are milk, Coke, flavoured tuna, Mars bars and chicken-flavoured Suimin noodles, according to Custodial Inspector Richard Connock.

Mr Connock has recommended inmates across the Tasmanian Prison Service be served more vegetables, less bread and dessert and have their canteen purchases regulated.

The inspector’s report, released this week, said all prisoners wanted more variety in the four-weekly omnivore menu and weekly vegetarian menu.

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Prisoners had complained that meals with vegetables “often contain a lot of free water” and meat was tough, dry, chewy and hard to swallow, the report said. Frozen fish served with some meals was in fact “significantly less” than a third fish, Mr Connock said. The rest was batter and crumbs.

Coffee was the only hot drink widely available after tea bags were banned because prisoners were mixing nicotine replacement patches with tea leaves and smoking them.

Mr Connock wrote that some prisoners were served dinner as early as 4.30pm.

“Brown chicken meat was highlighted as a dislike,” Mr Connock said.

“The gravy on roast meals was widely considered monotonous. Many prisoners reported washing the sauce off the meat or discarding these meals.”

The meals prisoners at the Risdon Prison Complex are fed. Source: THE CUSTODIAL INSPECTOR.

Some of the meals prisoners at the Risdon Prison Complex are fed. Source: THE CUSTODIAL INSPECTOR.

Prisoners received two sandwiches or wraps at lunch plus an additional seven slices of bread. Recommendations to reduce this to four slices had not been implemented, Mr Connock said.

“Staff surveyed commented that a lot of bread is fed to feral birds at the Risdon site, indicating the bread pack provided to prisoners is excess to requirements,” Mr Connock said.

“However, some prisoners indicated they would like more, not less, bread.”

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Meal quality was let down because of delays in it being cooked, reheated and served, he said.

The inspection found the prison service generally provided a nutritionally adequate menu for prisoners, with the exception of some issues concerning the provision of special diets, a somewhat excessive supply of bread elevating potential sodium intakes, and less than ideal availability of fresh vegetables and fruit,” Mr Connock said.

The Justice Department pledged to look at recommendations from Mr Connock, whose recommendations were partly informed by a dietitian.