The Nutritional Assessment of Bureau of Prisons Mid-Atlantic Region Commissary Offerings

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) has both formal policies and internal guidelines for commissary food items that aim to increase access and provide nutritional information for individuals who experience incarceration. The purpose of this research was to determine (a) the nutritional assessment of commissary offerings by the BOP Mid-Atlantic Region because little is known about the foods offered in commissaries, (b) if the BOP commissaries align with recommended packaged snack food and nutrition standards, and (c) if they follow their own policies and standards for healthy commissary food offerings. Commissary lists for 21 BOP commissaries in the Mid-Atlantic Region were collected. Food items were analyzed and categorized based on the BOP’s list of healthy commissary food options. None of the commissaries met all the standards. The BOP does not align its current policy or healthy commissary food options with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities. Furthermore, the BOP does not follow their own internal policies and standards for healthy commissary food options. The food availability is dominated by a few select items. The omission of adequate healthy options in commissaries increases preventable health risk exposure to individuals experiencing incarceration.