BOSTON, June 20 — For several years, the Maine Troop Greeters have welcomed soldiers from every military transport plane that has landed at Bangor International Airport with hugs, handshakes, cookies and homemade goodies.

But the visits, and the soldiers’ bellies, have been a bit emptier since airport officials asked the greeters to stop serving food last month because of concern about liability and food safety.

“We just say, ‘We’re sorry, we can’t give out any cookies,’ ” said Bill Knight, a World War II veteran who founded the group. “I knew it would be coming down the pike one day.”

Mr. Knight and Tony Caruso, assistant director of the airport, said the greeters were told not to hand out food in 2004, when the airport let the group use a small room in the terminal without charge.