Two Washington state inmates sued the prison system after they were fed "nutra-loaf," a mixture of vegetables, beef or chicken, apples, eggs, and potatoes that is prepared in slabs. The two were given the composite food product as punishment after they were caught trying to dig their way out of prison. After two nutra-loaf meals, they returned to regular prison food. The inmates asked a judge to ban nutra-loaf because it is not the "regular feeding" mandated by Washington law. Instead, they maintained, nutra-loaf represents constitutionally prohibited cruel and unusual punishment.

Superior Court Judge James Ladley rejected the argument. Deputy Prosecutor Curt Wyrick, who defended the prison—and even ate some nutra-loaf to prepare for the case—says the lawsuit was frivolous. "Nutra-loaf is not like what mama made, but it is not that bad."

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