Man detained for 9 months pending trial hospitalized in critical condition, diagnosed with beriberi (thiamine deficiency) due to “vegetable-deficient” bento meals – (Japanese Article – details in comments)

2 comments

1. **Edited translation of article:**

   > A man in his 40s who was detained at Saitama Prefectural Police Kawaguchi Station for about 9 months claimed that he developed beriberi due to a vitamin deficiency caused by the extremely low amount of vegetables in the bento meals served at the detention facility, and demanded 10 million yen (~$70,000) in damages from the prefectural government. Judge Yasuto Okinaka partially approved the man’s claim and ordered the prefecture to pay 550,000 yen (~$3,900) in compensation.

   > According to the judgment, the man was arrested on suspicion of fraud in November 2017 and detained at the police station. He had been eating bread in the morning and a bento meal for lunch and dinner, but from May to June 2018, he complained of muscle weakness and was hospitalized in August. He was temporarily in critical condition and was diagnosed with beriberi caused by a vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency.

   > In November 2019, the prefectural police terminated the contract with the supplier because four other people detained at the same police station had vitamin B1 deficiency. However, before that, they had not known about the nutritional deficiencies and had contested the case, claiming that in detention facilities, which are not designed for long-term incarceration, calorie security is required rather than nutrition.

   > The court ruled that it is widely known that vitamin B1 deficiency causes beriberi, and concluded that “(the prefectural police) failed in their duty of care.” Takuya Sato, chief inspector of the prefectural police, commented, “We will fully examine the content of the ruling and respond accordingly in consultation with the relevant departments.”

2. *”…And that was how detainees came to be given daily vitamin tablets.”*