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

A two-year AP investigation has revealed the intricate and hidden connection between U.S. prisoners and some of the world's largest food companies, with goods produced by incarcerated individuals ending up in the supply chains of popular brands like McDonald’s, Walmart, and Coca-Cola. Prisoners, often working for pennies an hour or nothing at all, are involved in producing agricultural products that are sold on the open market, with some goods even being exported. The use of prison labor, which is legal under the 13th Amendment, has raised concerns about fair compensation, worker safety, and the treatment of incarcerated individuals, prompting calls for reform and challenges to the constitutional clause.