Lawsuit Contends Illinois Prison Serves Inmates Too Much Soy

CHICAGO – A recent menu from the Danville Correctional Center shows inmates have been served soy-blend hot dogs, soy-spiked sloppy joes and several other soy-enhanced dishes.

That might sound healthy to some, but a federal lawsuit contends the Illinois Department of Corrections is endangering the health of the inmates by serving them too much soy.

Nine plaintiffs have signed onto the lawsuit, which is funded by the Weston A. Price Foundation, which promotes traditional and largely unprocessed foods. The lawsuit contends a soy-filled diet is bad — especially those with allergies, gastrointestinal problems and other sensitivities.

The Illinois Corrections Department says it started serving soy-enhanced foods in 2004 as a cost-cutting measure. The department has asked a judge to dismiss the lawsuit and declined to comment on the pending litigation.