Correctional food service, or meals provided to the incarcerated, is handled in a variety of ways. Many jails and prisons may have on site kitchens that prepare food but still need a way to get the products to them. Other prisons may use a form of outsourcing to obtain food supplies.

Some food service providers obtain contracts to service correctional facilities for terms of months or years. Many of these companies are nationwide and serve clients all over the country. In order to obtain these contracts, they usually have to supply a bid for specific services at a set price for a specific time. The state prison bureau or other political entity may approve the bid or request it be modified. These are used for prisons and jails that have staff who prepare the food, usually from scratch, each day. These services provide all ingredients from meats, spices, vegetables, fruits, bread and other products that they obtain from other vendors or prepare in their own facilities. These companies handle all aspects of providing food including deliveries on a regular basis.

There are other types of vendors who provide this type of food service. Depending on a jail or prisons location and budget, they may rely on the same types of vendors who supply places like homeless shelters or elementary school cafeterias. Unlike the big names in food service that supply restaurants, these vendors may be able to provide a way to obtain food while working within a tight budget. These vendors may not always have the identical food items to select from each time, as some of their products are the result of factory overruns. They are able to provide nutritious, fresh food in a variety of different ways to correctional institutions.

These vendors provide food that is delivered to various locations safely. They follow a strict method of handling and delivery that ensures the food is never tampered with. They have staff that can provide nutritional guidance when preparing their meals. They are also able to address the issues for special food requirements such as kosher products or those that are halal for prisoners of specific faiths. They can also provide meals that are low sodium or heart healthy if needed.

These types of vendors can many times provide food more economically than using other sources. When the food is prepared, there is less need for a large staff to cook and prepare food. It also may cut down on waste in some cases. For many small communities or those struggling with budget issues, this may be the best solution for them for correctional food service.