The food at the Summit County Jail isn’t too hot.
With the kitchen closed for more than a month for an ongoing $900,000 renovation project, inmates are being served cold breakfasts, lunches and dinners instead of prepared hot food.
Don’t feel sorry for those locked up, though, because the meals meet all dietary and caloric requirements.
“The inmates are probably eating better than our troops in Afghanistan,” sheriff’s office spokesman Bill Holland said during a tour this week.
The kitchen needed a major overhaul, county officials said. The renovation involves installing new drains and flooring, and new equipment such as commercial freezers and stoves.
The project is expected to be done by the end of this month.
With the kitchen area gutted, inmates assemble the make-shift meals in one of the gymnasiums — not a small undertaking considering more than 600 meals must be prepared three times a day. The jail even has a commercial slicer to cut its own deli meats.
The meals are served in either brown paper bags or wrapped in cellophane. They typically include a cereal bar and hard-cooked egg for breakfast; and ham, bologna, salami or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch and dinner.
During a similar kitchen renovation and shutdown in 2007, inmates sent a three-page letter to the Akron Beacon Journal suggesting the bagged meals represent inhumane treatment. There’s been no such outcry this time.
And jail Commander Gary James said he hasn’t heard any complaints.
“I’m sure they aren’t overly happy anytime with the food,” he said. “This is no big deal. They are going along with the program fine.”
Inmate Anthony Brautigam, 30, who’s serving time for domestic violence, said he and many other inmates would prefer hot food. But he also appreciates the fact the cold meals come with cookies and chips. Fruits and vegetables also are provided.
“I’m not a big turkey fan, and all the lunches are turkey,” he said. “It’s a high-sodium diet in the bag.”
The cold meals cost taxpayers more — about 19 cents — than hot ones, Holland said. The hot meals cost about $1.01 each.
Of course, if the inmates don’t like the cold food, they can always order burgers, chicken wings, soda or other items off a special menu provided by a contractor that they have to pay extra for, Holland said.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com.