A sweeping investigation into prison labor tied hundreds of millions of dollars to hundreds of popular foods brands.

The goods these prisoners produce wind up in the supply chains of a dizzying array of products found in most American kitchens. Prisoners are largely uncompensated and are often excluded from protections.

If they refuse to work, some can jeopardize their chances of parole or face punishment like being sent to solitary confinement. Relatively, it’s the work-release programs that have become the biggest cash generators, largely because of the low overhead.

In Alabama, for instance, the state brought in more than $32 million in the past five fiscal years after garnishing 40 percent of prisoners’ wages.