Travel-Permissible and Prohibited Cuisine at Security Checkpoints during Vacations
Travel-Permissible and Prohibited Cuisine at Security Checkpoints during Vacations
If you're planning to fly during this upcoming holiday season, you're not alone. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) predicts that 2024 will see some of the busiest holiday travel days ever recorded. So, if you're thinking of carrying food with you - be it for visits, gifts, or leftovers - it's crucial to be prepared. Failure to understand the rules about what can legally pass through TSA checkpoints may lead to you becoming the cause of an unwanted delay in a long queue or seeing your favorite dish discarded in the bin.
The good news is that most foods can make it past TSA security checks. But there are certain holiday favorites that will need to be checked in your luggage. Following the TSA's guidelines, solid items are generally permitted, whereas anything that can be spilled, spread, sprayed, pumped, or poured, and is larger than 3.4 ounces should be put in checked baggage.
Keep in mind that even if the food items are permitted in carry-on luggage, they might still require additional security screening. Therefore, it's best to place them in an easily accessible part of your bag, and transfer them to the bin during the security check.
To help you better navigate the holiday travel food scene this year, I've compiled a cheat sheet. It covers what holiday foods you can bring through TSA checkpoints in your carry-on luggage, and which ones must be checked.
Holiday Foods Allowed in Carry-on
- Baked goods and candies. This includes homemade or store-bought pies, cakes, cookies, brownies, chocolates, and more.
- Meats. Cooked or uncooked, frozen or thawed, meats are okay to carry through TSA checkpoints. So, your holiday turkey, ham, chicken, and steak are all cleared for takeoff.
- Stuffing. Whether boxed or bagged, cooked or uncooked, stuffing is permitted for carry-on luggage.
- Casseroles. Since casseroles are considered solid items, they can make it past the TSA checkpoints, including green bean casserole, baked macaroni and cheese, and all other holiday favorites.
- Fresh fruits and vegetables. Apples, pears, cranberries, yams, potatoes, and all other fresh produce required for holiday dishes are all permitted in carry-on luggage.
- Spices. All spices necessary for holiday preparation, as well as those given or received as gifts, can be carried in the airplane cabin.
Holiday Foods Required for Checked Luggage
- Cranberry sauce. This spreadable item must be checked.
- Preserves, jams, and jellies. These spreadable items also must be checked.
- Gravy. Whether homemade or store-bought, gravy in a jar or can is considered a liquid and cannot make it through TSA security in your carry-on.
- Canned fruit or vegetables. Fresh fruits and veggies can pass through the TSA checkpoint, but canned versions with liquid must be checked.
- Maple syrup. Though it's a thick syrup, it's still considered a liquid and must be checked.
- Preserves, jams, and jellies. These items, too, are spreadable and should be checked.
- Wine. Popular holiday gifts, bottles of wine, champagne, sparkling cider, and other festive drinks must be checked.
When focusing on wrapping and packing your food items this holiday season, don't forget about food safety. You can bring ice packs through TSA screening checkpoints in your carry-on, provided they're fully frozen and haven't thawed by the time you reach the security point.
Safe travels and happy eating!
During your Christmas Planning, you might want to consider SouthernLiving's Winter Travel Ideas, which can include holiday destinations. If you're bringing food as part of your gifts or leftovers for your travels, make sure to follow the TSA's guidelines to avoid any unwanted delays or discarded items. For instance, solid items like baked goods and candies, meats, stuffing, casseroles, and fresh fruits and vegetables are allowed in your carry-on luggage.