Ohio: 2nd fine levied against prison food vendor

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Ohio prisons director says the state has levied a second fine against the private vendor that took over the job of feeding inmates last year.

Gary Mohr, director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, said the $130,200 fine was determined earlier this month against Philadelphia-based Aramark Correctional Services.

Mohr announced the fine Wednesday during testimony before a state prisons oversight committee hearing concerns about Aramark's performance.

Mohr said the fine relates to continued staff shortages, unacceptable food substitutions and sanitation issues.

The state levied a $142,000 fine against Aramark in April.

John Hanner, president of Aramark Correctional Services, defended his company's record in Ohio to the committee, saying food delays and substitutions have happened less than 1 percent of the time.

Problems like maggots in food, staffing shortages and reports of running out of food have emerged since Aramark took over.