Might be good info for some with incarcerated friends.:wall:
Ramen noodles have overtaken tobacco to become the most valuable commodity in some US prisons, a new study suggests.
"Because it is cheap, tasty, and rich in calories, ramen has become so valuable that it is used to exchange for other goods," said study author Michael Gibson-Light.
Barter economy
The noodles are exchanged for goods including other food items, clothing, hygiene products and even services such as laundry and bunk cleaning, Mr Gibson-Light said.
Others use them as bargaining chips in gambling when playing card games or participating in football pools.
They are also replacing other traditional forms of prison currency, such as stamps and envelopes, the study found.
The shift was taking place across different groups within prisons and was not a response to bans on tobacco products within the prison system, Mr Gibson-Light said.
Although the research is based on anecdotal evidence from fewer than 60 inmates and staff from one male state prison, the author points to other findings indicating that the trend toward using ramen noodles for exchanges is evident in other prisons.
Ramen noodles have overtaken tobacco to become the most valuable commodity in some US prisons, a new study suggests.
"Because it is cheap, tasty, and rich in calories, ramen has become so valuable that it is used to exchange for other goods," said study author Michael Gibson-Light.
Barter economy
The noodles are exchanged for goods including other food items, clothing, hygiene products and even services such as laundry and bunk cleaning, Mr Gibson-Light said.
Others use them as bargaining chips in gambling when playing card games or participating in football pools.
They are also replacing other traditional forms of prison currency, such as stamps and envelopes, the study found.
The shift was taking place across different groups within prisons and was not a response to bans on tobacco products within the prison system, Mr Gibson-Light said.
Although the research is based on anecdotal evidence from fewer than 60 inmates and staff from one male state prison, the author points to other findings indicating that the trend toward using ramen noodles for exchanges is evident in other prisons.
