Chinese prisoners eat staple food, vegetables, cooking oil, meat, soy products, and egg fish and shrimp. They can also buy other food at the supermarket in the prison.
According to the "Regulations on Strengthening the Management of Life and Health in Prisons"(关于加强监狱生活卫生管理工作的若干规定, 2014) by the Ministry of Justice of China:
- Prisons should ensure that food should be sufficient for prisoners, food should be cooked, and food should be clean and healthy.
- Prisons should respect the special living habits of ethnic minority prisoners.
- The price of goods in the supermarket in the prison shall not be higher than the average sales price of the local society during the same period.
- It is forbidden to carry food for the prisoners when they meet with their families.
- It is forbidden for prison staff to carry food and medicine for prisoners without permission.
According to the "Notice on Adjusting the Food Quantity Standards for Prisoners" (关于调整在押罪犯伙食实物量标准的通知, 2018)by the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Justice of China, the standards for the quantity of food for prisoners are as follows:
Staple food: 16-25kg for male, 12-20kg for female.
Vegetables: 17-25kg for male, 18-25kg for female.
Cooking oil: 0.75-1 kg
Meat: 1.5-2.5 kg
Soy products: 1-1.5 kg
Egg fish and shrimp: 1-1.5 kg.
The above amount is the food of each prisoner each month.
Cover Photo by Emily xuan on Unsplash
Contributors: CJO Staff Contributors Team
