Vegan prisoners win right to buy ethical cosmetics and food in jail

[Guest guest]

Vegan prisoners have won the right to have ethically-sourced cosmetics including

nail polish, lip balm and cellulite oil in jail.

They will also be able to tuck into a variety of nuts after prison bosses

allowed them to order directly from two new 'eco outlets'.

 

Vegans, who refuse to eat meat or dairy products, had been pressing for at least

one Brazil nut a day in their rations to boost their immune systems.

 

It is the latest in a series of rulings to protect convicts' rights and ensure

equality among different faiths and comes months after similar concessions for

pagans.

Prison bosses were told in May to let pagan inmates collect and keep twigs in

their cells to use as wands during their rituals.

 

Victory: Vegan prisoners can not order food from Holland & Barrett and

cosmetics and skincare products from other ethical retailers

Strict vegans will refuse to eat any food, wear any clothes or use any product

that involves the use of animals.

This means normal sun-screen, prison-issue boots and canteen food are all

against their beliefs.

 

From today, the estimated 500 vegan prisoners in UK prisons, will be able to

order products from Holland and Barrett - which sells a wide variety of nuts.

They will also be allowed to buy a range of ethical products, including make-up,

shower gels, lib balm, cellulite oil and facial scrubs from Honesty Cosmetics.

Orders can also be placed with the firm Lavera which supplies cruelty-free sun

cream, aftersun, self-tanning lotion and anti-ageing creams.

 

The Vegan Prisoners Support Group said: 'We are happy to announce, after

negotiations with HM Prison Service, that Holland and Barrett and Honesty

Cosmetics have now been added to the prison service facilities lists/mail order

catalogues, thus ensuring that vegan inmates can order suitable toiletries.'

The group, which was set up 15 years ago, is also pressing for 'vegan shoes'.

'We are continuing to negotiate the additon of a company offering vegan shoes

(being made available to prisoners),' it said.

A spokesman the VPSG said that its fight to ensure prisoners got access to nuts,

soya milk and vegan chocolate bars was 'critical' for their health.

 

He said: 'Vegan prisoners have had very limited access to vegan products through

prison shops.

'Our recommendations were for basic vegan hygiene / bodycare products ie a vegan

bar soap, shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, deodorant and toothpaste.

'In addition we recommended a vegan chocolate bar, sweet and savoury vegan

biscuit, protein source such as Nuttolene or braised tofu, vegan spread, cheese

alternative, soya yoghurt, flavoured soya drink and fortified soya milk.'

'Vegans have had to be without for so many years,' he added.

A source at HMP Exeter, where inmates can sit an NVQ in healthy eating which

includes a module on veganism - said it was a 'step too far'.

He said: 'These guys are crooks - they shouldn't be sitting about sunbathing in

the exercise yard or working on the farm covered in ethically-sourced sun cream.

They should be being punished.

'They are in prison to serve time. We can't be running around making sure they

have the right sun cream or that they have the one brazil nut or selection of

walnuts to make sure they get enough vitamins.

'They gave up any rights to have principals when they robbed the old lady,

burgled a house, smuggled cocaine or beat someone up - it's as simple as that.'

 

 

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