Jump to content

  • Welcome to Celiac.com!

    You have found your celiac tribe! Join us and ask questions in our forum, share your story, and connect with others.



  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A1):

    Celiac.com Sponsor (A1-M):

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Our Content
    eNewsletter
    Donate

Jail Food

kbtoyssni

Recommended Posts

kbtoyssni Contributor
kbtoyssni
Posted

I have no idea what forum to post this in. I was wondering if anyone knew if you can get gluten-free food in jail? No, I am not planning on going to jail anytime soon. It's just that every time I turn on the news it's about Paris Hilton in jail and they had a story on jail food and how it cost $.18 per meal. The stuff looked like slop. And then I wondered if they can accommodate people on special diets. And then I wondered about CC in the jail kitchen. And then I figured I'd ask all of you for your opinions :)

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


blueeyedmanda Community Regular
blueeyedmanda
Posted

I have to say that is an interesting question. The stuff does look nasty. Yes, paris is all over the news.

Lisa Mentor
Lisa
Posted
I have no idea what forum to post this in. I was wondering if anyone knew if you can get gluten-free food in jail? No, I am not planning on going to jail anytime soon. It's just that every time I turn on the news it's about Paris Hilton in jail and they had a story on jail food and how it cost $.18 per meal. The stuff looked like slop. And then I wondered if they can accommodate people on special diets. And then I wondered about CC in the jail kitchen. And then I figured I'd ask all of you for your opinions :)

Glad you're not planning a stay! :P In our local jail, the food is supplied by our local hospital. The Disability Act should come into play here...as an incarcerated diabetic would not be denied medical needs.

Sadly, I have to admit that I am anxious to hear what Paris has to say about here "life-altering experience". :ph34r:

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted

How funny--I wondered the same thing! :P

I would think they'd have to make the necessary adjustments, but I'll bet they don't pay real close attention to CC.

2Boys4Me Enthusiast
2Boys4Me
Posted

Oddly enough, Ty has been on this "bad guy" kick lately. What if a bad guy came into our house, etc. One time he said, "What if I grow up to be a bad guy?" I told him he wasn't allowed and that they didn't serve gluten-free food in jail. However my sister, who has been working with "bad guys" a long time - including at a medium security prison, says they will tend to his food needs. (He's still not allowed to be a bad guy.)

Guest Doll
Guest Doll
Posted
I have no idea what forum to post this in. I was wondering if anyone knew if you can get gluten-free food in jail? No, I am not planning on going to jail anytime soon. It's just that every time I turn on the news it's about Paris Hilton in jail and they had a story on jail food and how it cost $.18 per meal. The stuff looked like slop. And then I wondered if they can accommodate people on special diets. And then I wondered about CC in the jail kitchen. And then I figured I'd ask all of you for your opinions :)

What the "official" position is....I assume that yes, you will get a "gluten free" meal *if* you request it and you have an official Dx of Celiac by an MD (which is yet another reason to make sure you actually get Dx'd :)). They have to at least try and accommodate a valid medical condition. If you don't actually have documented Celiac or a gluten allergy, I am almost sure they will deny your request.

Now, since it IS a jail, I can't say how reliable the kitchen will be. We all know that jails are "supposed" to give diabetics their insulin and food, but there have been many cases of (Type 1) diabetics who have died while in jail.

I would say, make Celiac another reason to avoid jail. :P

jerseyangel Proficient
jerseyangel
Posted
I would say, make Celiac another reason to avoid jail. :P

Add to that the fact that the toilet is right in the cell--out in the open :o

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):
Celiac.com Sponsor (A8):

Celiac.com Sponsor (A8-M):


DingoGirl Enthusiast
DingoGirl
Posted
Add to that the fact that the toilet is right in the cell--out in the open :o

:lol:

and what about those thin, disgusting mattresses, and the paper thin pillows.....oh my gaaaaaaawd.....I would NEVER sleep in jail - - need three down pillows, clean, crisp, high-thread-count cotton sheets......fabulous mattress......at least a queen size....and the fan blowing on me at all times - white noise - - and NO, could never sleep with a toilet next to my HEAD!!!!! :blink::lol:

but I think Paris is going to come out of there emaciated.....even if I were not Celiac, I would have a hard time eating that gruel.....

my dear friend went through the whole prison guard program - oops - Corrections Officer - - - told me the most gruesome things - - - and some of it about the slop the prisoners ate - - ZOIGS - -

:huh:

SunnyDyRain Enthusiast
SunnyDyRain
Posted
:lol:

and what about those thin, disgusting mattresses, and the paper thin pillows.....oh my gaaaaaaawd.....I would NEVER sleep in jail - - need three down pillows, clean, crisp, high-thread-count cotton sheets......fabulous mattress......at least a queen size....and the fan blowing on me at all times - white noise - - and NO, could never sleep with a toilet next to my HEAD!!!!! :blink::lol:

but I think Paris is going to come out of there emaciated.....even if I were not Celiac, I would have a hard time eating that gruel.....

my dear friend went through the whole prison guard program - oops - Corrections Officer - - - told me the most gruesome things - - - and some of it about the slop the prisoners ate - - ZOIGS - -

:huh:

I think Paris went in there emaciated!

My boyfriend's uncle works at the local jail as a psych nurse and has to help give diabetics and other ill people their drugs. I'll ask him next time if he has any idea about gluten free meals. He and his wife and his sister-in-law (my boyfriend's mother) all are nurses.

DingoGirl Enthusiast
DingoGirl
Posted
I think Paris went in there emaciated!

:lol: oops - - - I meant to say........well, what's beyond emaciated? probably skeletal. :o I actually think her "medical release" reason was a nervous breakdown.......

I bet the gluten-free diet would be very difficult in a jail situation - I mean, even hospitals can't get it right........and there's no money in the budget for food......so what would the Celiac prisoner eat? surely not meats/chicken/fish/veggies and gluten-free bread.....wouldn't this perceived dietary supremacy possibly make the woeful Celiac a target?

as you can see I"ve given this some thought. :lol: What I"m most concerned about is the stretches of days and weeks of insomnia I'd have in jail........:P oh and the horrid linens.......:lol:

Mosaics Collaborator
Mosaics
Posted

I've thought about that, too. Especially since I heard on the news that Paris claimed she couldn't eat the prison food. "Well," I thought, "I probably couldn't either." Wouldn't that be awful - getting glutened all the time? I'd be a miserable ole' trout.

I've also thought how awful it would be if I had to go into a concentration camp. No special meals there. :(

WorkNsurf Rookie
WorkNsurf
Posted

hmmmm, probably a good idea to keep some kind of card or doctors note in the wallet declaring your condition. if anything happens then theyll know whats up.

SunnyDyRain Enthusiast
SunnyDyRain
Posted
hmmmm, probably a good idea to keep some kind of card or doctors note in the wallet declaring your condition. if anything happens then theyll know whats up.

I actually have a post it note on my insurance card that I'm gluten intolerant. There has been some discussion about medical alert braclets. It was mentioned that they don't need to know about it ASAP when treating you in ER but once admitted they need to know. Even if they do gluten you in the ER, I don't know if it would really kill you. I figure after I am out of harm, then they will go to try to bill me, and then they will find my insurance card.

ItchyMeredith Contributor
ItchyMeredith
Posted

What about the military?

Do they have gluten free meals in the mess hall? What about MREs?

Saz Explorer
Saz
Posted

I would assume that you would get gluten-free slop. The cc would be the major issue tho.

psawyer Proficient
psawyer
Posted
What about the military?

Do they have gluten free meals in the mess hall? What about MREs?

My understanding, and this has been discussed at length here some time ago, is that celiac is a disqualifying condition. You don't get into the military, and if you are already there, you get an immediate medical discharge.

Jail food, hmm, I guess if you wait long enough every possible topic will come up on this discussion forum...

ptkds Community Regular
ptkds
Posted

My dh is a correctional officer. From what he has told me about the food there, I don't think you could get a gluten-free meal. My dh works for a state prison, so that is different than county. They run their own kitchens, and they have certain inmates cook all the meals. So I think it would be impossible to safely eat there. (gluten-free or not :D )

ptkds

DingoGirl Enthusiast
DingoGirl
Posted
I actually have a post it note on my insurance card that I'm gluten intolerant. There has been some discussion about medical alert braclets. It was mentioned that they don't need to know about it ASAP when treating you in ER but once admitted they need to know. Even if they do gluten you in the ER, I don't know if it would really kill you. I figure after I am out of harm, then they will go to try to bill me, and then they will find my insurance card.

They will find the card....but most likely they will have no idea how to strictly adhere to a gluten-free diet. I know someone on here was hospitalized not so long ago and they gave her Rice Krispies.....etc. The horrors go on and on.

I would assume that you would get gluten-free slop. The cc would be the major issue tho.

IS there such a thing as gluten-free slop? :huh: doubtful.....

Jail food, hmm, I guess if you wait long enough every possible topic will come up on this discussion forum...

:lol: indeed.

BTW the martini looks lovely but very dry. I go for the sweeter drinks.....it's mojitos in summer here. ;)

My dh is a correctional officer. From what he has told me about the food there, I don't think you could get a gluten-free meal. My dh works for a state prison, so that is different than county. They run their own kitchens, and they have certain inmates cook all the meals. So I think it would be impossible to safely eat there. (gluten-free or not :D )

ptkds

well then we must all be quite certain and take extra care never to end up in prison. :P

ENF Enthusiast
ENF
Posted
My understanding, and this has been discussed at length here some time ago, is that celiac is a disqualifying condition. You don't get into the military, and if you are already there, you get an immediate medical discharge.

Jail food, hmm, I guess if you wait long enough every possible topic will come up on this discussion forum...

I wonder if they'd make gluten-free SOS? :D

Kaycee Collaborator
Kaycee
Posted

Have just heard that Paris has been released.

We even hear about her over here.

Cathy

darlindeb25 Collaborator
darlindeb25
Posted

Firstly, in Michigan, I have a very good friend who is a cook in a county jail and those people eat very well. I also have a son who has been a "bad boy" and has spend a little time there. He never complained about the food.

I have been reading "The Gluten Free Bible" by Jax Peters Lowell. When someone asked him about gluten-free food in prison, he states,

"Not even Martha Stewart has enough pull to order gluten-free French Toast in a federal prison. Cushy or barbed wire, locked down or wide open, the rules are the same. Alan Schwartz, Regional Food Director for the Federal Bureau of Prisons, tells me the only diets available to prisoners are those eaten for religious purposes, e.g., kosher for Jewish prisoners and followers of Islam and vegetaranism, or as the prison system so quaintly calls it, "no flesh". Whether it's wheat, gluten, lactose, peanut, tree nut, or casein, diabetes, low-cholesterol, or low salt, I am told it is incumbent upon each inmate to manage his/her special diet by asking to see an ingredient label, which will be available and to self-inspect the proper food. Prison is punishment. They do not go out of their way to make it easy.

I agree, prison or jail is a punishment and they shouldn't go out of their way to make it easy for the person. I used to be on a county fairboard and prisoners were released to us on work details. On hot days, the prisoner could say he didn't want to work, so that he could stay in the air conditioning. I didn't have air then, why shoud they. My son has spent time in jail and that was his choice, well, not really his choice, but he allowed it to happen.

ravenwoodglass Mentor
ravenwoodglass
Posted
My understanding, and this has been discussed at length here some time ago, is that celiac is a disqualifying condition. You don't get into the military, and if you are already there, you get an immediate medical discharge.

Thats correct and heaven help you if you are in and it is triggered as the military is for the most part as clueless as regular doctors. Been there, no fun.

Guest Doll
Guest Doll
Posted
I actually have a post it note on my insurance card that I'm gluten intolerant. There has been some discussion about medical alert bracelets. It was mentioned that they don't need to know about it ASAP when treating you in ER but once admitted they need to know. Even if they do gluten you in the ER, I don't know if it would really kill you. I figure after I am out of harm, then they will go to try to bill me, and then they will find my insurance card.

Smart move. I have to wear a Medical Alert Bracelet anyway (see sig.), and react almost like I have an allergy to gluten, so I have "Celiac Disease" right on my bracelet. I also have a Medical Alert card that explains in detail what must be avoided on the diet, but I never carry it with me anyway...I figure, if I'm unconscious it's not like they'll be giving me anything by mouth... :P

It's really hard to get a gluten free meal even in the hospital. When I was in the hospital to have the cause of my unexpected low blood sugars investigated, I asked for a snack and the nurse offered me a sandwich. Even though she was looking at my chart at the time (which clearly had "Celiac Disease" written in it). Doh! It was especially scary considering that gluten also causes me to have severe low blood sugars, so I would be in dire straits here on my way to a coma. :huh: It IS true that hospitals will kill you!

The nest morning a competent nurse actually ordered breakfast for me from the kitchen. I got 1 slice of gluten free bread, jam, and an apple. I was thrilled. Seriously. I was so hungry, I wanted to eat the sheet from my bed.

That said, make sure that all of your medical files say that you need a gluten free diet, you have a bracelet, and push for what you need. I hate to say it, but the average hospital (or jail for that matter!) worker will not go out of their way to make sure you have a gluten free meal.

Guest Doll
Guest Doll
Posted
My understanding, and this has been discussed at length here some time ago, is that celiac is a disqualifying condition. You don't get into the military, and if you are already there, you get an immediate medical discharge.

Jail food, hmm, I guess if you wait long enough every possible topic will come up on this discussion forum...

This is correct. The one exception to this may be in Finland. Finland has the highest rate of Type 1 diabetes (the severe non-preventable insulin requiring kind) in the world, and is the only country that I am aware of that allows Type 1 diabetics into service. Since Type 1 diabetes and Celiac are genetically related, Finland also has very high rates of Celiac Disease. It is entirely possible that Finnish Celiacs are allowed to enter military service, but I am only assuming and not 100% sure.

Rosewynde Rookie
Rosewynde
Posted

I'm not sure about jail, but I had problems with Lactose free diet in the hospital. When I was pregnant with my youngest I had all sorts of problems that docs thought were related to a really high lactose intolerance and an imbalance of the stomach due to a nasty flu bug. We think now it was the begining of Celiac Disease. When I gave birth, I told the nurse about not being able to handle any milk products at all, even small amounts. Sad thing was pretty much every meal had milk, butter, cheese, or some other source of dairy in it. I got sick after the first meal despite being as careful as possible.

The final solution came from the nurse. She suggested that my husband bring stuff in and they'd keep it refrigerated and serve it to me. This line of thought made me wonder if they allow that in jail, or do you think they'd be to afraid of a metal file for the bars being baked into the bread hahaah ; D

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Get Celiac.com Updates:
    Support Celiac.com:
    Join eNewsletter
    Donate
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):
    Celiac.com Sponsor (A17):



    Celiac.com Sponsors (A17-M):



  • Recent Activity

    1. Flash1970
      - Flash1970 commented on Scott Adams's article in Additional Concerns
      1

      Inmate with Celiac Disease Wins $630,000 After Jail Denies Gluten-Free Food

      He should have gotten millions. How much is your life worth?
    2. knitty kitty
      - knitty kitty replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      15

      Insomnia help

      @cristiana, I react the same way. Dairy consumption flushes out my digestive system within an hour, too! As casein is digested, it forms casomorphins that bind to opioid receptors in our bodies. This is similar to digested gluten peptides being able to attach to opioid receptors in our bodies. We have opioid receptors throughout our...
    3. knitty kitty
      0

      About Celiac Remission

    4. TheDHhurts
      - TheDHhurts posted a topic in Gluten-Free Foods, Products, Shopping & Medications
      0

      need help understanding testing result for Naked Nutrition Creatine please

      Hi, I bought Naked Nutrition Creatine. It lists itself as gluten free but is not certified. (It used to be, but they dropped it in the past year or two apparently.) I wrote the company and asked them what testing results they had for creatine and they sent me the attached, which says the test result for gluten is <0.025MCG. I'm used to seeing...
    5. cristiana
      - cristiana replied to hjayne19's topic in Post Diagnosis, Recovery & Treatment of Celiac Disease
      15

      Insomnia help

      When I was still recovering my gastroenterologist suggested I bought lactofree product as I was very bloated. So I bought some from the supermarket and from memory, I drank a nice big glass of milk - and it went right through me literally within an hour or so, if my memory serves correctly. I came off dairy completely next and it worked like a charm...
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A19):

  • Member Statistics

    • Total Members
      133,107
    • Most Online (within 30 mins)
      7,748
    Maggie1349
    Newest Member
    Maggie1349
    Joined
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A20):
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A22):

  • Forum Statistics

    • Total Topics
      121.5k
    • Total Posts
      1m
  • Celiac.com Sponsor (A21):

  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online

  • Upcoming Events

  • Posts

    • knitty kitty
      Insomnia help

      By knitty kitty · Posted

      @cristiana,  I react the same way.  Dairy consumption flushes out my digestive system within an hour, too! As casein is digested, it forms casomorphins that bind to opioid receptors in our bodies.  This is similar to digested gluten peptides being able to attach to opioid receptors in our bodies.   We have opioid receptors throughout our bodies including lots in the digestive tract. Casein raises tTg IgA antibodies just like gluten consumption does, which leads to further intestinal damage and continuing inflammation.  No wonder our bodies react to it by pushing the "emergency evacuation" ejection seat button! The mother of my childhood friend was British and introduced me to drinking tea properly with milk or cream.  I miss it so much.  And chocolate ice cream.  Not worth the after effects, though.  I've found taking Omega Three supplements (flaxseed oil, sunflower seed oil, evening primrose oil) helps shake those dairy cravings.   Green leafy veggies like broccoli, kale, and greens (mustard, turnip, collards) are great sources of calcium.  Avoid spinach as it is high in oxalates that block calcium absorption and may cause kidney stones.  Yes, more leafy greens are needed to reach the same amount of calcium in a glass of milk, but the greens have other benefits, like increased dietary fiber and polyphenols that act as antioxidants, reduce inflammation, and promote health.   Exposure to gluten (and casein in those sensitive to it) can cause an increased immune response and inflammation for months afterwards.  The immune cells that make tTg IgA antibodies which are triggered today are going to live for about two years. During that time, inflammation is heightened.  Those immune cells only replicate when triggered.  If those immune cells don't get triggered again for about two years, they die without leaving any descendents programmed to trigger on gluten and casein.  The immune system forgets gluten and casein need to be attacked.  The Celiac genes turn off.  This is remission.   Some people in remission report being able to consume gluten again without consequence.  Another triggering event can turn the Celiac genes on again.   Celiac genes are turned on by a triggering event (physical or emotional stress).  There's some evidence that thiamine insufficiency contributes to the turning on of autoimmune genes.  There is an increased biological need for thiamine when we are physically or emotionally stressed.  Thiamine cannot be stored for more than twenty-one days and may be depleted in as little as three during physical and emotional stresses. Mitochondria without sufficient thiamine become damaged and don't function properly.  This gets relayed to the genes and autoimmune disease genes turn on.  Thiamine and other B vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients are needed to replace the dysfunctional mitochondria and repair the damage to the body.  
    • TheDHhurts
      need help understanding testing result for Naked Nutrition Creatine please

      By TheDHhurts · Posted

      Hi, I bought Naked Nutrition Creatine. It lists itself as gluten free but is not certified. (It used to be, but they dropped it in the past year or two apparently.) I wrote the company and asked them what testing results they had for creatine and they sent me the attached, which says the test result for gluten is <0.025MCG. I'm used to seeing test results as ppm, so I'm not sure what <0.025MCG means. Can it be converted to ppm easily? I want to confirm that it is safe to use.
    • cristiana
      Insomnia help

      By cristiana · Posted

      When I was still recovering my gastroenterologist suggested I bought lactofree product as I was very bloated.  So I bought some from the supermarket and from memory, I drank a nice big glass of milk - and it went right through me literally within an hour or so, if my memory serves correctly.  I came off dairy completely next and it worked like a charm, but started to reintroduce quite gradually it as I missed it! To this day, if I overdo dairy products, they work like a mild laxative.  I've never wanted to give up milk completely as I like it so much, and my mum had osteoporosis and it's an easy way of getting calcium.  But it doesn't really 'sit' well with me.   You may need to experiment a bit as when I was healing certain dairy products were worse than others - I could cope with one brand of Greek yoghurt, but I got extremely and painfully bloated with another brand of live British yoghurt.  
    • wellthatsfun
      nothing has changed

      By wellthatsfun · Posted

      i have been strictly gluten free for 7 months. this includes avoiding anything that may contain gluten and making sure surfaces and appliances are clean. i am 18 years old in australia and my tTG-IgA results were 69U/mL, pretty low compared to most people's, for reference. i feel the exact same as before. sure, i was pretty much asymptomatic/silent. the worst i'd get was occasionally bad stools and pitting of the nails/brittle hair since early childhood - and i was diagnosed with low iron and vitamin d which checks out due to easy bruising and such. but those symptoms have remained. maybe i'm jumping the gun, sure. i know it can take years to fully heal. but being over half a year in, i feel that i should be, y'know, healing. i'm nearly at my wits end and wondering if i should have a piece of bread or something to see how i go - to see if i possibly have refractory? my mental health is declining as i feel myself wanting to bang my head against a damn wall out of frustration every day. cravings haven't gotten better. look, i love the stuff i still can have, like salads and such. OH! i haven't lost any weight, which is mind boggling considering i eat very healthily now! i've always been on the chubbier side which is atypical of coeliac. i just don't know what's going on with me. i try to remain hopeful but i'm just so sad all the time. thanks for reading  
    • trents
      Severe severe mouth pain

      By trents · Posted

      @Charlie1946There is a PM (Personal Message) tool built into the forum website that allows you to send a private message to other forum users. Just hover over their name with your mouse cursor and the menu containing that tool will pop up. This is useful if you want to communicate with an individual without everyone else involved in the thread seeing it.  Are you realizing that in my PPI taper down recommendations in an earlier post above, I was responding not to your posts but to @Caligirl57? If you must use a PPI, I certainly would advise taking the lowest dose that is effective for you.  
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

NOTICE: This site places This site places cookies on your device (Cookie settings). on your device. Continued use is acceptance of our Terms of Use, and Privacy Policy.