California inmates have ended a nearly two-month hunger strike to protest the prison system's isolation policies, prison officials said Thursday.

More than 30,000 inmates had been refusing meals when the strike began in early July. They said gang leaders are often held for decades in isolation units. California's prison system is one of the largest and most crowded in the country.

Corrections Secretary Jeffrey Beard said in a statement that all inmates began accepting prison-issued meals Thursday.

"We are pleased this dangerous strike has been called off before any inmates became seriously ill," Beard said in a statement.

A federal judge had given authorities permission to force-feed inmates if necessary to save their lives.

However, even the hard-core strikers had been accepting vitamins and electrolyte drinks.

By this week, just 100 people were on hunger strike, including 40 who had been on strike continuously since July 8.

The strike ended after two Democratic state legislators promised to hold hearings this year on inmates' concerns.

Beard said the department will continue to carry out changes in its policies of sending inmates to Security Housing Units that were started two years ago.

The changes include more limits on which inmates are sent to the housing units. The policies also make it easier for inmates to work their way out of the isolation units.

Supporters and advocates did not immediately confirm that the strike had ended but cited a positive response to the inmates' demands.