DOC and Union Disagree — Over Juice
In the year 2000, the Illinois DOC banned 100% juice from prisons, offering instead a 30% variant. Recently, they reversed that decision and started delivering 100% juice again. The correctional officer’s union says that is a bad idea.
“The reason you don’t sell juice is because it’s fermentable,” said Buddy Maupin, the union’s regional director for southern Illinois. Maupin claims the Department of Corrections removed an anti-fermenting agent out of fear that when it is combined with ascorbic acid, often found in fruit juice, it produces benzene, which causes cancer. The ingredient is not listed on the juice carton, he said. Department of Corrections spokesman Derek Schnapp insists there is no ascorbic acid, commonly known as Vitamin C, in the juice. However, the fermenting deterrent remains in the four-ounce juice cartons. “Nothing has changed, as far as the hooch deterrent,” Schnapp said. “We’re looking into a Vitamin C additive, but that probably won’t happen this year.”
Economics is the key.
The change to 100 percent juice will save the state $1 million annually while allowing prison workers to transport one less item into their prison cafeterias because 100 percent juice qualifies as fruit nutrition. “Our daily requirement is a five-count of fruit and vegetables offered to the inmates each day, and 30 percent doesn’t count, 100 percent does,” Schnapp said. “What that does is take away one less item the inmates could sneak out.”
More interesting details (including a recipe for hooch) in the Quad-City Times.