Five current and former prison inmates in Illinois are pressing forward with a federal lawsuit against the state claiming the amount of soy in their diets while behind bars caused them ``irreparable, actual harm.''
Their lawyer, Gary Cox, says he's found four expert witnesses to bolster the argument that their treatment violated the eighth amendment prohibition against cruel and unusual punishment. A judge could decide by September whether to take the case to trial.
The lawsuit was first filed in 2007. The plaintiffs say they had up to 100 grams of soy protein per day in their prison diet. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends no more than 25 grams.
Their complaints range from thyroid disorders and allergic reactions to digestive distress and weakened immune systems.
