每天读一篇英语小故事：Food as Punishment

英语自学网

　　A food called “nutraloaf” has been used for many years in US prisons. But
prisoners claim that it tastes so bad that the food is actually punishment. They
say that prison officials must charge the prisoner with some type of violation
before they can punish him by making him eat nutraloaf. At least one prisoner
has filed a lawsuit against the use of nutraloaf. Prison officials say the
prisoners are overreacting. They say that nutraloaf is a nutritious food. “It’s
just like fruitcake,” said one warden. Nutraloaf is a mixture of bread, cheese,
raw and cooked vegetables, beans, and other ingredients which may vary from
season to season and prison to prison.
        　　Prison officials say that using nutraloaf, a “hand” food, increases prison
safety, because prisoners don’t have utensils or plates to throw at or use
against guards or other prisoners. Officials routinely distribute nutraloaf for
days at a time when one or more prisoners act unruly.
        　　“What are they complaining about? I wish I could have had nutraloaf when I
was growing up,” said Bob Hope, a prison warden in Arkansas. “It tastes a lot
better than the grits and corn bread I ate every day. These guys have a lot of
nerve to complain. I’ve eaten it myself many times—I just pop it into the
microwave for a minute, spread a little butter on it, and enjoy. What’s their
beef? Prisoners are a bunch of whiners. If they want five-star prison food, they
should commit their crimes in France.”