New prison food policy marks a major step forward

The introduction of the new Food in Prisons Policy Framework marks one of the most significant changes to prison food standards in England and Wales for many years. The policy became legislation in February 2026, and kickstarted a transition period for prison kitchens to become fully compliant.

The updated policy places a much greater emphasis on nutrition, quality and consistency, recognising the important role food plays in supporting health and wellbeing in prison. For the first time, there is a clear expectation that prisons should increase the use of fresh ingredients, reduce reliance on heavily processed foods and provide meals that better reflect healthy eating guidance.

Among the key changes are a greater focus on:

• Increasing fruit and vegetable consumption.

• Serving more wholegrains, beans and pulses.

• Providing a wider range of plant-based meals.

• Reducing salt, sugar and saturated fat where possible.

• Nutritionally analysing menus to ensure they meet recognised standards.

The framework also recognises that improving prison food is about more than nutrition alone. It highlights the importance of creating meals that are appealing, varied and enjoyable to eat, while supporting consistency, value for money and better catering practice across prisons.

For many working in prison food, the policy represents a significant cultural shift. It acknowledges that food can contribute to health, wellbeing and the overall prison environment, and places greater importance on supporting catering teams to deliver high-quality meals within often challenging operational settings.

We are thrilled to see this change in policy come to fruition. The challenge now will be for catering teams to implement it effectively so it has tangible outcomes for people’s health and wellbeing in prison. We are looking forward to supporting prisons in the adoption of the new policy.