"Hidden Workforce: US Prisoners Linked to Popular Food Brands"

A two-year investigation by The Associated Press has revealed the extensive use of prison labor in the US food industry, with products from prison farms and facilities making their way into the supply chains of major food companies and brands. Prisoners, often working for pennies an hour or nothing at all, are involved in producing goods ranging from cattle to crops, which end up in products sold by companies like McDonald’s, Walmart, and Cargill. The use of prison labor raises concerns about fair compensation, worker safety, and human rights, with some prisoners facing punishment or jeopardizing their chances of parole if they refuse to work. Despite companies violating their own policies against such labor, the practice is legal under the 13th Amendment, and efforts to challenge this clause are underway.