Last meals before executions are a tradition almost as old as civilization itself. Ancient Greeks believed feeding the condemned would prevent their ghosts from returning to haunt the living. In one German tradition, executioners would throw a feast for themselves and the to-be-executed to share.
The option to customize a last meal for death row inmates in the United States follows that tradition, but it is not mandated under any law. Many states have various restrictions for what a last meal can be. Texas prisons ban custom meals entirely.
Still, many infamous criminals have been able to choose their last meals, offering insight into the lonely hours before their deaths. No matter how enigmatic a killer might be, their taste buds speak volumes, both about their crimes and how the justice system has led them to the table.
