If you've got a plane to catch, the last thing you want is airport security stopping you to search
your bags. Make sure you don't bring any of these foods with you, or else TSA might be up your A.
Oftentimes, there's at least some logic to be inferred from the Transportation Security
Administration's restrictions regarding items allowed on an airplane. Other times, we're sort
of baffled by how it chooses to categorize certain items, particularly when it comes to food. The
fact that canned foods are usually considered a liquid, regardless of what's inside, leaves those
products at the mercy of the 3-1-1 rule — meaning your canned vegetables might end up in the trash.
For the inexperienced traveler, you may wonder about the 3-1-1 rule. Under this guideline,
a traveler can only bring up to 3.4 ounces of any liquid in their
carry-on bag; they must store all such liquids in a single clear bag;
and they are only allowed one such bag in their carry-on per trip.
So if you don't want to end up dumping your precious canned goods,
skip the hassle and store them in a checked bag.
"What about peanut butter?"
"There's no butter in it and yet it's called 'peanut butter.' Pretty crazy, right?"
If you're going by the TSA's guidelines, it appears that peanut butter is indeed a
liquid. So if you're attempting to bring a jar of Skippy on your next flight,
you'll still make your flight — but the peanut butter won't.
Now, to be fair, the specific categorization of peanut butter can be difficult to pin down
between solid and liquid. But it still seems odd that the food item — one that's never consumed as
a beverage — would be listed as a liquid for any purpose whatsoever. Then again, the precise reason
for labeling peanut butter as a liquid when flying may not be that difficult to decipher.
After all, peanut butter is likely included in the maximum of 3.4 ounces of liquid as a way
to simplify the process for TSA agents — which, in turn, speeds up the security checkpoint for
travelers. With that in mind, don't fret about your inability to bring a jar of peanut butter
in your carry-on. Rather, be glad you can make it to your terminal with time to spare.
Invasive species can wreak genuine havoc on their new homes, so there's good reason for a country to
restrict the entry of certain animals. Naturally, the U.S. highly regulates the transportation of
live animals into the nation via airplane. If you're considering flying back to the States with
a terrarium full of snails to enjoy some homemade escargot, the USDA made it illegal to do so.
Based on recent occurrences where passengers were found to have flown into the U.S. with
live snails, you may be more apt to have the animal confiscated by customs agents after
you land rather than before. According to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution,
two giant African snails were found and taken from the suitcase of a traveler who'd arrived
in Atlanta, Georgia, from Nigeria in June 2019. And a single giant African
snail was discovered on a different Atlanta passenger in November 2022.
If you're determined to bring this shelled critter back into the U.S., the USDA permits non-living
snails to be shipped into the country. In other words, don't try bringing live snails back in
your carry-on; instead, let FedEx fly your escargot back from an international location.
"What's that sign say? I thought they spoke English in this country."
"It says you can't bring in outside plants or animals."
Invasive species aren't limited solely to animals, and plenty of plants have the
capacity to overwhelm the native vegetation of a new spot too. But it's not just a matter
of non-native fruits or vegetables potentially destroying the ecosystem of a new environment
that explains why some fresh produce is prohibited on airplanes — it's the bugs and
insects that may be hitching a ride, as well. Hence, depending on where you're traveling,
you may not be able to bring fresh produce with you on an airplane.
To be clear, if you're flying domestically within the continental United States and
hope to bring fresh fruit or veggies as a mid-flight snack, you should be in the
clear. But if you're a U.S. citizen flying onto the mainland from Hawaii or Puerto Rico, there's
a better-than-average chance you won't be able to bring the fresh produce you've got on hand.
Now, while some fresh produce from non-continental U.S. locations may be permitted on an airplane,
it's exceptionally difficult to find a thorough or detailed list. After all, as Anthony L. Bucci, a
U.S. Customs and Border Protection public affairs specialist, told The New York Times in 2016,
"We're following 400 different laws on behalf of 40 other agencies."
Consider double-checking the rules and regulations of your destination before heading to the airport.
There's nothing in the world like lobster. Of course, while American lobster can be
found along much of the Atlantic coast, it's most identified with New England. So while
it's obvious why someone flying home after a weekend in New England would want to cook the
bottom-dwelling sea insect, if you're hoping to transport a live lobster on an airplane,
you'll want to check with the airline first — or the lobster might not make it on board.
If you're curious why someone would want to fly with a live lobster as opposed to a dead one,
the realities of shellfish-as-food make it impractical and dangerous to kill a
lobster before preparing it. In fact, since live lobster flesh contains highly-toxic
bacteria that grow exponentially the moment a lobster is killed per BBC Science Focus,
the risk of food poisoning when preparing and eating an already-dead lobster is incredibly high.
Considering the lobster's increasing toxicity, it's understandable that someone would need to
fly with a live lobster in order to eventually enjoy it. Just heed the TSA's advice if you
choose to do so, and make sure ahead of time that the animal is permitted by your airline.
We've all been there: You're in a rush to make a flight,
so you quickly pack your bag, leaving your items less than organized. However,
if you're flying with certain foods or drinks, you won't want to be so
lax about improper packing. If you're inclined to bring raw meat on an airplane, for example,
you'll need to make sure you pack it precisely and ensure it fits the USDA requirements.
Setting aside what might possess a person to fill their carry-on bag with poorly
packaged or even loose pork chops — or any other type of raw meat — it's really quite
clear why bringing such food in a state on an airplane is restricted. Frankly,
the safety concerns of raw meat alone are enough to justify a TSA agent
deciding to confiscate and destroy your animal protein in such a circumstance.
"Meat. Why have you betrayed me?"
In case you actually pack your package of raw meat as suggested — in a properly-sealed
cooler with fully frozen ice packs — it should be smooth flying. But if you're
unconcerned with the necessary rules for bringing raw meat on an airplane,
don't expect to fly with the protein in question.
When it comes to foods you absolutely cannot take on an airplane, we found far fewer fully-banned
items than initially anticipated. Not to say there's a free-for-all in regards to
what you're allowed to take in your carry-on. After all, even food that's permitted may be
confiscated at security if a person ignores the provided specifications. In that vein,
if you're looking to fly with frozen food in your carry-on, make sure it's
fully frozen with no melted liquid present. Otherwise, that food is not making the trip.
To be clear, you can take frozen food on an airplane, but it has to be completely frozen.
Since a frozen item won't remain in that state for long if it's freely exposed to the elements,
a cooler is likely your best bet. Of course, if the frozen ice packs inside
your cooler start to melt, you'll run into trouble. If any amount of liquid is detected,
you almost certainly won't be able to bring it on the plane – as a carry-on, at least.
Perhaps you're pleasantly surprised to discover frozen foods aren't entirely banned on airplanes.
But considering the strict requirements and the risk that a partially-melted item won't
make it on board, you may be best served simply keeping frozen items in your freezer at home.
We'd have to believe that, at this point, you've noticed a not-so-subtle trend — namely,
that many foods you can't take with you in your carry-on bags can be secured and then flown in a
checked bag instead. Yet one specific type of beverage is completely banned from being taken
on an airplane in the U.S., even in a checked piece of luggage: alcohol above 140 proof.
In fact, such high-proof alcohols, those with a 70% alcohol by volume content or higher,
appear to be one of the only consumable food items you absolutely cannot take on an airplane. Now, we
can't verify with any real certainty the rationale behind this relatively peculiar distinction. After
all, alcoholic beverages below 140 proof can still be brought aboard airplanes; you can even bring
mini booze bottles in your carry-on, provided it doesn't exceed the 3.4-ounce threshold.
More than likely or, at least, our assumption, the rule is based on the
inherently greater flammability and resulting fire hazard posed by higher-proof alcohols.
"I'm telling you, Molotov cocktails work. Any time I had a problem,
and I threw a Molotov cocktail, boom! Right away, I had a different problem."
Whatever the reason, purchase your bottle of Bacardi 151
following your flight and stick with a lower-proof rum at the duty-free shop.
Rules around what you can and cannot bring on a plane are full of nuances. While solid
hard cheese is allowed on planes without an issue, soft cheese is not. For example,
cream cheese is considered a spread or dip and must adhere to the 3.4-ounce limit. Sadly,
the standard size for tubs of cream cheese is 8 ounces, more than double what is allowed.
The TSA made a special note of this rule on its Twitter account,
stating that bagels are allowed on planes, but unless the cream cheese is already spread,
you can't bring it in a standard tub. Previously, there was a case where a family attempted to take
bagels, lox, and cream cheese on a plane, but unfortunately, the cream cheese was
not allowed on the flight. One way around this is to spread the cream cheese on the
bagel before passing through security, as this will generally make it exempt from the ruling.
Cream cheese is not the only cheese that must follow this rule. Other soft cheeses
such as mascarpone and brie must also be packed in a format of 3.4 ounces or less,
or they will not be allowed on your flight.
As we have learned so far, oftentimes, the rules about what you can bring on a plane
are not so much about the food themselves but more about the way they are packaged.
If you are traveling by a plane and bringing cupcakes, you will want to pack them in a way
that they arrive in one piece. One of the safest ways to ensure this is to bake the cupcakes in
individual mason jars. As it turns out, this kind of packaging will not make it through TSA.
Cake and cupcakes themselves are permitted through TSA, but a 2011
case set a precedent that determined when the treats are packed in a jar,
they somehow transform from being a food item to a liquid. The rationale, as reported by ABC News,
is that since the frosting and fillings take the shape of a container, they are considered liquid,
which is the same reason that prohibits you from bringing jars of peanut butter. However,
if they are not encased in a jar and hold their shape, they are solid.
Confused? So were many other people. However, the TSA defended its decision in a since-deleted blog
post called "Cupcakegate." So, if you plan on flying with sweet treats in the future,
opt for a traditional cupcake over a jarred one.