The contaminated food
Inmates sue US jail over meals allegedly contaminated with mice, cockroaches
Note: AI technology was used to generate this article’s audio.
- Six current and former inmates have filed a class-action lawsuit alleging that food served at a Washington, D.C., jail contained dead mice, cockroaches and rodent droppings.
- The complaint alleges that the contamination persisted for years despite repeated complaints to prison staff.
- One plaintiff says he found a dead mouse in his salad in Aug. 2024 and was subsequently diagnosed with gastroenteritis..
Six current and former inmates have filed a class-action lawsuit against the District of Columbia, alleging that meals served at the Central Detention Facility in Washington, DC, were repeatedly contaminated with dead mice, cockroaches and other pests, according to The Washington Post.
The complaint, filed in federal court, alleges that inmates encountered cockroaches in oatmeal, dead mice in salad and milk containers covered in rodent droppings. The plaintiffs say the problems date back to July 2023 and that staff repeatedly dismissed their food-safety concerns.
One plaintiff, Pernell Jackson, said he found at least one dead mouse in a salad served to him in late Aug. 2024. According to the lawsuit, he vomited after discovering the rodent and was later diagnosed with gastroenteritis, an inflammation of the stomach and intestines.
The complaint says Jackson subsequently began purchasing prepackaged food from the prison commissary to avoid meals prepared in the facility's kitchen. It also alleges that the incident caused lasting physical and psychological effects.
The plaintiffs argue that the alleged conditions reflect longstanding sanitation failures and violated their constitutional rights under the Fifth Amendment. They are seeking financial compensation.
The facility has faced scrutiny over its conditions for years. A 2025 report by the D.C. auditor cited complaints about food contaminated with insects, rodents and screws, as well as concerns about potentially contaminated water.
Read more: Pro-Palestinian professor sues MIT over free speech rights
