Court ruling means no more food at Pa. funerals

LANCASTER, Pa. (AP) — Food will no longer be served at central Pennsylvania funeral homes due to a federal appeals court ruling.

Lancaster Newspapers reports that the ban is included in a list of operating laws for funeral directors reinstated recently by the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

A federal judge in 2012 threw out the decades-old operating laws, deeming them unconstitutional.

Director Chad Snyder, of The Charles F. Snyder Funeral Home, said Monday that he was disappointed by the ruling.

He said food was requested and provided at 40 to 50 services since the 2012 ruling, and he believes it provides some comfort to bereaved families.

The food ban was instituted in 1952 out of safety concerns, but Snyder said there's no risk if proper precautions are taken.

WPXI