The outbreak at the Parnall Correctional Facility in Jackson has expanded. Now at least 150 people are sick, a dramatic increase from the 30 ill persons reported earlier in the week. Democratic candidate for governor Mark Schauer called on Governor Rick Snyder to end the three year contract with Aramark, which eliminated more than 300 state jobs. The Detroit Free Press reports that a partial quarantine has been ordered; sick inmates are not being allowed to see visitors and no inmates are being moved in or out of the prison.
The Michigan Corrections Organization (MCO) union, SEIU Local 526M points out that more maggots were found in the food, in the second incident in one week. The union has been reporting about problems with Aramark, the privatized provider, for weeks. Fruit flies and mice have also been observed in the prison’s kitchens.
Officials have been investigating the outbreak, but have not found a source for the illness, or if the illnesses are, indeed, food poisoning. Democratic candidate for governor Mark Schauer called on Governor Rick Snyder to end the three year contract with Aramark, which eliminated more than 300 state jobs.
Schauer said in a statement, “Governor Snyder’s decision to outsource prison food service has been proven to be a serious mistake that is wasting millions of taxpayer dollars and putting the lives of our corrections officers at risk. Aramark’s employees have reportedly violated the terms of their contract, and their drunken and drug-dealing activities at Michigan prisons pose a very serious risk to public safety.”
The three year, $145 million contract was awarded to Aramark earlier this year. It supposedly saves the state $12 million. MCO executive director Mel Grieshaber agrees with Mr. Schauer, saying “I have served 21 years as a corrections officer and I will tell you I have never seen this kind of unrest from the prison population over food.”
FIRE ARAMARK IMMEDIATELY,,,,,,,also i would like to state that this article states the officers are at risk,im sorry but the inmates ar. himan also and they are the ones suffering.
My significant other is currently at Parnell and has complained since Aramark took over that he’s had rotten slimy carrots and less than the allotted portion of lunchmeat in his (work outside prison days) sack lunches. Now he is ill and I am infuriated. I wrote the state medical line with my concerns BEFORE this story got out. Aramark MUST go! I’m a registed nurse and an advocate and I’m disgusted with them! I’ve heard multiple men complain to their visitors that they (Aramark) ran out of food during meal times or served them rotten food. This is truly, truly unacceptable and constitutes cruelty. If I did this to a patient, I’d be sued and lose my license. It’s gone on too long. I want justice for those men who are serving their sentences and are under state care, many of whom have no choice but to eat what is served or go hungry. They may be prisoners but they are human beings with basic human rights and this is in no way acceptable.