West Virginia taxpayers hand a private company called Aramark more than $20 million every year to provide food in the state's prisons, jails, and juvenile facilities. That's about 10,500 people being fed each day.

When the state signed this contract, only one company even applied for the job: Aramark. Normally, when the government spends this much money, several companies compete for the contract, which helps keep costs down and quality up. That didn't happen here. On top of that, the contract doesn't require Aramark to put up any money as a guarantee, and there's no penalty if Aramark doesn't hold up its end of the deal.

There's also a lawsuit. In December 2025, several people incarcerated at one West Virginia prison, along with family members of incarcerated individuals, sued Aramark in federal court. They say the company gives people such small, low-quality free meals that they're forced to spend their own money — sent by family, usually — to buy food from the prison commissary just to not go hungry. That case is still working its way through court.

Most people in prison eventually come home. Making sure they're fed properly isn't just about them. It affects public health and safety for everyone. And regardless of how anyone feels about the criminal justice system, West Virginia taxpayers deserve to know their money is being spent responsibly. State lawmakers can look into this contract and push for real changes. They need to hear from people in their districts that this matters.