WKSU News: Ohio sticks with Aramark for its prison food despite complaints

Tuesday, July 14, 2015 Ohio sticks with Aramark for its prison food despite complaints Michigan terminates a similar deal after documentation of problems with quantity and quality by WKSU's STATEHOUSE CORRESPONDENT JO INGLES	Reporter Jo Ingles

Aramark has a history of having maggots in their prison meals

Courtesy of WKSU file/ Karen Kasler

Michigan has ended its contract with meal supplier, Aramark, after reports of problems with food at that state’s lockups. But as Ohio Public Radio’s Jo Ingles reports, Ohio went the other way and extended its contract with that same company to continue to provide service to Ohio prisons.

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During the past couple of years, there have been problems with food quality in Ohio’s prisons. Aramark, the company that provided those meals, was investigated by the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections after complaints about insufficient food quantities and quality. Maggots were discovered in the food in at least one prison. The department found problems at seven prisons and the company was fined nearly $300,000 dollars by the state.

Michigan has also had problems with Aramark. It ended that service and is going with another company. But Ohio plans to continue that service. In a written statement, the department says an independent third-party review confirmed that savings of at least $15 million annually are being achieved. Further, it says Aramark is providing a respected offender training program.