People serving time in prison still sometimes receive food brought to them by outside visitors. However, food deliveries may not be as easy as many people think.
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There are many rules to obey in prison, and bringing in outside food for the inmates is no exception. So what kinds of foods can make the cut in Taiwan’s prisons?
A lawyer surnamed Mai (麥) recently found out when he brought in some delicacies for his client including chicken nuggets and a hamburger, only to realize that the hamburger had been detained. Even though he specifically asked for no lettuce or mayonnaise as the rules state, the culprit was the cheese, which can spoil and is therefore considered a sanitary risk.
All foods brought in from outside must be carefully examined. The total weight cannot exceed two kilograms and must not contain ingredients prone to spoiling such as lettuce and cheese. All meat should be cut into pieces and contain no bones, which can be used as weapons. Likewise, all seafood should be pre-shelled to avoid any potential danger. Even seasonings can be suspects; salt, sugar, rice wine, and salad dressings are all prohibited, as they could be used as cover for drug smuggling.
So next time you consider bringing in a treat for someone, make sure it meets all the regulations, or it might end up in the trash bin, with no chance for parole.