Prisons To Offer Veg Meals

Vegetarian meals may soon be offered in California prisons based on personal or ethical preference, according to a regulation proposed earlier this month by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). The new regulation would affect all prisons and correctional facilities statewide. In addition to offering a separate vegetarian option, the provision also includes meal alternatives for Jewish kosher diets and meat substitutions for Muslim inmates. Currently, inmates can only petition for vegetarian meals based on religious beliefs—personal and ethical vegetarianism are not recognized. CDCR officials say that the decision to add these meal options was made after inmates filed lawsuits claiming discrimination.