Mike Tyson discusses poor prison food quality and its impact on violence

During an appearance on Robert Kennedy's podcast, Mike Tyson discussed the terrible quality of food he experienced during his three years in prison. Tyson explained that the Federal Bureau of Prisons spends only 60 cents per day on inmate meals, which results in highly processed foods consisting mainly of sugar and chemicals. The former heavyweight champion stated that the prison cafeteria sold only donuts, chips, and sugary items with no healthy options, and the healthiest choice was oversalted soup. Tyson believes this ultra-processed diet makes inmates angrier and contributes to violence in prisons, citing that people would fight and kill over minor provocations. Kennedy supported this view by referencing research showing that improving prison food quality can reduce violence by 50%. Tyson also discussed how his mentor Cus D'Amato taught him proper nutrition and how he now carefully manages his diet, favoring eggs for breakfast and seafood as the best food for burning fat.