Fermented herring a risk to prison

VANERSBORG, Sweden, Aug. 29 (UPI) -- Officials at a prison in central Sweden say a prisoner wasn't allowed to have access to a can of fermented herring because it posed a security risk.

The Tidaholm correctional facility wrote in a statement that a request for the seasonal delicacy from an unidentified inmate was denied because the dish, known as surstromming --"soured herring" -- wasn't in accordance with site policies, the Swedish news agency Tidningarnas Telegrambyra reported Friday.

"Tidaholm has made a determination to deny the possession of a can of surstromming as this food product cannot be considered in accordance with the facility's responsibility to uphold order and security vis-a-vis (the prisoner's) personal engagement in such a culinary tradition," prison officials said.

TT said the prisoner was even rejected in his pursuit for the foul-smelling item when he appealed the decision to the prison's management.