Bacon is off the menu in federal prisons

Everyone knows that, generally speaking, the Italians have the best foods to be found on this planet, breakfast foods being specifically excluded. Consequently, we enjoy our food here in the Eternal City, but every now and then we develop a craving for certain foods we cannot find in Italy, chief among which is bacon.

Sure, the Italians have the delicious cured hams known as prosciutto and pancetta (both of which are delicious), but they lack the king of meats; they lack bacon (and not the Canadian variety).

Never have met anyone who does not like bacon. Everyone who has had knows, as Jim Gaffigan likes to remind us, bacon makes other good foods better:

This is why a news story concerning the decision of the Federal Bureau of Prisons to remove pork products from its menu across the United States of America. According to a spokesman for the bureau, the decision was made "based on the survey of inmate population as well as cost" and not to meet certain religious dietary restrictions. Given how much Americans love bacon, I can't help but wonder what options were presented in the survey.

I am not the only one who finds this answer not quite convincing:

Dave Warner, a spokesman with the National Pork Producers Council, said pulling pork from the menu is taking the punishment aspect of prison a little too far.

“For people who are incarcerated, we understand that they’re denied certain rights and freedoms but we don’t think bacon should be one of them,” Warner said.

Warner also questioned whether the pork ban was based on inmate preference, saying he was skeptical that inmates would vote pork off the menu.

“I do find it hard to believe that the majority would say ‘No thank you to bacon,’” Warner said. “I’m not sure cost would really be an issue. Sausage is one of the commodities USDA buys. I know they buy a lot of that for the school lunch program and pork crumbles are used on pizza. The USDA is getting a good product at a very good price” [more].

Those inmates who develop a craving for bacon can still satisfy their hunger for the best of all meats by buying it at the prison commissaries (I presume they must at least have access to a microwave).

Now if only bacon could be purchased in Rome.

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article37990749.html#storylink=cpy

ad more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article37990749.html#storylink=cpyWarner said.“I’not sure cost would really be an issue. Sausage is one of the commodities USDA buys. I know they buy a lot of that for the school lunch program and pork crumbles are used on pizza. The USDA is getting a good product at a very good price.”

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/community/fort-worth/article37990749.html#storylink=cpy