I filed a BP-8 when we were given bag lunches before a lockdown on July 4 and over half the items in them were expired and well over 60 days past their use-by date. No store in the world will sell a product after the use-by date (March-May; we were given the food in July). My cellie was a senior executive at Frito for over 20 years so he knows the regs by memory. Their reply: Upon review, yes, the chips and cookies were past their marked best-by dates. Per the food service manual we are to refer to the USDA regarding guidance for best-by and use-by dates. The dates marked on these food items are not “expiration” dates; they are simply best-by dates, which are printed on food products by the manufacturer to indicate their maximum freshness and quality. These products were tested by both staff and inmates who indicated that these items were of good color, taste and consistency, indicating that they are ok for consumption and many inmates appreciated the extra food items added to the bags that were net required.
Obviously, the lockdown was pre-planned by management, since they had bag lunches ready to go so they could take time off on the holiday. They intentionally understaffed the facility and locked us down. That is NOT valid criteria for a lockdown according to PS 5525.01.
This is the kind of thing that happens every day. Blatant violation of policy with no regard for the health and welfare of inmates. We had a guy vomiting up blood and it took hours to get anyone’s attention. Then the lieutenant made him take his mattress off the top bunk and also old him he was not emergent and to go to sick call in the morning. He did that and was immediately air-evacked to the hospital and is still there. Likely cause: food poisoning. The lieutenant thinks he is a doctor, and that is because we don’t have any medical personnel here at night.