Milwaukee jail food lawsuit settled

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MILWAUKEE, Jan. 15 (UPI) -- A Milwaukee jail inmate's lawsuit alleging he was served rancid food that made him sick has been settled for an undisclosed amount, law enforcement said.

The Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office, which operates the county jail, defended the disciplinary practice that sees problematic inmates denied their usual bag lunch in favor of the far less appetizing "Nutraloaf" -- a blend of pork, vegetables, biscuit mix and a concoction called "dairy blend."

Terrence Prude, serving a 100-year sentence for armed robbery, claimed he was served the Nutraloaf and became violently ill, causing him to vomit repeatedly and lose 14 pounds over 19 days. He said the food had not been properly refrigerated, a charge jail employees denied.

Prude sued the county and the makers of Nutraloaf, demanding to know the precise recipe. The case was scheduled to go to trial Monday, but Nutraloaf's insurer relented and reached a reported five-figure settlement with Prude, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

The settlement drew a rebuke from Sheriff Edward Bailey, who said the county had been looking forward to clearing its reputation.

Other legal challenges by prisoners have found Nutraloaf, common in prisons across the country, does not represent cruel or unusual punishment.