An official inspector has called for an overhaul of Tasmanian prison food and kitchen practices. 

Tasmania's Custodial Inspector has made 20 recommendations after reviewing the food served up in the state's prisons.

The food was found to be of sufficient quality and quantity to meet inmates’ nutritional needs, but this was one of the few positives in the review. 

It also found that no-one engaged in preparing meals was trained in food hygiene. 

There was “unwarranted scepticism” among kitchen and custodial staff about one prisoner’s diagnosed celiac disease.  The prisoner was served battered fish and wheat biscuits, but denied peanut butter, despite it being gluten-free. 

A correctional staff member commented, “diagnoses of things like gluten sensitivity [are] way over top, [and are] essentially rubbish”, according got the review. 

Additionally, a Muslim prisoner said that despite the kitchen knowing of their religious requirements, they were repeatedly given ham salads. There were also concerns that devon, salami and other processed meats were not pork-free, despite prison staff claiming that they were.

The Custodial Inspector found the salami did contain pork (as it traditionally does), and listed the meat in the devon as “unspecified”.

A savoury mince meal that inspectors tested at the Launceston Reception Prison was described as “not good”, “pale-coloured” and “looked dreadful”.

“Hard to say what the meat was and it tasted like nothing much,” the reviewers wrote. 

Prisoners in maximum security received packet soup for lunch in some cases, despite having no way to heat it up. 

Tasmania’s Justice Department says the Custodial Inspector's report has given it an opportunity to make changes.

“The Department supports the premise that nutritious and varied food for prisoners is a fundamental right,” it said. 

“However, it is acknowledged that complaints about the standard, quality, amount and variety of food are a common occurrence across Australian correctional facilities. 

“The need to balance the health needs of prisoners, many of whom have specific requirements, with a degree of choice will always be a challenge.”

The Prison Service has begun purchasing lamb and beef-based salami and devon.