In prison, back in the old days, kitchen staff were usually prisoners who knew how to smuggle out whatever sugar was necessary for some luxury wine (others call it pruno).

But as executive officer Simon Buttigieg told the Times of Malta, the whole kitchen staff at the Corradino Correctional Facility was replaced after a salmonella outbreak earlier this month.

Twenty inmates sought medical attention two weeks ago after contracting food poisoning.

An inspection by the health authorities concluded that hot summer temperatures and poor kitchen hygiene were behind the poisoning outbreak.