Patriot's Day Platter

Actually, it is just about time for lunch. 

So what is the Globe serving up today? 

"Expired food given to prisons; Sent by state’s Education Dept.; follows outcry over student fare

April 12, 2011|By Andrew Ryan, Globe Staff 

 

The state Department of Education recently donated thousands of cases of out-of-date food from the school lunch program to state prisons and a county jail, documents show.  

 

How nice of 'em.  

 

The food — more than 11,000 cases of cheese, blueberries, frozen chicken, and other goods — was offered free of charge to kitchens that serve inmates, as education officials removed old products from warehouses that serve schools across Massachusetts.  

 

Just cut the mold off.  

 

The state had been reviewing its inventory after controversy erupted last month when expired food was discovered in Boston school cafeterias.

The donations to prison facilities, shown in documents obtained by the Globe under the state’s public records law, underscore the breadth of the problem with out-of-date food in the federal school lunch program.

Prison officials defended their cafeterias, while an inmate advocate shuddered at the notion that food unfit for children could be served in jail.  

You authorities sit and eat with the rabble?

US Department of Agriculture guidelines say that food properly stored or frozen can remain safe after expiration dates, but it loses nutritional value and taste.

The bulk of the old food went to state prisons in Bridgewater, the documents show. A spokeswoman for the state Department of Correction said yesterday that most of the food, including nearly 2,000 cases of cheddar cheese, was thrown out. 

I sure hope so.

Prisons rejected other out-of-date food and refused to pick up the items — including 481 cases of frozen chicken and six cases of frozen beef patties — from the warehouses, said Diane Wiffin, director of public affairs.

A spokesman for the Hampden County Sheriff’s Department said yesterday that it had been longstanding practice to serve food in that jail from the school lunch program that was beyond its best-if-eaten-by date....   

And it sure tasted like it!

“It’s been a good way to serve good food very frugally in terms of the budget,’’ said spokesman Richard McCarthy, relaying a conversation he had yesterday with the jail’s food-service director. “It’s not rancid food. It’s not spoiled food.’’

It's good food -- and I'm sure it is finding its way to elite buffet tables, too!!!  

 C'mon, man, I'm WAITING FOR YOU to DIG IN to that pile of S***!!!!

--more--"  

Related: Report warns on staph in store meat

Send it over to the school or prison then. 

Also see: Super Sunday Spread

I think I'll skip lunch today.