Compactor Cuisine Stands Up to Inmates’ Challenge

Feeding “nutra loaf”--made of compacted leftovers--to prisoners is not cruel or unusual punishment, the Oregon Court of Appeals ruled Wednesday.

Twelve inmates at Oregon State Penitentiary had challenged the constitutionality of the practice. They said the loaf is made of leftovers ground together and baked into hard bricks.

State officials said that nutra loaf is reserved for inmates who throw their food or refuse to return eating utensils.