State Is Feeding Inmates' Hunger for Healthy, Nonviolent Meals

Boise, Idaho - With the demand for meatless options rising at an unprecedented rate, the healthy and humane trend has even found its way behind bars. PETA researched which states are doing the best job meeting their prison inmates' hunger for meatless meals, and the results are in: Idaho tops PETA's list of the Top 10 Vegetarian-Friendly State Prison Systems.

PETA wants every state to mandate vegetarian options for prisoners--just as the federal prison system did after a PETA member and then-federal inmate filed a lawsuit because he was being denied vegan meals. Numerous inmates who are hoping to make positive changes in their lives have written to PETA for information about going vegetarian for health- or animal welfare-related reasons.

Massachusetts--with its mock-chicken cutlets, nuggets, and stew as well as the standby veggie burger--locked up second place, and the arrestingly delicious soy barbecue, mock Salisbury steak, and tofu cacciatore made Pennsylvania a shoe-in at number three. New Hampshire, Georgia, Utah, Hawaii, Tennessee, Kansas, and North Dakota rounded out the top 10. Each state will receive a framed certificate and a letter of appreciation from PETA.