Finally exhausted of reminding unruly and unaware passengers to throw away full water bottles and eliminate certain snacks — TSA is putting an end to airport anxiety by specifying which food, drinks, snacks and other perishable items are allowed.
After a wave of recent high-profile airport mishaps — on one occasion, Ellen Pompeo was stopped at TSA for a standard inflight snack earlier this month — there’s a whole lot of confusion on what people can or cannot bring onto the plane with them, so the agency is setting the record straight.
The safety administration shared several posts on X that specified food and drinks rules for flying — together with a link to a comprehensive guide so travelers can fly with ease and snacks in tow.
As a general guideline, solid food items like crackers, nuts, cakes and cooked meat are permitted to herald each carry-on and checked bags.
Liquid goods, resembling jam or jelly, maple syrup, ice cream and oil, fall under the usual ‘3-1-1 rule’ — which is that liquids can’t be in containers larger than 3.4 ounces, they need to be contained in a transparent plastic bag and every passenger is simply allowed considered one of these bags — when transported in carry-on bags, as specied in TSA’s online guide.
Other items is likely to be more unexpected — like cheese, coffee grounds, cookies, crackers, dried fruits, fresh eggs, a rotisserie chicken — yes, you read that right — seafood, vegetables, nuts, pizza, sandwiches and dry snacks.
Nevertheless, in terms of fresh fruit and veggies, they typically are allowed in each carry-on and checked luggage for domestic flights, but passengers traveling to the U.S. mainland from Hawaii, Puerto Rico, or the U.S. Virgin Islands are typically restricted from bringing these things because of concerns over the potential spread of invasive plant pests.
Produce, raw meat, seafood, alcohol, frozen food and baby items are subject to more specific rules.
So long as fresh meat, seafood and frozen food are truly frozen solid during screening, they’re permitted in each carry-on and checked luggage. And yes, ice packs to maintain your frozen food cold are allowed, too.
Nevertheless, international travelers are advised to declare all food, plant, and animal products with a view to avoid being hit with fines or additional questioning, like this recent passenger, who was hounded by airport security dogs and threatened with an $800 fantastic over an apple.
Alcohol over 140 proof (greater than 70% alcohol content) is altogether prohibited, meaning passengers cannot pack it in checked or carry-on bags.
Those traveling with children are instructed by the agency to tell the “TSA officer firstly of the screening process that you simply are carrying formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to incorporate puree pouches) over 3.4 ounces.”
And naturally, even when something is allowed, if it looks suspicious during airport security, it’s certain to get searched.
Preparing for this separate screening ahead of time advantages each airport-bound parents and fellow travelers. TSA suggests labeling and separating any relevant baby-related goods to facilitate the method.
Within the event of specific inquiries, TSA encourages travelers to first reference the excellent list after which contact the agency.
For the smoothest security process possible, CLEAR, the paid airport security membership, advises anticipating airport troubles — labeling and packing any food items may also help cut down on screening times and potential questioning.
