NYS DOCCS Directives Popular Food Items (Compliant & Top-Rated)

Based on the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (NYSDOCCS) directives and approved vendor lists, the following are highly preferred and compliant items for inmate packages.
Popular Food Items (Compliant & Top-Rated)

  • Meat & Protein: Buffalo Style Chicken Meatballs (Trader Joe's), Cuisine Solutions Sliced Grass-Fed Beef Sirloin, Hormel Slow Simmered Beef Roast, Sugardale Carved Ham, Spam, and various cooked, cured, or smoked meats (vacuum-sealed).
  • Snacks: Frito-Lay Cool & Tangy Variety Pack Chips, Sabritas Chile Limon Mix, Frito-Lay Flamin' Hot Snacks, Doritos & Cheetos.
  • Ready Meals & Sides: Wilson's Famous Food Kits, ready-made meals, and microwaveable, commercially packaged foods (no cans, no glass).
  • Condiments/Drinks: Coffee, tea bags (herbal/flavored, no loose tea), and Kool-Aid or similar drink mixes (no energy mixes).

  •    Hygiene: Deodorant (stick-type), shampoo, toothpaste, and soap (no soap-on-a-rope).
  • Clothing: Thermal shirts, crewneck sweaters, and other apparel, provided they meet color/style restrictions (e.g., solid colors, no camouflage).
  • Footwear: New-in-package Adidas or Reebok brand sneakers (black and white only, no metal or pumps).
  •    Other: Fire-retardant blankets and authorized electronics.
Key Compliance Requirements
  •     Vendor Direct: All items must be ordered through approved vendors (e.g., NYS Approved Vendor Corp).
  • Packaging: Items must be in airtight, heat-sealed, or vacuum-sealed plastic bags/pouches. No glass, no cans, and no metal containers are allowed.
  • Restrictions: No poppy seeds, no marshmallows, no homemade food, and no items requiring refrigeration.
  • Limits: Inmates are generally allowed up to 3 packages per month with a combined weight limit of 40 pounds.