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July 26, 2026International Journal of Prison Health

More than a matter of taste: a systematic review of qualitative literature on incarcerated persons’ subjective food needs

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Authors

BHB HeideARAnke Ramakers

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Overview

Systematic review synthesizes qualitative literature on food needs in incarcerated persons, suggesting tailored interventions.

Key Points

  • This review aims to synthesize qualitative literature to understand incarcerated persons' subjective food needs, which can improve health outcomes.
  • Conducted a systematic search of ten databases in August 2024, yielding 5,114 records.
  • Included 20 studies reporting on food needs of formerly incarcerated persons.
  • Performed a thematic synthesis to analyze findings across the included studies.
  • Identified four main themes of food needs: practical needs, health needs, lifestyle needs, and self-determination needs.
  • Food needs varied among subgroups based on personal characteristics and customs.
  • A general hierarchy of food needs was identified across studies, highlighting the importance of tailoring prison food.

Cite This Study

Heide et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a65a8c9d3aea3239cd78fa9https://doi.org/10.1108/ijoph-11-2024-0070
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Also Consider

Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context:

  1. 1“I decide for myself. I’m like the boss of myself. I can cook when I want.” Prisoners’ experiences with a self-catering food system in a Norwegian low-security prison2026
  2. 2“If We Don’t Work Together, There Is No Pudding”2026
  3. 3“Do things my way” – the functions of food refusal in custody2026
  4. 4“Feed them, protect them, give them what they want”: exploring food as an occupational stress in Canadian federal penitentiaries2024 · 2 citations
  5. 5Prison plates: exploring the nutrition of inmates in Lebanese prisons2025