(PatriotSpotlight.org) – In a major exposé by journalists at the Associated Press, several of America’s most popular food brands have been accused of profiting from forced labor within domestic correctional facilities. The probe unveiled how large firms such as Walmart, McDonald’s, and Cargill have been obtaining meat from the Louisiana State Penitentiary.
The facility is the US’ largest maximum-security prison farm, and is nicknamed “Angola”, the name of the antebellum plantation that once operated on the same site. One inmate, Willie Ingram, who spent more than 50 years in the jail, detailed to AP his harsh experience picking okra and cotton, notably on the same soil where slaves had suffered over a century ago.
The AP alleges that this practice extends far beyond this particular jail, with “invisible webs” linking prison labor to hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of agricultural products and goods commercially sold across the country. The report also details the use of hard labor sentences for convicts, with prisoners who refuse to work being placed in solitary confinement or risking future chances of parole.
Reporters found that beloved American household names including Gold Medal flour, Ball Park hot dogs, Coca-Cola, and Frosted Flakes cereal were among the products linked to this controversial network of prison labor. These items can be found in major supermarkets and department stores from Whole Foods, to Kroger and Target. They also said there was evidence of products linked to US prison labor being exported globally.
This prison labor system is profitable, with AP suggesting that sales figures of almost $200 million can be traced back to it. However, critics complain that the prison workers in question are not offered adequate compensation and basic protections, and say the situation must be remedied. Many businesses and prison officials argue that the process of using prisoners as laborers saves money and helps inmates build work skills. The AP received mixed responses to their investigation, with McDonald’s vowing to investigate the matter, and General Mills citing its policy against its supply chain being linked to forced labor.
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