Finally exhausted of reminding unruly and unaware passengers to throw away full water bottles and dispose of 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 common inflight snack earlier this month — there’s a lot of confusion on what people can or cannot bring onto the plane with them, so the agency is setting the record straight.
The security administration shared several posts on X that specified food and drink rules for flying — along 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 bring in both carry-on and checked bags.
Liquid goods, such as jam or jelly, maple syrup, ice cream and oil, fall under the standard ‘3-1-1 rule’ — which is that liquids can’t be in containers larger than 3.4 ounces, they must be contained in a clear plastic bag and each passenger is only allowed one of these bags — when transported in carry-on bags, as specied in TSA’s online guide.
Other items might 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.
However, when it comes to fresh fruit and veggies, they generally are allowed in both 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 items due to 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.
As long as fresh meat, seafood and frozen food are truly frozen solid during screening, they are permitted in both carry-on and checked luggage. And yes, ice packs to keep your frozen food cold are allowed, too.
However, international travelers are advised to declare all food, plant, and animal products in order 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 fine over an apple.
Alcohol over 140 proof (more 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 inform the “TSA officer at the beginning of the screening process that you are carrying formula, breast milk, toddler drinks, and baby/toddler food (to include puree pouches) over 3.4 ounces.”
And of course, even if something is allowed, if it looks suspicious during airport security, it’s bound to get searched.
Preparing for this separate screening ahead of time benefits both airport-bound parents and fellow travelers. TSA suggests labeling and separating any relevant baby-related goods to facilitate the process.
In the event of specific inquiries, TSA encourages travelers to first reference the comprehensive list and then 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 can help cut down on screening times and potential questioning.
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