Vegan Prisoners Offered Diet And Lifestyle Guide By Experts

The Vegan Society has created a comprehensive vegan guide for prisoners featuring expert advice on diet and lifestyle.

The pamphlet, which provides practical information, is divided into two sections according to the Society.

“One is for vegan prisoners about their rights, buying or requesting vegan products, and resolving grievances,” it says, “and one for prison staff, including nutritional advice, catering tips and benefits, and ingredients to avoid.”

Challenging situations

The guide is available as a digital version on The Vegan Society’s website – and hard copies are available on request.

The charity’s advocacy team are able to send the booklet free of charge to prison staff and prisoners in need of practical information.

It is part of the charity’s commitment to help vegans in ‘challenging situations’, and is supported by the International Vegan Rights Alliance, a leading authority on the subject of veganism and law.

Well informed

Heather Russell, Dietitian at The Vegan Society, said: “It’s easy to meet your nutritional needs on a vegan diet if you’re well informed, but it may be more challenging in a prison setting.

“We hear from prison staff who require practical advice on catering for vegans and prisoners who are unsure about their rights, so we’re delighted to be launching an all-encompassing resource.

“The Vegan Society is the only organisation helping vegan prisoners in this way, and we’re keen to make our guide available to as many prisons as possible.”

Campaign

Back in 2009, after 15 years of campaigners, it was announced that vegan prisoners would be able to buy additional items – including vegan-friendly food and toiletries – from approved suppliers.

While plant-based meal were provided by the prison service, the new rules meant vegan prisoners could top up supplies.

Speaking at the time, a prison service spokesman, said: “They have limited access to their own money, based on good behaviour. If prisoners don’t behave, their privileges are withdrawn. Purchased items are subject to rigorous security procedures, including hand searches and X-raying.”