The U.S. Bureau of Prisons announced that pork is no longer welcome in 122 federal penitentiaries. The reason for the ban is said to simply be a result of pork’s lack of popularity among inmates.
“Why keep pushing food that people don’t want to eat? Pork has been the lowest-rated food by inmates for several years,” bureau spokesman Edmond Ross told the Washington Post. “And we were paying more than what we’d like to pay.”
Ross said that inmates are becoming more health conscious these days, which may be contributing to the decline of pork consumption, but some naysayers think the bureau is full of it. National Pork Producers Council spokesman Dave Warner is one of those skeptics.
“I find it hard to believe that a survey would have found a majority of any population saying, ‘No thanks, I don’t want any bacon,’” said Warner.
He added that there are benefits to pork that beat even beef and chicken, such as pork being inexpensive and healthy.
“We’re nutritious,” continued Warner. “A boneless pork chop or loin is a very healthy alternative to lots of other foods.”
Many critics of the pork ban have argued on social media that this decision is based on the Obama administration and even President Barack Obama himself bending to the demands of Muslims. These are accusations that Council on American-Islamic Relations spokesman Ibrahim Hooper expected.
“It will stoke the fires of Islamophobia based on the usual conspiracy theories,” Hooper prophesied.
Hooper did mention, however, that he is pleased with the change in inmate meals because it will be easier on prisoners of the Islamic faith.
“In general, we welcome the change because it’s facilitating the accommodation of Muslim inmates,” he said. “We hope it’s not an indication of an increasing number of Muslims in the prison system.”
Muslims and Jewish inmates who do not eat pork for religious reasons are allowed meal alternatives and are provided with halal and kosher dishes.
