NUTRIÇÃO EM PRESÍDIOS E INSTITUIÇÕES CORRECIONAIS: ELABORAÇÃO DE DIETAS ADEQUADAS PARA A POPULAÇÃO CARCERÁRIA

Prisoners, like the population as a whole, need food that contains vital nutrients for the body to function properly. A lack of vitamins, minerals and other vital elements can cause debilitating illnesses, weaken the immune system and increase susceptibility to disease. The objective, therefore, was to investigate the nutritional quality of the meals provided in prisons. Methodologically, it was an exploratory and comparative bibliographic review through qualitative research. As a result, serious flaws in the nutritional quality of meals served in Brazilian penitentiaries were identified, resulting in serious health problems for prisoners, including malnutrition, chronic diseases and vitamin deficiencies. These circumstances are intensified by the absence of appropriate infrastructure in prison canteens, problems in the food supply chain and lack of funds, which hamper the implementation of effective food policies. It was also concluded that for a significant transformation to occur in the quality of the meals served, a lasting commitment between the public and private sectors, civil society and prisoners themselves is essential, aiming to establish an environment that honors human dignity and encourages the health and recovery of incarcerated individuals. The adoption of effective actions can help build a more equitable prison system that is more in line with the principles of social justice and human rights.