US prison labor tied to some of the world’s most popular food brands

Category: Top Stories

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. incarcerated / ɪnˈkɑr səˌreɪ tɪd / (adj.) – currently in prison for committing a crime
    Example:

    The policy at the prison made it difficult for family members to visit their incarcerated loved ones.


  2. abolish / əˈbɒl ɪʃ / (v.) – to officially end something, such as a law, system, institution, or practice
    Example:

    The school council abolished the dress code policy, allowing students to express themselves through the way they dress.


  3. servitude / ˈsɜr vɪˌtud / (n.) – a situation in which someone is forced to work or obey others without having the freedom to choose
    Example:

    She was forced into servitude until she could pay her debt.


  4. recourse / ˈri kɔrs / (n.) – the option or possibility of seeking help or support when dealing with a problem or difficulty
    Example:

    In times of financial hardship, some people may have no recourse but to ask for help from family and friends.


  5. inmate / ˈɪnˌmeɪt / (n.) – a person who is in prison
    Example:

    The inmate population has been decreasing due to recent criminal justice reforms.


Article

Read the text below.

A hidden intricate web links hundreds of popular food brands to work done by US prisoners.


A two-year Associated Press (AP) investigation found that everything from grains, meat, eggs, and milk had been grown, harvested, or produced by incarcerated people and their labor finds its way into the supply chains of some of the most recognized brands and largest food companies in the world.


The 13th Amendment to the US Constitution abolished slavery and involuntary servitude except as punishment for a crime.


AP spoke to prisoners who were working on plantation soil, many were making pennies an hour. Some getting nothing at all. Prisoners can sometimes be punished for refusing to work, even thrown into solitary confinement. And if they are hurt on the job, they often have little recourse.


The agriculture sector is just a fraction of the overall prison labor industry, which includes everything from public works to stamping license plates. “What the inmates learn while they’re here, they’re learning a skillset. […] They’re learning to pay back their debt to society,” said Brevard County Sheriff, Wayne Ivey.


But prisons and corporations benefit from inmate labor. The goods wind up in the supply chains of giants like Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, and Costco just to name a few.


Andrea Armstrong, a law professor at Loyola University New Orleans said, “They aren’t eligible for workman’s compensation. Nor are they protected by other worker safety laws because they’re not considered quote-unquote employees.”


“We’re gonna have to figure out different ways to make our system a better system instead of just exploiting labor and then calling it crime prevention,” said Curtis Davis, Prison reform advocate, who served more than 25 years at Angola.


The AP also found American prison labor linked to the supply chains of multinational companies such as Cargill that export goods all over the world. This is happening even though Washington has banned imports and even seized goods that were produced by prison or forced labor abroad.


Several companies told the AP they have policies in place restricting suppliers from using incarcerated workers. Cargill acknowledged buying goods from American prison farms and said it would determine the next steps.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • In your opinion, should inmates be entitled to the same worker protection and rights as non-incarcerated individuals? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • How do you think prison labor will impact inmates’ rehabilitation (ex. it keeps inmates active, it may cause negative emotional and psychological impact)? Do you believe that, through it, they are learning the necessary skillset they need to reintegrate into society? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Should consumers be made aware of the supply chain or prison labor used? Is it important for companies to disclose this information? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • As a consumer, are you particular about how the products you purchase are made? Why or why not? When you buy products, what specific criteria do you look for in terms of production (ex. cruelty-free products, vegan products)? Discuss.