Bizarre reason why death row inmate's final meal request caused ban across whole US state

Whilst 'dream death row meals' might be a fun topic of conversation, we should remember that for inmates on death row, it's a reality - unless you are awaiting execution in Texas that is.

Death row inmates of Texas aren't allowed to choose their most-desired food and drink anymore for their final meal, and that's all because of what one man did before his execution.

Death row inmates in Texas could previously ordered whatever they wanted (Cavan Images/Getty)

Lawrence Russell Brewer was executed back in 2011 hate killing of James Byrd Jr.

A white supremacist, he and two other men abducted the victim in 1998, dragging his body for three miles behind a pick-up truck before Byrd was tragically decapitated when his body hit the edge of a culvert.

For his harrowing crime, Brewer was sentenced to death and remained in Texas' Polunsky Unit until the day of his execution, where he received the lethal injection in the Huntsville Unit.

Prior to the day of his death, however, the vicious killer received a plentiful banquet of food of his choosing.

As is the case in the majority of states across the US, death row inmates can order to their hearts content - including a starter, multiple mains, pudding and drinks.

They can even order some additional amenities, like cigarettes and cigars.

In Brewer's case, however, what he did after choosing his death row meal proved so controversial, that the option to choose your final courses in Texas was abolished after his execution.

Lawrence Brewer was executed in 2011 (Chris Buck/Getty Images)

The racist murderer had asked for two chicken fried steaks, a triple-meat bacon cheeseburger, fried okra, a pound of barbecue, three fajitas, a meat lover's pizza, a pint of ice cream, and a slab of peanut butter fudge with crushed peanuts.

Then after his hefty order arrived, however, Brewer left guards blown away by opting not to eat a single bite.

He'd also ordered three root beers, before telling prison staff that he simply wasn't hungry anymore.

What has largely been interpreted as one final 'up yours' to the system didn't go down too well with Texas lawmakers, however - as you can imagine.

So much so, that the practice was terminated altogether.

State Senator John Whitmire said Brewer was trying to 'make a mockery' of the system with his ridiculous final meal order.

"He never gave his victim an opportunity for a last meal," added Senator Whitmire, who instigated the ban.

Ivan Cantu - who was executed this year - wasn't permitted to make a choice when it came to his last meal (CBS Texas)

"Why in the world are you going to treat him like a celebrity two hours before you execute him?

"It's wrong to treat a vicious murderer in this fashion. Let him eat the same meal on the chow line as the others."

As such, Texas' latest death row inmate Ivan Cantu - who was sentenced to death in 2001 for the double murder of a cousin and his girlfriend, and executed in February of this year - didn't receive a final meal.

Instead, he was forced to eat whatever was on the menu that day for all other prisoners.