Pamela Anderson Praises Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s Vegetarian Prison Meals

PHOENIX (AP)—Some inmates at the Maricopa County Jail did a double-take after seeing actress Pamela Anderson serving their lunches.

The former “Baywatch” star was in town Wednesday to help promote Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s all-vegetarian meal program.

Arpaio says cutting meat from the meals served to the more than 8,000 inmates has saved an estimated $200,000 per year. The jail has been serving vegetarian meals for 16 months now.

Inmates are served a peanut butter sandwich with oranges and some crackers for brunch and a hot meal comprised of different vegetable and soy dishes for dinner.

Anderson is a longtime vegan and a spokeswoman for the animal rights group People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The group came under fire for its association with Arpaio, who has long faced criticism that he unfairly targets minorities for law enforcement.

She hopes the meal initiative stands as a model for prisons and jails across the country.