2007 Volume 24 Pages 18-23
The nutritional adequacy of diets in Japanese prison was assessed in a total of 11 penal institutions. Menu of prison diet was analyzed based on the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan (5th. edition). The energy, protein, fat, and cholesterol content was broadly in line with current dietary recommendations of Correction Bureau, Ministry of Justice, and it also meets national RDA (30-49 years old man). Although vitamin and mineral provision was almost sufficient, however, marginally deprived supply at some prison was noticeable for calcium, Vitamin B1, B2, B12 and D. It is worth noticing that Vitamin D content at some institutions was insufficient, which was particularly important for those with limited exposure to sunlight. Sodium content was high at all institution, which was not improved from the previous survey. Food choices made by prison kitchen resulted in a wide variation in dietary content. Milks and fruits should be fortified and seasonings, beverages and confectionary were successfully regulated in most of the institutions. Insufficient provision of mineral and vitamin in some institutions should be improved by learning from the menu of successful prison diet.
